CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 901, 19 February 1930, Page 15

CIVIC

“SUNNY SIDE UP” Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell are scoring a success at the Civic Theatre in their audible screen musical comedy debut in “Sunny Side Up.” This tuneful light comedy-drama, written by De Sylva, Brown and Henderson, has placed the young Fox Movietone stars on a new pinnacle, utterly different but in the same high altitude as did their performance in “Seventh Heaven.” The dainty, wistful little Janet proves her versatility by playing a comedy role, broad in spots, and again on the borderland of pathos. She sings, she dances, she talks, and she does it all with that touch of genius that has raised her to the front rank of the greatest stars in the entertainment world. Farrell, too. is called upon to enact an entirely different sort of role than he ever essayed before, and he does it with a dash and finish that stamps him as a superlative actor. Farrell, also, hursts forth into song and if the enthusiasm of the Civic’s audiences is anv criterion, the public will demand that he sing in every production he makes in the future. There are at least six tremendous song hits in “Sunny Side Up,” including “A Talking Picture of You,” “Sunny Side Up,” “I’m a Dreamer.” “Turn on the Heat,” “You Find the Time, I’ll Find the Place” and “You’ve Got Me Pickin’ Petals Off of Daisies.” The remainder of the Civic’s programme is of the usual high standard of dancing and music that one always gets from the Civic. Fred Scholl earns warm applause for his organ playing, and Ted Henkel’s Civic Orchestra for the overture, “The Mikado.” The remarkable dancing of the Continental trio, Ramon, Madeline and Pedro, is the. outstanding feature of the stage entertainment, “Parisienne.” The new picture at the Civic on Saturday will be “Broadway,” which is acclaimed overseas as the greatest talking, singing and dancing revue yet made for the screen. “Broadway.” which deals with the mad night life of New York, was originally a stage play, and has been filmed in colour with all the original find extravagant revue numbers, gripping dialogue and catchy songs. Evelyn Brent and Glenn Tryon head the large cast.