ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20954, 6 November 1939, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO=NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES “CHARLEY'S AUNT” J A brilliant company of well-known I artists will present the favourite ; stage comedy, “Charley’s Aunt,” at | the Theatre Royal to-night. Heading j the cast will be Don Nicol, a talented : young comedian, who has toured New 1 Zealand several times and will best be remembered for his good performances in “ White Horse Inn ” and i “ Balalaika.” Appearing with Don ! Nicol will be Shirley Ann Richards. ; who, besides being a promising stage j actress, is already a popular film I player, her most recent success be- | ing in “ Dad and Dave Come to ! Town,” while she also took a leading l role in “ Loyers and Luggers.” Another of the company with experiI ence in film acting is John Fleeting, ! while Mary Duncan, Leal Douglas. ! and Alathea Siddons were members I of the cast of the widely-discussed 1 play “ The Women,” which was pre- | sented in New Zealand recently. Charlie Albert, Phil Smith. Norman Barrington, Lane Patterson and Maisie Wallace are also prominent artists who will appear in “ Charley's Aunt.” Another merry comedy, “Up in Mabel’s Room,” will be staged tomorrow night. REGENT THEATRE “Ice Follies of 1939” is a spectacular production in which Joan Crawford makes a most attractive singer and skater, while her interpretation of the moving story’s more dramatic moments is splendid. As her husband, from whom she is separated when Hollywood claims her for its own, James Stewart gives a&other of the natural performances for which he is noted. Lew Ayres and Lewis Stone also figure prominently in the entertaining story. There is a dazzling climax, when, gorgeously arrayed, the skaters of the Ice Follies glide and turn in a brilliant sequence of ice ballets and choruses. The producers of the film-have been able to present some of the most beautiful effects ever achieved on the screen. The supporting programme includes the British Air Mail News, with scenes of the war in Poland; “Udiapur,” a coloured travelogue; “The Great Heart,” story of a leper island; and “Radio Hams,” a Pete Smith Oddity. STATE THEATRE “Torchy Gets Her Man” tells of Torchy Blane, the brilliant girl reporter who consistently outwits the police in the detection and capture of the most notorious criminals. Barton Mac Lane reappears as her fiance, a policeman, and Tom Kennedy affords much amusement as his blundering chauffeur. “Ask a Policeman,” a very amusing comedy, features the wellknown British comedian, Will Hay, ably hindered by Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt. The three do their best to ruin the local constabulary, and here they make an hilarious digression into what they imagine to be the realm of the super-natural. As members of the police force in a village that has had no crime for ten years five weeks and four days, they are faced with the necessity to justify their by no means miserable existence, and to do this they cause many humorous complications. ROXY THEATRE “There Goes My Heart,” featuring Frederic March, Virginia Bruce, Patsy Kelly, Alan Mowbray and Nancy Kelly, is a very entertaining production dealing with the merry, romantic adventures of a madcap heiress who runs out on her fortune and into a roving reporter who is out to get the story but comes back with her heart. The result keeps the audience interested to the end of the film. Clive Brook, whose film appearances have been too rare during the last few years, makes a welcome reappearance in “ The Ware Case,” and it is doubtful if the popular star has ever been seen to better advantage. He brings to the part of Sir Hubert Ware a skill and understanding calculated to make the audience like the character, although his morality and general behaviour do not bear examination. CIVIC THEATRE “Bachelor Mother” is a very amusing romantic comedy dealing with the frantic but futile efforts of a shop girl to' deny the parenthood of an abandoned baby. Ludicrous complications develop when her employer’s father, owner of the department store in which she works, becomes convinced that the child is his grandson, and tries to persuade his son to marry the girl. Ginger Rogers appears as the shop girl who adopts the foundling baby, while David Niven plays the part of her handsome employer. In spite of Miss Rogers’ embarrassing position, David Niven falls in love with her and the progress of their romance, coupled with their hectic battles concerning the proper rearing of the baby, provides delightful comedy. A March of Time, “War, Peace and Propaganda,” is intensely interesting, for it shows Britain’s attitude to the war. A coloured Walt Disifey cartoon and views of the World’s Fair are also features of the supporting programme.