PRINCESS THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 17314, 30 March 1920, Page 8

PRINCESS THEATRE

night, in their initial presentation of ‘The Cruise of the Oymbaline,’ Walter George and his Sunshine Players coneiderably enhanced the reputation they have here won as bright and capable entertainers. This playlet, which was written by Mr Les. Williams, of Sydney, had not before been staged, and the author was indeed fOl lunate that such an excellent company <is* the .Sunshine Players handled its initial presentation to the public; If the company did err their fault was in giving the audience, which filled the house in all parts, “ too much of a good thing.” For veil over an hour and a half things were Kept "moving,” and there was not a dull moment in the whole performance. The story is enacted on board & pleasure 011 M'hich Mr George Storey is the chief tun-maker. His arrival on the vessel after he had been drinking “ not ' wisely out too well” and his subsequent pranks can well oa imagined. His depiction of a peison atliicted with mal de mer was screamingly funny. But his best item, and prouably the "hit” of the evening, was a rollicking sen. song entitled ‘YeeHe’ (a grotesque caricature of ’Heave Yo Ho’), which made the audience fairly shriek with hearty laughter. As a comedian he was a real " live wire," his comicalities' being bright ami at all times wholesome. Mr Keg. Hawthorne, as the steward of the vessel, was also exceedingly fanny, and in addition sang several catchy songs, the best perhaps being ’Back to the Mountains. Indeed, the piece is brimful of bright and tuneful musical numbers, which gave the talented vocalists of the company ample scope. Miss Hylda Shannon, it need scarcely be said, won first place for her singing, her items being ‘ My Boy ’ and (with May Geary) ‘Venetian Song.’ The well-known * Moonlight Bay.’ as sung by .Misses Shannon and Geary and Messrs Hawthorne and Hitchings, proved a most

popular item. Other, musical numbers were given pleasingly by Dulcie Milner, Andrew Pace, and Georgie Martin. The setting of the piece, which was done locally, was exceedingly attractive, and the costumes (also made in Dunedin) ’were most tasteful. The chorus girls assisted considerably in ■ the success of the evening, particularly in ‘My Dainty Flapper Girl’ and in a onmoan ballet in native costume,. The companv are to be heartily congratulated bn their performance,' which, no doubt, will even be improved upon during the week. The vaudeville portion of the programme (occupying the first part) was both varied and entertaining. The newcomers were Jack and Gora Williams, who introduced some novel and sensational items. The lady gave an aerial serpentine dance while suspended by her teeth, and won unstinted applause. While suspended in mid-air also, she threw oS garment after garment, each one more picturesque than the other, until she was clad only in the garb of an acrobat. The turn finished sensationally, the lady holding herself by her teeth to a strap which went round her male partner's neck, and then being whirled around (herself gyrating, with the appliance in her month as a pivot) at an amazingly rapid pace. This must have been a severe test of endurance. The item was a first-rate one, but could be considerably improved by the. omission of the song by the male member. Edwards and Parkes delighted the audience _ with their new sketch ‘ Off for the Holidays,’ incidentally showing in humorous vein the troubles of married life. Eva Falvey, billed as “the personality girl,” sang several pretty songs, and Benaux ana Arta were again very successful with their xylophone tunes and melodies. The humorous ditties of Mr Wallingford Tate, at the piano, were the means of aronsinc much laughter. Fullers’ Orchestra did all that was required of them in a capable, way. The same programme is to be staged for the rest of the week.