PANTOMIME SEASON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1209, 18 August 1911, Page 8

PANTOMIME SEASON.

"JACK AND THE BEANSTALK." "Jack and the Beanstalk," a pantomime by J. J. Hewson. Cast:— Kins StOTcybrokish Itunert Darrell Miftins Victor Loydal.l Our Hill Bert Watson ~ Our Sam Clyde Cook the Cow Williajn A. Hassan > I '''rot Jack Cannot s ] Kclwidse Dorothy Firmin f j. Lilian Doliorty „ l'lii.je llal , . Anna Doherty : Tile Fairy lantho .Marie Katon . AVelliugton always looks forward to its N annual pantomime, and delights in it ( ■when it comes, so it is not a matter for , surprise that "Jack and the Beanstalk." < which has been amusing audiences all t over" Australasia since la*t Christmas, , should have been accorded a gratifyingly warm reception when staged by Williamson's Company at the Opera House last •evening.' One cannot regard tho production as iu any way an effort to give verisimilitude 'to the ancient aud respected 1 nursery story of Jack .and the beanstalk. In these days where novelty and nonsense are urgently needed, it appears to be almost the aim of the author to conceal as well as possible all traces of the story in order that there may lie time ; for "the staging of the many beautiful j scenes, which the ballet so bountifully < embellishes. Anyhow most people only have a hazy recollection of this particular Jack. We know our "Cinderella" off by heart; our "Little Eed Hiding-hood" nearly as well; and "Aladdin" is a littlo fellow who 'is always cropping up in song and story, but all most of us know of Jack is that he grew a wonderful bean-tree, and got tho drop on overy!x>dy through t superiority of elevation. It was there- 1 fore with pleasure that we were able to revive the memory that Jack loved a I beautiful Princess, who was seized by the 1 Giant Biunderboro (whose waistband 'is ! in the clouds and whose bead is in tho stars), and that Jack through his plieno- 1 menal beanstalk was able to settle this ' out-size in pantomime ogres. It is not I altogether correct to say that all panto- 1 mimes aro much alike, but despite tho ready invention and skill of tlioso concerned in the writing and building of a pantomime there is a distinct family like- 1 ness; still it is one wo all like to see, and [ the children most of all. Where this particular pantomime exhibits traces of superiority over its honoured forerunners 1 is in tlio" beauty and wonderful resource of thoso responsible for the designing and colouring of tlio-dresses worn by -tlio ] regiment of shapely girls who figure in the different ballets aud marches, with 1 which the production scintillates. An . especial brillianco was achieved in the "Ballet of the Beans," where tho colour tones of the dresses harmonised charmingly with the floral setting, and the. electric light colour design. Another scene which aroused the enthusiasm of the audience was the finale of the second act, where ' Jack in shining armour seeks his lost ' love at the golden gates of mystery. Tho March of the Wines is another bright ■ idea, which has produced somo exquisite designs in pretty stage clothes. A panto- ! minio must cry "Jingo" here and there or convention would be flouted, 60 wo ' have "Australia's Naval Cadets," sung by Miss Mabelle Morgan, and the March of the World's Armies, in which the uniforms, typical of each of the nations, are capitally suggested by tho ladies of tho ] chorus.

Whilst we have had better principals to tell tho tale, J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has never brought so brilliant a specialty turn as that performed by the Willio Pantzer Troupe—fivo male artists ranging from Willie Pantzer to a tinv atom of comedy who has yet to seo his seventh summer. They give us something new in higher acrobatics. Scorning all the old tricks, they commence where many otlier artists culminate. Tako 'one act: Willie Pantzer. is thrown into (lie air and lands on ono end of a see-saw, but just as ho lands a small boy takes his stand, tray, bottle, and glass in hand, on the other end of. tho -. see-saw. • By alighting on the kinked-up end,Pantzel 1 .throws' tlici boy into tho air, and after travelling in a vertical position through the air lands on the elder's head. Another: Willio and another Pantzer select cigars, and one gets a light from the other by balancing him in mid-air, cigar to cigar. While these wonders are being performed tlicro is plenty of matter for laughter in tho antics of the smallest boy of tho troupe, who is a comic little imp of a bonnceable character. The.Pantzer Troupe was received last ovening with enthusiasm. Another specialty turn is tho Doherty Sisters, who figure in a smart palter turn as "America's Ginger Girls," which name is very appropriate. In tho pantomime proper Miss Mabclle Morgan appeared as Jack. She lias developed considerably in physique since her "Mother Goose" days. She acts with happy abandon, and is not tho least bit automatic. Her voice is hardly as strong as it was-: four'years aco, yet "she gained applause in the songs "Australia's Naval Cadets," and her "Rose" song in t.ho second . act. Miss Dorothy ■ Firmin t l -:[-figured and clean, refreshing, and untheatrical in style, Anade a very pleasing impression as, the Princess Edwidgc, and won much' favoiir in her one soiig, "The Aeroplane." and in the duet, "Looking for a Sweetheart." Mr. Jack Cannot was successful in tho chief comedy role of Dame Trot. At first he strikes one as almost crude in his work, but he is one t of t.hoso mummers whose quiet style .improves on acquaintance. He "arrived" in the election speech on women's rights, and captured the house with his nonsense in "La! La! La!" Mr. Cannot makes no attempt to apo the woman as some "dames" do, in voices gesture, and gait he is tho man always. Mr. Rupert Bnrrell stormed and shrieked very rowdily as Baron' Stonevbrokish. and Miss Marie Katon made a presentable Fairy lamtlio. One of the surest laughter-raising characters in the cast was Jessie, the Cow, played most comically by Mr. Win. A. Hassan. Mr. Clyde Cook's clever dancing is always appreciated. He, with his three associates, did some very clever work in the quaint doll quartet in the Fair Scene.

Tho scenery and effects were admirable throughout. "Tho Aeroplane" song is accompanied by a monoplane in action, steered by dainty Dorothy Firmin. and in the Fair scene a prope'rly-cquipned merry-go-round is seen in action. The orchestra, under Mr. Fred. Quintrell, is adenuatc. "Jack and tho Beanstalk" will be performed until further notice. There will be a matinco performance to-morrow afternoon.