PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19709, 9 February 1926, Page 10

PRINCESS THEATRE.

We hear plenty of stories of the Englishman, the Scotchman, and the Irishman, who are dragged, willy nilly, into almost every joke, good, bad, or indifferent, that is let loose npon an unsuspecting victim. In Dunedin the nationalities have latterly undergone a change, and the humour is divided up among a Jew, a Dutchman, and an Irishman —Bert Le Blanc, George Ward, and Les Wharton. They, however, cannot be classified under the two sections, bad or indifferent. Their material is all to the good. “Out West” is their new revue, which was presented last night for the first time at the Princess Theatre. It requires only a cursory glance at the names of the lads of the village to realise the type of country we have stepped into. Jim Dexter, for instance, the owner of a claim, Sancho Durez, politely called a Mexican, and Red Garry, the lone bandit. Red Garry is one of those assertive gentlemen who "shoot first and tell you about it afterwards.” The sheriff of the Osage Country is Abe Cohen, and Abe’s pal, Hermie Schultz, gives him his moral support when it is convenient. Hermie follows the precarious calling of an umbrella mender. Just about the time the “story” opens there is a feeling of anxiety in the village, for there is a rumour that Red Garry is on the warpath. It seems that he has run amok, which is the last thing a bandit should do if he wishes to preserve his life. But there! It is a revue. For all the excitement Red Garry fails to come into the picture at all, though one is continually reminded of his presence in the vicinity by a series of revolver shots, which on one occasion, after a salvo of shots, a cowboy staggers out of a saloon with his hand to his bandaged head. How the bandage got there so quickly is a matter for conjecture. The sight completely unnerves Hermie, who has donned the sheriff’s star (taken from Abe because of his cowardice), and then and there he vacates the office by unpinning the badge and discarding his revolver and laying them aside. Hermie is easily discouraged, but he can also be persuaded to reconsider his action, and it is whole he and Dexter are promising each other somewnat loumy what they will do to Red Garry once they get him that a wild looking individual appears and listens from behind. Hermie s efforts to warn his loud-voiced friend of the sinister presence are fruitless, until Dexter catches sight of him from the corner of his eye and leaves Hermie to bear the brunt. After the man compels the little Dutchman to swallow a few bullets he confesses that he is only the bar keep in the neighbouring hotel. In accordance with their custom the comedians indulged in a little interlude at one stage of the performance and here their humour became a little more obvious. Still, it served its purpose well. It made the audience laugh. Carlton Chose played the part of Dexter, and Dick Rolleston, the stage driver, was portrayed by Vernon Sellars, whose singing of “Sally” with Patsie Hill was one of tlio features of the show “Cober o’ Mine” and “Friend o’ Mine" were other numbers by Vernon Sellars Abe Cohen’s daughter Noll, who has not much faith in her father’s courage, was depicted by Patsie Hill, while Daisy Yates played the part of Dorothy Bishop, the new school mam. and Dexter's sweetheart. Red Garry, who turned out to bo the bar keep, was the Irish Les Wharton. Dorrie Tointon’s dancing was one of the most attractive features and no less successful were the ballets and ensembles, which were produced under her direction. The song numbers were pleasing, notably “Moonstruck,” by Daisy Yates and the Snapshot Six. “Minding My Business,” by Yorke Gray and the Six, and “Jealous,” bv Patsie Hill and the Six.

The Four Little Kellys are the,only newcomers to the vaudeville programme. They appeared at the Princess Theatre a month or two ago, and their welcome a second time was a cordial one. They are wonderful little violinists, and the girl at tne piano is no less accomplished. Charles Sherman has a new string of iokes which he tells to advantage at the piano, and his freak playing is also entertaining. Then there is Cardini, the uncanny manipulator of cards. He seems to exude cards. He snaps bis fingers and a pack flutters to the floor. He can do almost anything with a pack of cards. Bella and Morris, the patter comedians, keep the fun going well with their songs, dances and jokes. The male partner is the humorist. A noisy, exuberant turn is that of the Three White Kuhns, who play quitars and similar stringed instruments and burst occasionally into a rapid fire song. The antediluvian cello made its appearance again, and was banged and. ill-treated as though it were a drum or an old motor car of the most familiar make. The audience had plenty of time to study the programme between the first and second parts. If the interval could be cut shorter the revue would finish earlier, and people would not get restless towards the end.