PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18746, 27 December 1922, Page 2

PRINCESS THEATRE.

It was a purely vaudeville programme that was presented at the Princess Theatre last evening to a very large audience. Eleven items, including selections by ’ the orchestra, which, by the way, were very well played, were offered, for the entertainment and amusement of the crowded audience, and every one met with keen appreciation. A few moving pictures of interesting events prefaced the appearance of Ship and. Kenny, who, ,as a song and patter duo, are quite comparable to artists who follow their particular lino of the profession. A notable turn was that given by Marzon and Florence, who combine wonderful balancing powers with grace and strength. Tie balancing is chiefly done on a pedestal, upon which Marzon stands and here he and Florence, give a very clever exhibition of dexterity as ©quilibristsr Later, a ladder some 12ft in length is used as a means of further displaying the joint powers the pair possess in maintaining an equipoise under trying conditions. Maurice Sterndale is a skilful violinist, and chooses for his music such melodies as are pleasing to his audience, most of them being of the “jazz” order. He was recalled more than once. Probably the most startling feat seen during the evening was that presented by the Staig Sisters, two in number. They give it the title of the “Globe of Life,” and the spectacle the two provide, with the aid or the bicycle and motor cycle, is highly sensational and apt to make the onlooker hold his breath. - A huge cage occupied the centre of the stage, and it is within this that acts of great intrepidity are performed. The two riders rise from the bottom of the cage as high as the middle of it’, and there circle round at great speed, both with bicycle and motor cycle. The prominent feature is that in which one of the two loops the loop with a motor cycle ridden round the cage at high speed until gradually machine and rider are almost moving up and down perpendicularly. Inevitably the cycle loaves the surface of the cage at the apex, and it is there that looping the loop takes place. Tiero was, great applause at the end of each feat. Louis Bloy plays the banjo very skilfully, and was compelled to make a return to the stage two or throe times. His medley of Scottish airs was particularly well received. It was somewhat of a novelty to hear reels and strathspeys played on the banjo. In the direction of character sketching very few persons as clever as Sam Steam have been seen here. His impersonations last night wore confined to Jewish or Italian characters, and he was equally effective in both. All are accompanied by song or recitation, and in those two directions Steam is exceedingly clover, and particularly diverting. Croydon and Mack give a turn in which song, lively talk, and novel dancing were the special features, and the Andros, adult violinist of the comical order, and boy ventriloquist, gave a satisfactory finishing touch to what was undoubtedly a very amusing and entertaining evening. The orchestra is to be complimented upon its playing all through the evening.