PRINCESS THEATRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3293, 25 April 1917, Page 52

PRINCESS THEATRE.

There was another largo audience at the Princess Theatre on the 23rd, when Walter Johnson's Musical Llcvuo company pre&eiiteil its third change ot the season, "The Railway 1 angle." 'lho tangle is certainly a complicated one, but it tormed tlio vehicle of many intensely humorous situations, and laughter loud and long rang through the theatre. Each of the princpals had a part of which he or she mado the- most; the staging was artistically arranged, and the dressing of tho chorus girls was dainty and most pleasing to tho eye. Harry Burgess, who appeared in all tho splendour of burnt cork and a wonderiul attire, took tho part of an information man, and his answers to tho many queries pressed on him by visitors to the railway station provoked roars of laughter. As a choleric major, whose son was eloping with a young lady quite ineligible in the father's opinion, " Ernest Lashbrook had a part which was responsible ior pienty of munour, and of which hemade the most, and tho son, Bud Burns (Mr Walter Johnson) .also had an excellent conception of what, was required of him to make tho rcivue go. Giis .franks appeared as Izzy A. Goto (a train caller), and he called with such effect, and also with so much by-play, as to prove highly diverting, and Jack Kearns, as Porkey, the train smasher, added to the high opinion already tormed of him as a funmaker. Peggy Prydo (Bud's girl), taken by Vera Kearns (a Belle Millette society loader), and Loda Hunt (a prima donna) ably filled the parts falling to their lot. Two of the musical numbers were particularly effective. In "Hello, 'Frisco," sung by Lydia Game, Walter Johnson, and chorus, bands of ribbon were stretched from tho stage to the auditorium, and in the "Ladder of Roses," sung by Vera Kearns arid chorus, tho stage presented a brilliant spectacle, being hung from tho flies to the floor with ladders beautifully lighted with many-coloured electric lights. The other musical numbers were nicely rendered—" Buck Wheat Cakes," by Mr Harry Burgess, being worthy of special mention. "The Railway Tangle" should prove a sure attraction during the week. In the first half Jack and Vera Kearns g-avo an original sketch, "She Would be an Actress," and were heartily applauded, and Charles Edenbury gave a wonderful exhibition of balancing. His head balance, what time he ate an apple and smoked a cigarette, and his one-arm balance alona placed the performer in the first rank -of equilibrists. Mr Arthur Coxon, who may be termed an eccentric comedian, made a first appearance in Dunedin, and scored an instant success. He is of the quiet order of entertainers; his songs have point; they were rendered with excellent effect, and his patter-, also, was fresh and clever.