PRINCESS THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 18258, 24 April 1923, Page 11

PRINCESS THEATRE

There was a complete change of programme at tho Princess last night, five new vaudeville acts replacing the three rvliich formed the first half of tho bill last week. Of these five, tho most meritorious perhaps was the act which the Mackinnqn Boys .pit over. The fear (induced by their entrance in kilts, with bagpipes skirling) that it would be undiluted Scotch was dissipated a few minutes later, when one of the brothers (still in kilts) played an American air on an English concertina, an instrument, by the way, that he played remarkably well Finally tho two brothers changed into conventional evening dress, and step-danced in a manner that fairly brought down the house. Without doubt they know how to use their feet, and tho act altogether was a most acceptable one. Marvel and Daring are a pair who present a very clever chair-balancing act. That it smells of tho sawdust ring is no d'etrinient. The culminating stunt,_ in which tho lady (in a recumbent position) supports on her hands and knees a. pyramid of four chairs, on tho top of which her partner does a hand balance, thoroughly deserved tho loud applause it drew from tho audience. Violet Elliottr—self-described as “ fat,” and deserving it—is a typo of singer who sets out to get “ tho boys.” She has tho “ glad eye,” the more than a touch of suggestiveness, and the assurance—qualities that one used to associate with the variety show comedienne. But she certainly scored heavily with an originay version, of ‘ By Jingo,’ accompanied as it was with facial contortions which had tho audience rocking with laughter. Kearns and Hunt are two artists well kno«ai to Dunedin who have linked up in a double act. Jack Kearns was known to the last generation as a matter of fact, while Lola Hunt was a conspicuous figure in Fuller revues of more recent times. They work well together in cross-talk, songs, and burlesque of tho stereotyped kind. Francis Thorne was described in the bill as a “novelty violinist,” but novelty was not a conspicuous feature of his performance, which consisted of tho playing of a few ordinary airs in an ordinary manner. Doubtless it is difficult for a company presenting a long series of those “hotchpotch” productions known as revues to maintain anything like a high standard of excellence. Some of tho “playlets” must necessarily be bettor than others. ‘ Hero and Hereafter,’ which Bert Le Blanc put on last night, is not one of his best. Bert himself tried very hard to keep the thing moving brightly, and he was always funny. ■Jake Mack, in his “nodding mandarin” stvlo, helped, too; and Marjorie Daw brightened the proceedings vocally. But what it’s all about is impossible to say. The scene is, presumably, laid in Hades, though this much is where tho guests apparently are treated not so badly, oven if the chief (or only) meal is beans, served on a table laden with the old-fashioned revolving cruet, thick china cups, and other cheap boarding-house appurtenances. However, into this hot region come attractive little devils in tho shape of chorus girls, as well ns other wandering mortals, and they “shake things up,” so to speak, for the edification or otherwise of ‘ Myfisto." Songs, “specialties,” and other enlivening stunts by the members of the company fill in "the regulation seventy minutes or so.