PRINCESS THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 19187, 2 March 1926, Page 2

PRINCESS THEATRE

SHAPSBOTTERB AT THEIR BEST The George Ward Revue Company, which has been conducting a gigantic laughter mission during the past week, has a sure winner in ‘ Who’s Next? tho latest concoction of mirth and melody to intrigue Princess patrons. There was no miss-firing in the comedy department this week, and everything moved with a business-like buzz right from the commencement of proceedings, there being naturally the usual inability on tho part of tho most pensive pewholdcrs to restrain themselves from following the cheerful lead of that stall patron whose six-eylindered laugh adds not a little to the gaiety of Monday night auditors. If trie amount of elocution that was dealt in by all and sundry was any judication, there should have been quite a fair-sized plot in ‘Who’s Next?’ particularly as one of the ladies was persistently referred to as the “murderess,” and several other of tho participants were no doubt suspected of a great variety of less serious crimes; but whatever plot there was Anally flitted away with the appearance of scene two. There were again some delightfully hilarious episodes featuring, of course, Messrs Ward and Le Blanc, and nothing swept the audience into paroxysms more than the riotous manoeuvring of Genera! Hermie Shultz's ■‘ army.” And what a frolicsome lot of wildfowl they were! Hermio ■essayed to put them through their paces with sergeaiit-major-liko gusto, and, after offending against every i-ulo in the Army Act. retired amidst a perfect bombardment of applause. Both Ward and Le Blanc participated in a great variety of other gladsome doings, less strenuous, perhaps, than this, but equally comforting to hosts of admirers who have made me.se two an ms suca prime favorites. It is a pity, for the sake of those with trams to catch, that tho show sometimes isn’t set going at the finale and allowed to work its way to the “shirt.” This would give a number an opportunity of seeing the company at its best, Perhaps the unreasonably protracted interval could be curtailed. This week, aga.n. Cm ...... scene is a. delightfully well staged and exquisitely conceived affair, which ambitiously sets out to portray tho “evolution of dancing in five episodes,” commencing with a hoity-toity Greek dance ami .finishing up with—well, with something less hoity-toity in the shape of jazz. Whoever is responsible for these scenes (the programme is silent on the matter) has a decided - o.yo for tho beautiful, as well as displaying considerable more capacity for producing than is to be found as a rule in revuo companies. Of course, one can have tho most, grandiose schemes and not have tho_ material to carry them out, but in this respect the Snapshotters are iortnnate in that they have a decidedly versatile and accomplished troupe capable of doing all things well. There is the usual batch of moony melodics—such lilting pleasantries as ‘ Rock-a-bye Blues ’ (Patsio Hill and Vernon Sellars)- and Duicli Lullaby' (Daisy Yates); whilst Vernon Sellars and Carlton Chase contribute a couple of numbers in their must approved stylo. Tho sextet from ‘ Lucia ’ was “ ragged,” no doubt an unpardonable offence in the ears of tho musical Pussyfoots; but the more unsophisticated found it a pleasing enough performance. Dorrie Tointon, Carlton Chase, Yorke Gray, and tho ballet wore to the fore in some dainty torpsichoro. Yorke Gray’s female impersonation, by the way, was quite a realistic bit of business." “ Wanted, three good songs for a voice of Mod quality. Apply Alec Koliaway, Princess Theatre.” One is tempted to insert this gratis advertisement for 'Mr Kell away after hearing this,not ungifted songster in his vocal efforts in the first half. He opened up with a maudlin and rather bucolic tiling about “Send me a Bluebird with beautiful blue eyes.” The next item was ‘Somewhere South of Shanghai,’ which also was rather meritless; and ho U'onnd up with something that apparently had for its title ‘ Doodle-dno-nno.’ which is surely jazz in extremis. It is a pity that talent is wasted on such trivial material when audiences are clamorous for a few of the hundreds of delightful old songs and ballads that remain unsung and apparently unhonored by ultra-modern vocalists. Miss Estelle Rose repeated some of her previous successes, of which those piquant stories of hers found most favor. Her “slight impression” of a French girl essaying ‘ You’d Be Surprised ’ stirred memories of Miss Daisy Jerome, and not unfavorable comparisons. Tho show got an unusually good start by the diverting gymnastic.' oi Moio'co and Clifton, or at least by the latter, as the female partner is a mere lookeron, though a pleasing s one to bemud. Clifton, in fact, cl Icl ''evervUimc but break his neck, which was evidence enough of the thrills that he imparted into an exceptionally novel turn. Murfyne pounded away at his xylophone, and pleased mightily, except in the soft-pedal stuff, which sounded like the distant echoes of a Chinese orchestra in a state of collapse. Miss Airlie’s songs and impressions earned for that lady a round or two of applause. Tho programme will bo repeated this evening.