PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19804, 1 June 1926, Page 7

PRINCESS THEATRE.

“On the Wheel” is the title of the new revue staged by the Phil Smith Company at the Princess Theatre last night. The revue takes its name from the fact that Jack Stuart meets a lady, Mrs Austin, who has missed her husband, and invites her to have a ride on the big wheel with him. Mrs Austin consents, the big wheel gets stuck, and the pair spend the night on the top of it. When Mr Stuart returns home next morning his wife wants to know where he has been. If no satisfactory explanation is forthcoming, she is going back home to mamma. Jack, naturally enough, is very upset, and he makes a false step in his domestic relations. Li.ke many another erring husband ho tells a story of meeting an old friend and staying with him all night. The friends name, demands the wife, and Jack plunges further into trouble. “Pete Smith, of Bayswater road, Kroonville,” is the tion, and Jack is now fast in the toils. The wife sends a telegram to the newly found Pete and asks him to call. then another friend drops in, is introduced as Pete and all seems well. But Nemesis is fast on the heels of both Jack and ms friend Bunny .-uistin. There happens to he a real Pete Smith, and he. too meets trouble, because Mrs Smith has also seen the telegram from Jack’s wife. thus is the stage plot set. and the game of hide and seek in domestic misunderstandings runs on merrilv from the standpoint ot the audience —till forgiveness, explanations and reconciliations bring the three married couples once more into each "™er s arms. Mr Phil Smith (Bunny Austin) and Mr William Greene (Jack Stuart) fair ? revelled in their parts of gay dogs about town, and also as deceivers of their trus - ing wives, and their clever acting and amusing exploitation of all the intricate situations with which they were faced brought forth laughter from the aud:lence. Thev proved Indeed a very diverting pai . Mr Nat Hanley (Pete Smith) also took a prominent part in the and Ms monologue entertainment and his playing on the piano likewise won fu” nPproval. Miss Peggy Peate appeared as Mrs Stuart and acted the part well, especially i. her cross-examination of Jack after hs home from his night on the wheel. Miss Nellie Dean made a charming Mrs Austin, but was sufficiently insistent when she too wanted to know where her husband had been spending his spare hours and Miss Phvllis Nicholson (Mrs Pete Smith) had her blacksmith Pete, strong man and pugilifet, well in his place when she met him at the house of Mrs Stuart and wanted asM % ™ ta ss. -“ r»-r -sir “r t°. rSbS' .he evening played no small part in the enter tafmnent—their dancing was indeed quite a feature. Among the musical numbers were the dainty “Kalua, sung b> Phyllis Nicholson and the chorus girls, “Where the ”!ove r Flower" and “Killarney and You.' Mr Robert Raymond and chorus; Fl ° a \j SJ «e I ,|ir .1 motion, so to speak, and she quickly danced her way into the favour of the audience. Her partner is also a facile dancer. In answer to a demonstrative encore, -hey presented a waltz, danced to their own interpretation, a charming, rhythmic effect being obtained. Jack and Eva Arnold also made a first appearance at the Princess. They were heard in a number of songs, and the male performer demonstrated that he is a very skilful piano player, his digital dexterity being out of the ordinary. Campbell and Wise were an entertaining pair, and Miss Campbell. burlesque singing had the audience in shrieks of laughter. They, too, dance very cleverlv. The remaining turn is given bv Theda and Earle* Hunting. The male performer’s work on a ladder—up which he walks as he balances it horizontally—is quite a feat. , , The incidental music is tastefully played by Mr Stokes’s orchestra.