PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11858, 8 October 1900, Page 6

PRINCESS THEATRE.

-Dixs Gaiety Company appeared in an en* tirely new programme at the Princess Theatre on Saturday night.. Mr Tom Leonard set tho ball rolling with his song " Fifteen of them," and its acceptability to the house was demonstrated by the fact that he was twico encored. Miss Ida- Clarkson, who is one of the sweetest ballad singers Dunedin audiences have heard for some time, appeared as a winsome Scotch lassie, and gave a delightful rendering of "Ye banks and braes." At the emphatic request of tho audience she returned and favoured them with " Annie Laurie." Mr Jack Kearns appeared next, and gave a comic, song, " A peculiar thing." This was also encored. Miss Ida Itoslyn, who is undoubtedly the most, thorough and the most finished artist in the company, chose for her first item a serio-comio song, " Mademoiselle Pom-pom," in which she was hardly seen at her best, but- in a clever skit of "How they do it on tho Strand" she. had more scope for her talent, and did a re* markably good turn. Her coon song and the dance accompanying it were equally good. Miss Eva Middleton sang Blumenthal's " Sunshine and Tain," in which her fine contralto voice was heard to advantage. Her encore number was " Only a leaf." Master Claude Sullivan sang something patriotic, and tho audience remained clamorous until he came back and sang " The Irish Fusileers." Pedra, the gymnast, still sustains the interest in his performances on the rings, and the audience hold their breath when he caps his feats with the grand double somersault. Mr J. C. Bain appeared no less than five times in new items, and the demands of the audience must have proved rather exhausting. Lazern, a conjurer of no mean ability, made his first appearance, ancl mystified the liouse with a 'number of sleight-of-hand tricks. Only one of them was new, and that consisted in taking a piece of white paper about Ift square, rolling it inte a tube, and passing through it, in full view of the audience, three . white handkerchiefs, bringing out three coloured ones at the othet end. The audience, of course, are expected to believe the handkerchiefs are coloured in the process, and this might- be so for aught thoy can see as to how the three original handkerchiefs are disposed of. Tricks with watches, billiard balls, etc., were- performed with all the dexterity of the practised illusionist, and called forth warm applause. The Elmore Sisters made a good impression with their double specialty, and as long as they sing and dance as well as they did on Saturday night just so long may they expect to be "greeted "with the popular favour. Messrs M'Kissoii and Kearns, as knockabout comedians, appeared in a guise highly suggestive of tlie Broelong blacks, and tlieir frolic round the camp lire in a wierd and grotesque costume v.-as as clever as it was entertaining. After Little Ethel, the contortionist, had twisted herself un into the most extraordinary positions possible to the human form divine, the entertainment concluded with another exhibition of canine sagacity by Professor Bernard's troupe of performing degs. Like the good wine, this it?m is kept-"to the last, aud was well worth staying to see. Mr Leonard announced that, on the 24th inst. the company would appear at the Alhambra Theatre, an intimation that appealed to meet with approval.