STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 January 1939, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

"VARIETY HOUR." The “Variety Hour" which will be shown tonight at 8 o'clock at the State Theatre is a Fox-British picture made at the Wembley Studios. It presents a host of variety's best performers against their proper background—me stage. It is a real variety show — music, dancing, comedy, thrills—wound round a story concerning Clapham and .lawyer's endeavour to make good on the radio. Their impression of a British commentator at a boxing match is a riot. Some really grand numbers are introduced, including a splendid symphonic arrangement of Rasbach's "Trees.” sung by Brian Lawrance. Lawrance and his Lansdowne banci are at the top of their form, investing their arrangements with tremendous vigour and sparkle. Carson Robison and his pioneers give us some cowboy songs, and the Wiere Brothers are crazier than ever. Kay, Katya and Kay, whose remarkable terpsichorean ability is world famed, combine grace and rhythm with acrobatic skill in a couple of brilliant dances. The Norwich Trio with its golliwog contortionist are highly amusing. Jack Donohue, the world's fastest tap-dancer gives an excellent display of high speed foot work, the Music Hall Boys as always, in high spirits, gag the old songs frivolously, and bom Helen toward and Raymond Newell sing magnificently.

Jack Hulbert turns in a breezily entertaining portrayal in “Kate Plus ±en," tne second feature. Appearing as a Scotland Yard detective, the star is given sterling support by Genevieve Tobin. The highlight is a thrilling sequence wherein the criminals steal a train laden with bar gold, and drive away down a disused track to a derelict coal mine. This exciting episode culminates in a train-versus-car chase that rivets the attention.