ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20920, 27 September 1939, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES THEATRE ROYAL “Turn Off the Moon” is an entertaining production, in which a detective who follows Eleanore Whitney, a hungry dancer who steals a doughnut in the department store run by the star-gazing Charlie Ruggles, is responsible for the dancer’s latest movie romance with Johnny Downs. The amusing Charles Ruggles, the police department, the fire department, a store show and sidesplitting complications see the road to romance set for speedy travel. “Night of Mystery” introduces a new Philo Vance and Sergeant Heath in the persons of Grant Richards and Roscoe Kams. Thrown into the midst of a series of murders that threatens to extinguish a whole family forced to live in a mysterious mansion, Vance unearths clue after clue. ROXY THEATRE “Mr Wong, Detective” shows how the Oriental detective unravels a triple murder that baffles San Francisco’s police. Three par'nors o i the Dayton Chemical Company are killed, earh alone in a room which has no access. Wong is called in to solve the crime and work with his friend, Captain Street, of the San Francisco Police Department. With the help of test tubes and a physics book, Wong discovers the murderer’s method—the use of poison gas in a glass receptacle which is shattered by vibration—but it is not until after the third murder that he learns how the glass was made to break. With this dangerous secret in his hands, Wong sets off for police headquarters, but walks into the killer’s trap, where two of his friends have preceded him. This tense situation leads to a thrilling climax. All the romance, colour and gaiety of old Mexico are brought to the screen in “Tropic Holiday.” Ray Milland, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Burns and Martha Raye head an all-star cast.

CIVIC THEATRE “The Mikado,” the screen version of the favourite Gilbert and Sullivan opera, will be revived to-night. “The Mikado,” which is one of the most tuneful of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, has been brought to the screen very successfully, with all its melody, humour, drama and spectacle. It is good to hear the popular tunes again, both in solo and concerted form. The film is in colour, so that all the spectacle of the East is emphasised, and many of the scenes, especially the big procession, are very beautiful and impressive. The cast does exceptionally good work. Kenny Baker, the American tenor, is a satisfying Nanki-Poo and Jean Colin a sweet Yum-Yum. Several of the Savoy company fill other roles, and there is a strong cast, while a Symphony Orchestra gives volume and strength to the music. “The Mikado” will please not only Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiasts but the general film-lover as welL REGENT THEATRE “Dead Men Tell No Tales” is a thriller that really thrills. Heading the cast is Emlyn Williams as a pedantic Norwich headmaster at whose school a series of mysterious deaths occur, commencing with the school mistress (Christine Silver) who disappears immediately following the announcement that she had won a big prize in a Continental Lottery. Equally mystifying is the sudden disappearance of a young master (Marius Goring) upon whom suspicion has also fallen following his confession to a false alibi and the fact that he was financially embarrassed and seeking the assistance of Friedberg. In addition to those already named, Hugh Williams, Sara Seegar, Lesley Brook and Clive Morton have important parts. STATE THEATRE The popular Joe E. Brown has full scope for his comedy gifts in “Polo Joe,” in which he plays the role of Joe Bolton, gn American youth who, after several years in China, returns home wit a a solemn-visaged valet—and an unbounded supply of tall tales. He returns to the arms of his adoring, gushing and rich Aunt Minnie—who is a member of an extremely swn*u<y polo-playing couny. Joe at falls violently in love with pret«> Mary Hilton, a neighbour, who recognises no hero but a polo-playing hero. The story works up to a thrilling climax. “Men in Exile” is an intriguing and romantic adventurous story of an island paradise in the Caribbean Sea, packed with thrills. It has an excellent cast headed by Dick Purcell, June Travis, Alan Baxter, Margaret Irving, Victor Varconi, Olin Howland and Veda Ann Borg. RED CROSS CONCERT Of Marguerite and Tom Harvey, who will sing at the Red Cross concert in Hamilton to-morrow night, the Otago Daily Times said;—“Their work in the Miserere scene will long be remembered.” The Southland Times was equally complimentary, saying: “It is a fact that it is a long time since two such accomplished vocalists have been on the local stage.” Mr and Mrs Harvey have chosen some very interesting and melodious items for Thursday’s concert. They will be assisted by Miss Cecelia McLachlan, violinist, and Mr W. Whitehead, pianist.