PRINCESS THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 18698, 29 July 1924, Page 7

PRINCESS THEATRE

VAUDEVILLE DE LUXE, Not even in tho piping clays of Wallacenn llevue was there a larger first-night nmlionco than tho one that assembled at tho Princess Theatre Jnst evening. Patrons must surely bo gifted with some power to havo niado such, a good pick as they did. There were no less than five now turns that more than fulfilled tho great expectations about them, whilst a hko number of old ones were by no means eclipsed by tho invaders in entertaining capacity. Any vaudeville bill with Bert Coot© on it has immediate claims for distinction, particularly if it is the Cooto of ‘P. Pipp, Detective,’ the name of tho new sketch that the accomplished actor presented for the first time locally. Cooto is ono of tae most diverting personages that wo have seen on tho local vaudeville stage for an ago. He has little of the paraphernalia of tlte ordinary slapstick artist, nor does he work on tho principle that a comedian is successful in a direct ratio to tho number ot innocent femininity he knocks out per swish or to tho amount of damage that is inflicted on tho occasions that he find's himself expected to propel sundry furnishings at his other unfortunate Aunt Sallies. Ho eschews these and countless other caterings of the orthodox vaudeville funster, but though the stage does not resemble n Donnybrook during Ids occupancy of it, tho audience has nevertheless been cleverly wheedled into displays of unwonted merriment. ‘P. Pipp, Detective,’js a variation in C major upon tho ancient, but evergreen, hocus tliome. It deals with the attempted buncooing of one Percival Pipp, who, becoming enamored with tho valiant doings of that O-debratod sleuth, Nick Carter, attempts to emulate his exploits, and for some unknown reason tenders a cheque to Stephen Mitchell, alleged chief of an alleged detective bureau, in order to be fitted out in this direction. Furnished with a neat set of Bolshevist whiskers, P.P. commences an investigation into the disappearance oT a string of pearls, and, with the aid of his facial _ fungus and other adjustments, which includes for tho time being a very defective memory that slips a cog or two at all kinds of unexpected places, a cine is discovered. With this latter discovery matters develop rapidly, so much, in fact, that tho whole thing ends a la Grand Guignol. It is a melodrama, comedy, and farce all rolled into ono, and is charged with a heavy voltage all tho journey. Oswald Waller made an ideal villain, whilst Chas. Lewis filled the rolo of the crook about ys realistically as it could be clone. Miss Peggy, Fishwick looked like the owner of pearls, and behaved like a lady, notwithstanding her heavy loss. lt_ is not too much to dignify this lady with tho name of actress, and she is certainly something more than a mere Fashion Plate.

Dinks and Trixio nro a couple of welcome strangers. Tho former, who was associated with George “Wallace in Australia, ladles up his comedy from the same sizzling brew, and serves it up with equal gusto. His gyrations about the stage were sufficiently outre to create a hearty laugh now and again, though there has been rather a surfeit of late of goutlcmcn with wobbly logs and torsos that don’t object to being tied into knots. Trixio is no other than Miss 'trixio Ireland, whose charming countenance sot the bosoms of her army of admirers a-hcaving again. Miss Ireland has voice, as her numbers, ‘ The Songs My _ Mother Sang,’ and ‘My Drum Major,’ showed. Phil Bran shy made a realistic aud ferocious “ old lag,” and, attired in approved regulation accoutrements, sang very feelingly of a “lovely castle with a_ big high wall,” and recounted its praises, one by one. Then followed a bitter, complaint anent a “ turned-up nose,” and he concluded with a jeremiad on the woes of certain diggers. Marcus aud D’Arma are hilled “ direct from England,” hut one would be pardoned for concluding that they came “ direct from Australia.” The rather garish background and the numerous articles on the stage suggest a scene in the Australian hush, but Marcus and D’Anna were by no means bush artists. They extract a variety of pleasing melodies from a dulcitouo and a harmonium, and sing a pnmhor (A melodics jointly and severally. Bert and Evelyn Dudley arc alsc/ newcomers, specialising in patter with far' more “ zip” in it than our palates have been accustomed to of late, though Hindi of it is about as ancient as egg. The male partner had so much to talk about. Walter Vernon Jins a number of pleasing witticisms, which is refreshing for a ventriloquist, ami altogether puts on quite, an acceptable little turn. Maud Courtney and Mr “ C.” broke into melody on all manner of subjects, most of which had a topical touch. Mr “ O.” also demonstrated once again that ho is the Lewis gtpi among story-tellers. Prod 'Webber is a versatile-like performer, who sings, plays the piano, extracts some pleasing notes from a cornet, fortunately shorn of _ some of_ its terrors by the judicious application of a mute, and gives a number of impressions of how ‘ The Bells of St. Mary ’ might ho murdered, hut unfortunately “ Paderewski’s ” playing of ‘ Georgette,’ has lost _ some of its novelty. Charles Lewis sot the hall rolling with some hitter reflections on the folly of marriage, and continued to harp on the same theme for the rest of his turn, per medium of song and storv, and, judging by the hearty plaudits that greeted Ins efforts, ho struck a popular note. Reno’s Marimbaphono Band gave the final tooto in ono of the most acceptable programmes seen at the Princess for a long time.