PRINCESS THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18549, 9 May 1922, Page 5

PRINCESS THEATRE

There was a pleasing variety and much that was smart and witty about the new programme presented at the Princess Theatre last night. The only entertainers mailing their first -bow here were the three who gave the amusing sketch “Unearthly in the second part. The plot is the meurably impossible story of a wife who, with the assistance of a doctor friend, succeeds in curing her husband of drunkenness by frightening him into the belief that he is dead. The burden of the acting falls upon Frank Bradley as “Jim,” the drunken husband, and he does his part exceedingly well. His presentation of the drunken man returning from the club is most realistic and is full of very amusing touches. Alice Hamilton as the wife and Robert MacKinnon as their friend, Dr Paul, botlrsucceed in giving Frank Bradley the port necessary. “Harem and Scarem appeared in another boisterous rousing scene which they call “The Terrible Tomboys. They quarrel amusingly and show a remarkable mastery of all sorts of tumbling and pf solo and combined somersaulting. There is a grace and polish about_ the singing of Hartley and Wright that won them a very hearty reception indeed, and their budget of smart jokes was also keenly appreciated. Newman and Wvnne, who proceeded ' them in a slight sketch called “The Handy Man,” also upburdened themselves of a rich store of puns and repartees, most of which _ were quite unfamiliar here. Gladys Victor opened the programme with a couple of catchy little songs and a dance. One of the best turns of the .evening was that of “Victor the Great,” wlio devoted himself to a series of illusions. Find of all he twisted a score of different kinds of headgear from a simple “hole with a piece of felt round it.” Afterwards he passed on to some clever and surprising tricks, two of which were doubtless variations of the famous and ever insoluble box trick. Cards figured in a good deal of his work. In one case', he suspended a card in the air, and_ in another tie ap-. patently enlarged the size of all the cards of a pack which he held jn his hand. Two members of the audience were persuaded to come on the stage to assist in-one _ trick, and one at least of the visitors contributed not a little to the mirth of the evening. Effie Fellows, the Australian boy impersonator, sang several good songs and wore several smart suits most becomingly. Beresford and Rennie, the English vocalists, combine well in duets, and are equally pleasing in solo work. Their choice of material, too, is above the average. The American rag-time turn of te Albers was redeemed somewhat bv the well executed somersaulting of Frank Alber. Last on the' programme came the two Nichols, a slight little girl contortionist and a man with whom she works. Take it all round the programme came the two Nichols, a popular reception during the whole of its currency.