PRINCESS THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 19583, 15 June 1927, Page 9

PRINCESS THEATRE

GEORGE WALLACE'S RETURN After an absence of about three ycarSj George Wallace, an established favorite in Dunedin, returned to the Princess Theatre at the head of his revue company. The playlet was ‘ His Royal Highness,' and no prince of really royal blood could have got a warmer welcome than did Comedian Wallace. When the well-remembered little figure in chequered shirt and lowwaist trousers emerged from the wings there was a round of applause that continued for perhaps a couple of minutes, while George stood and twiddled his old boxer hat and bowed his acknowledgments. It was, indeed, a royal welcome.

The playlet is an unusually _ coherent one for revue, it has plot, situations, and incident, and is of a decidedly melodramatic character, even to the train smash which was to have ended the reign of the comical King of Betonia, only the said monarch had previously 11 fallen off the train when she was rounding a curve.” The pseudo King, be it said, was George Wallace, alias Tommy Dodd, and he owed his temporary rocket-like elevation to the throne to the fact that he had a scar on the back of the neck and was thus recognised as the missing prince. Tommy didn’t really like the King business, and when another young man who also had a scarred neck turned up h© (Tommy) was quite relieved to admit that his particular scar was not a permanent fixture, but one which had been caused by the edge of a fruit case. So, after all, he was able to return to New r York, buy an auto cafe (in other words, a petrol-propelled piecart) and marry his old sweetheart, Molly. But there was plenty of fun during those days of kingship, and the audience roared with laughter at George’s interpretation of the duties and ceremonies of the court. He was a typical Australian “ Bill,” and took on the job with characteristic assurance and comical common sense, and the “ house ” was entirely with him when he set the court officials curtseying for the fun of the thing, or chased “ The Guardian of the King’s Health for dosing him with unnecessary medicine, or blew the doddering old Prime Minister clean off his tottery legs. There was a ray of sunshine for Tommy when a bevy of peasant girls arrived on the scene, and he immediately proposed “a party,” commissioning one official to “ duck out and get three bobs’ worth of sandwiches ” and another to procure “ a five-gallon keg.” All excellent fooling. What a scream there was, too, when he suddenly turned to the audience with the oldtime classic remark of Ins, “ I’ll never forget the night!” Princess audiences have good memories for good things, and George’s quaint sayings have never been forgotten. The other members of the company include some well-known_ artists who have also previously visited our city and some very capable newcomers. Their effectiveness, however, was greatly reduced by the fact that Marshall Crosby, who has accompanied Comedian Wallace on each of his visits and made himself a prime favorite, was suffering from a severe cold, which not only prevented him singing, but seriously affected his speaking voice. He piuckily struggled through his part—that ot the King’s Ambassador—under Mint must have been distressing conditions. Frank Earning was of great assistance as Torano, the King’s Councillor, who -plotted against his master and would have come to a sad and bad ond but for Tommy Dodd heaping coals of fire and the managership of Auto Cafe No. 2 upon him as ho lay fainting in the highway. Charles Lawrence was the King’s Attendant who carried the dinkum scar and afterwards the sceptre. Mario Nyman did very well, too, as Babette, a scheming, plotting tady of the Court whose schemes went agley, but who also received some of Tommy’s fiery coals and a sub-manager-ship before she could set out on the “ last Jong journey from whence,” etc. Letty Croydon got a deal of fun out of the role of the Guardian of the King’s Health, and once burst into a seniiApache dance with King George Wallace, much to the simulated horror of the Court. Ada Scaddan made a dear little shopgirl who remained true to Tommy, even though he bccame_ a King, and (incidentally) lollowed him to his kingdom to make sure. 7om Lincoln, Hylton Osborne, Lcs Daley, Arthur Ellis. Kathleen Daley, Marlyn M'Gill adequately filled other parts, while the Six Cnties showed form and skill as dancers. A number of musical items were given, the principal singers being George himself, Ada Scaddan. and Charles Lawrence. The indisposition of Marshall Crosby upset the must cal programme somewhat, hut this wiu be remedied, w© are told, very shortly At the conclusion of the perform since Mr Wallace thanked the audience for their cordial welcome, and explained that the whole company had worked under difficulties that night ir that they had had a bad crossing of the Straits, and, further, had to pro due© the snow without much of their proper wardrobe. But things will sparkle after a good sound sleep last night and the arrival of the precious hampers of clothes, and George Wal lace and Co. will do a. roaring business for the rest of the season; no doubt of it!