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Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 659, 10 May 1929, Page 14

Round the Shows;

“THE WRECKER”

REALISTIC RAILWAY THRILLS ! Who is “The Wrecker”? ! Audiences at His Majesty’s Theatre for the next week will excitedly ask themselves this question until the 2nd of the fourth act. He is a diabolical villain who wrecks express trains, but his methods of working are so mysterious, that his pursuers are baffled. Scotland Yard detectives. including an attractive woman, are put on the train, but even they cannot expose the “wrecker.” Mr. Arnold Ridley, author of “The Ghost Train,” has followed his first succes swith “The Wrecker,” which is complete with blood-curdling thrills, exciting adventure, and a charming love story. Mr. Clayton Green, Miss Josephine Wilson and the other members of the cast give an excellent interpretation of this railway thriller. The most amazing effects are obtained when express trains dash through the station. “ME AND MY GIRL” GEORGE WALLACE AT ST. JAMES 1 Despite the extraordinary length of his season, the popular comedian, George Wallace, continues to draw large crowds at St. James Theatre. This week he is seen to better advantage than ever in the bright revue, “Me and My Girl.” The humour of his mirth-provoking situations continues to carry the house just as it did in the first week of his season. The setting for “Me and My Girl” is a college for boys and girls where discipline is lax. George, as cook in the college, has some very amusing and exciting adventures. An hilarious sketch entitled “Peaceful Dreams” is always well received by the audience. Marie Nyman sings the latest songs, and takes a prominent part all through the production. A big programme of bright band music is supplied by the stage band, with George Wallace as leader. Other items include a trombone solo by Miff Myers. “THE MIDNIGHT FROLICS” HIS MAJESTY’S NEXT WEDNESDAY No more popular organisation than the Midnight Frolics has ever toured New Zealand, and its farewell season, which begins on Wednesday night next, is likely to prove a very successful one. The opening night will prove of exceptional interest because it will witness the reappearance here of Miss Mona Magnet, one of England’s best and most popular soubrettes. Five years ago Miss Magnet was specially imported to Australia to take the leading role in J. C. Williamson’s stupendous revue “The Peep Show,” in which her singing and her vivacious acting created a veritable furore of enthusiasm. Playgoers will be glad to again welcome the versatile and clever comedian, Clem Dawe, who is one of the most popular artists the New Zealand stage has known, and in no place is he more popular than in Auckland. Gregory Ivanoff’s brilliant expositions on the violin is one of the outstanding features of the Midnight Frolics, and another is the excellent artistry of Miss Dorothy White. Messrs. William Perryman and Les. "White and Miss Gertie Cremer are other favourite members of the organisation. The talented jazz band, during the approaching season, will play some of their latest successes. The season is limited to eight nights, for which the box plans will be opened on Monday morning next. NEWLY-WED TROUBLES “COLLEGIAN” STARS GROWN UP TIVOLI-EVERYBODY’S SUCCESS An intimate, sophisticated revelation of newly-married life is contained in the clever comedy, “Honeymoon Flats,” which began its run yesterday at the Tivoli and Everybody’s Theatres, with George Lewis and Dorothy Gulliver co-starring. Now that the Plaza Theatre has gone over to “talkies,” all the excellent first-run silent films which would have been shown there will be screened at the Tivoli and Everybody's Theatres. The story is well directed, smooth and progresses evenly under increasing suspense to the very last scene. It is all about the young Claytons, the

girl a daughter of wealthy parents and the boy a struggling young college graduate who insists that he support his wife on his own salary despite his mother -in - law’s patronising atti:ude. It also concerns a friend who is married,

both he and his wife having their private love affairs. These are worked into- the story neatly. The picture is revealing and interesting, especially to all people who still consider marriage a romance and even to those who don’t, but did at least during the first year. “Honeymoon Flats” permits them to peek behind the boudoir curtains into the life of a young couple, who are more or less baffled and bewildered by their new status. Their quarrels are humourous and the “in-laws,” butting in on everything, add much to the hilarity of this intensely human comedy of affairs. Lewis and Gulliver are both very good in their roles. This pair will be remembered for their featured work in “The Collegian” series of short comedies. Bryant Washburn and Jane Win ton are the other married couple, adding much subtle comedy.

GRAND AND LYRIC “STEAMBOAT BILL, JNR.” One of Buster Keaton’s most uproarious comedies, “Steamboat Bill, Junr.,” is now at the Grand and Lyric Theatres. This is a story of the Mississippi river boats and of a rough boat captain, locally known as “Steamboat Bill," whose son is somewhat “slow in the uptake,” despite a college education. Bill tries to make a man out of the youth, who promptly complicates matters by falling in love with the daughter of his father’s hated rival. Mixup after mix-up keeps the audiences in roars until the spectacular ending, when a cyclone, which demolishes a town and jerks large steamboats from their moorings as if they were shells, gives the blundering hero a chance to demonstrate that he’s not so foolish all.

RIALTO, AND REGENT, EPSOM “EILEEN OF THE TREES” One of the main attractions at the , Rialto and Regent (Epsom) Theatres [ this evening is “Eileen of the Trees,” i a romantic drama by the well-known ! writer, 11. de Vere Stacpoole. A young girl is the slave of two i crude characters of London. A young aristocrat meets her and quixotically carries out a plan to take the girl to the country estates of his family and leave her at one of the farms. William Freshman appears in the leading male role and the cast includes Randle Ayrton, Bora Barton and Gibb McLaughlin. The second attraction at both theatres will be “Baby Cyclone,” a delightfully amusing domestic comedy satirising society’s lap dogs. The wellj known stars, Eileen Pringle and Lew 1 Cody have the leading roles.

FINE PICTURES AT ROYAL Crookdom ha» changed. No longer do members of the underworld live in cellars, lean over a table with a candle i for light, and plot their latest fora) s ; against society. Quite the contrary lS > true, as is graphically shown in I Brag Net," starring George Bancro '*• ; now at the Royal Theatre, KingslanjJj The present-day crook cannot : be distinguished from the respectab - citizen, for he frequents places of 1 tertainment and conducts himseii I regular drawing-room manner. . ! new style of living on the part or - 1 gangsters is brought to light in ! Brag Net,” a picture of the law s c- ; less vigil against the underworld. • The Gate-Crasher,” which is ’ being shown, is a merry comedy I second-rato detective and a m n comedy actress. The boisterous Lien- ! Tryon has the leading role. “Co~ The programme also includes a i legians" picture and an episoa \ “The Mystery Rider” serial.