PRINCESS THEATRE

Evening Star, Issue 19777, 30 January 1928, Page 1

PRINCESS THEATRE

STUD FOLEY'S TENTH SHOW Like the immortal brook, the Follies go on for ever. The reception accorded their tenth show on Saturday evening left no doubt as to the popularity of this (lever hand, both individually and collectively. The applause of the audience, always a criterion of the measure of success of an entertainment, was a tribute to the ingenuity of Eric Masters and Stud Foley in retaining freshness in their efforts, despite the length of their season.' The production of new shows week after week must be a serious drain on their resources, and it is ali to their credit that their vogue has not palled in the slightest. The Follies administered a dose of feverish fun that could not be denied with their new show, quite appropriately entitled 1 Patches.’ As purveyors of everything that is merry and bright in vaudeville it would be difficult to lind their equal. Erie Masters has studied the taste of Princess patrons, and he knows exactly what will go down with them. His efficient producing does not permit of delays of any kind, with the result that the programme was rattled over a course of laughter with decided verve.

The programme was a lengthy one, containing twenty-seven numbers of varying quality. The sketches were, for the most part, breezy and entertaining, several ot the shorter ones being well conceived. ‘ The Dancing Drama ’ was highly diverting. In this Harry Gould and Stud Foley had arranged to produce a musical comedy and a drama respectively, but as both could not be presented at the same time they compromised and combined the two. The various characters danced throungh a melodramatic burlesque to the music of ‘John Brown’s Body,’ and pleased the audience immensely. Eric Masters sang ‘One Summer Night’ (a bare-faced crib of Dvorak’s ‘ Songs My Mother Taught Me’) in his usual stentorian tones, an attractive portrait sotting being provided by the Six Dainties. Mr Masters essayed a new role in ‘ The Parson’s Son,’ Robert Service’s poem of the Yukon. In this he revealed himself as an elocutionist of note, and portrayed a difficult role with dramatic intensity. Tlie only flaw in an otherwise sound characterisation was that the subject of the poem was “old and grey,” which Mr Masters was not. The best sketch of the evening was ‘Justifiable Homicides,’ in which Mr Masters illustrated the best method o) dealing with exceedingly annoying social offenders. Four very amusing instances were given. The first showed Littlic Iris engaged in murdering a, piano until Harry Gould undertook to despatch her. Then Stud Foley came on doubled up with sun burn. A wellmeaning friend clapped him on the back with a resounding smack, and that was ids last act on earth. Then came the race-goer who could not tell the punter the result of the all-import-ant last race; and Anally a dismal quartet which endeavored to give a soulful rendering' of ‘ Love’s Old Sweet Song,’ after laborious efforts at tuning. Their efforts did not meet with much sympathy from Eric Masters and Stud Foley, who consigned them to the nether world. In one of the illustrations the revolver did not go off at the critical moment, and tills unrehearsed incident amused Ihe audience immensely. The ihome of ihe whole sketch was quite good, only W. S. Gilbert thought of it in 1885. Harry Gould and Stud Foley indulged in their usual inanities and kept the house in a roar of merriment with their antics. Stud Foley was especially effective wiui Little iris, tlie Gilhcrtiaii .uaxiin of 1 A Policeman's Lot is Not a Happy One’ forming the basis for some very entertaining fouling. Stud Foley was nothing less than screamingly funny in ‘Has Anyone Seen My Pom.?’ in which lie gave his restless body full play and indulged in his usual weird and-wonderful lacial contortions. Liulo iris’s first appearance was the signal lor an outburst of applause, widen in itself was a sinking illustration ol this young lady’s popularity. Her numbers with tlie Six Dainties provided some of the most pleasing on the programme. Lulla Fanning made a must attractive boy in ‘ That’s a Good Girl,’ snug in “whispering baritone ” style, and thoroughly enjoyed herself in the part. Miss Fanning invariably “ dues her stuff ” with infectious zest. Flora M’Donakl and Dalton Payne continue to amuse with droll palter. Winnie Edgertoii and William Bercslord were in excellent vocal form and their songs were much appreciated by the audience. The orchestra trumpeted its way through classical selections, which are most decidedly not its forte. ‘ll Trovatoio ’ and Brahm’s ‘Hungarian Dances ’ found them well out of their depth. Lighter music is much mure becoming in view ol the nature ol the entertainment.

During the course of the evening Mr Masters, on behalf of ihe company, spoke in sincere appreciation of tlie reception' accorded their efforts, anti stated that the Dunedin season of the Follies would conclude in two weeks’ time, when tlie company will lie transicrring to Christchurch. A new show will bo presented next week, and then the company will give, a request programme, to be made up entirely ol numbers selected Jcom the various programmes by Princess patrons.