PRINCESS THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 16995, 18 March 1919, Page 6

PRINCESS THEATRE

The only incoming act at tho Princess Theatre last night was Louis Nikola, an exceedingly clover magician, master of legerdemain, and hand-shadow expert. Alsace the musician was also to have made his debut, but he did not arrive until 9.30 p.m., and as a heavy set of scenery had to be bung for his act his appearance was deferred till to-night. Nikola’s skill with articles small and great had tho audience “ pop-eyed,” as the saying runs, and lie proved himself one of tiro most brilliant executants of the kind wo have seen in this country. One of tho exhibits in his act was a jng purporting to contain wine, and this occasioned a little banter of the usual kind—“ Mine's a pint," etc, —nothing to disconcert an experienced showman; but Nikola took it badly, lost either his patience or his poise, and, abandoning tho experiment in which ho wag engaged, switched to the shadowgraph portion of his act. Tins also was very expertly done, and- most interesting. In fact, Nikola “put over” a capital act, despite its abridgement, ns to which no more need bo said than to remind him that the. old Biblical adage “to suffer fools gladly ” should always be part of tho showman’s philosophy. * Brighbie and Carlyon, whoso charm and animation established them prime favorites last week, furnished an entirely new act, compounded of the same ingredients—song, dance, burlesque, and cross-talk It was an even better offering than their first. They are an infectiously funny duo, and in music-hall parlance they “ stopped the show,” scoring a double encore. In response to the first recall they repeated the ‘Destiny’ waltz, and upon a further clamorous demand gave a happy burlesque of a couple at the “ movies”— before and after marriage. Signor and Signora Molinari also won the house to rare enthusiasm with their fresh catalogue of songs, which embraced popular numbers as well as excerpts from grand opera. Their really brilliant contribution was tho duet ‘ Addio.’ The whole of the first part was contributed by the Minstrels, the chief honors of this entertainment being divided among Ward Lear, Walter Emmerson, Marjorie Alwyn, and Ern. Delavalo. The same programme—with Alsace added—is announced tor to-night.