"THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT."

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 156, 2 July 1917, Page 2

"THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT."

A MERRY PANTOMIME. The pantomime season annually afforded the Auckland theatre-going public by the J. ('. Williamson enterprise opened in His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday, when both matinee and evening performances of the extravaganza "Tlie House that Jack Built," was staged to crowded houses, in its pageantry and music the pantomime is fully equal to most of the kind yet presented by a. Williamson company, while the dancing is a special feature, hut the outstanding distinctions from predecessors are found in the fresh and consistently high-class fun-making of the comedians and the irresistible appeal of a ballot of very clever children. For mirth and prettiness this pantomime holds its own with any that have gone before, and despite, the fact that it contains none of the surprise thrills that have made a talking point for others, many people will remember -The House tliat Jack Built" for its beautiful dressing. the sheer loveliness of such effects as the tulip ballet, and the Hags of Kmpire tableau, the oddity of the Jingle Johnny ballet, the exquisite fooling of the lookingglass sketch, and the dancing of Miss Maggie Dickinson and ballet. Above all. the fantastic mansion of fun perpetrate,l in the name of the nurserv-rhv.nic hero gets right away from the village smitliv traditions of tlie stage: it does not stand under any spreading chestnut tree, and the few odd chestnuts that get trampled underfoot in the frolicking come.lv of the play arc merely sufficient to drawattention to the refreshing fact that they are so few. As may have been gathered, the panto, parts customarily .filled by the principal ■boy and girl, the fairy and the demon. arc not given the usual prominence, but the piquante personality of Miss Hilda Culver (principal boy), and the charm of Miss Grotchon Yates .principal girll brought a response indicating that' the audience took pleasure in finding new favourites, while the enthusiasm evoked by Miss Constance ( ayley (Prince Kcgent) and .Miss Amy ' Murphy (iiood Fairy) showed that they still'maintain the affections of the Auckland theatregoer. In conjunction with these favourites the children's chur.is and ballet and the general chorus contributed inrg'clv to the sinvess of the entertainment, notable instances being those of the tulip scene. tl„. doll '-..„,. the na-al s.-ena. and An.-ue soul:. Mis- Maggie Dickinson us the Fairy In.lustria wan given more than usual opportunity and she undoubtedly made ..-00.l in the solo parts of the ballet ~f the seasons and the dan.-c of the emotions, in which her sprightly. , lever dancing and that other ballet evoked admiration and applause. But the bulk of the entertainment fell on th,. shoulders of Mr. Arthur Stigant as the Dame. an.l of his collaborators. .M,-. Harry Koxhurt (Sammy). -Mr. Krnest Ungford I Farmer Barleycorn), and Mr. William Fullbrook .police man. etc. Mr. Stigant great I v enhance.l Ins reputation as a comedian.' and while he and his fellow fun-conspirators were on the stage there was not a .lull moment or a missel point, (hie of the funniest things perpetrated was the looking-glass sketch by Messrs. Stigant and Koxburv, but that was only ~ne of t!i main items of a crowded repertory. "The House that Jack Built" will he staged again to night.