GAY PANTOMIME

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 36, 6 November 1933, Page 7

GAY PANTOMIME

Production by Children’s Theatre “JACK & THE BEANSTALK” "Jack and the Beanstalk,” a pantomime in two acts, by Margaret Carter, presented by the Children’s Theatre. Cast: — Azelle Laurie Jones Mother’ Grabble Irene Spidy i’eterkins F. U- pawn Rufus Marry Pltnimer Jack ’ Isobel Young lieraid Eleanor Page "Cuckoo” (a cow) Margaret Pearson and Hilda Barrow King Rosalind Stott Princess Flavin Marjorie Arcus Prince Donzil Ngaire Horton Princess Crystobel .. Annette Strickland Giant's Wife Kyrsty Page Giant E. Stanhope Andrews Pantomime in any form is popular with British people the world over. Its very name is magic, or it used to be before the theatre proper was ravaged by the talking picture. Even now there is a glamour and a charm, something of the bouquet of youth, tn the stage presentation of those dear old fairy stories that never gtvW old. Keen delight was manifested by the children who tilled the Concert Chamber on Saturday afternoon, v.hen “Jack and the Beanstalk” was presented by the Children’s Theatre organisation, which is ; doing such admirable work in Wellington in its presentation of plays adapted for the entertainment of th.e very young. Strangely enough, these entertainments attract almost as many adults as children, and their pleasure is just as evident. Pantomime can be presented in almost any style, from the village version that only calls for a few fancy dresses and a curtain or two. to a production on a scale of scenic and sartorial glory calling for the expenditure of thousands of pounds. Margaret Carter's version comes somewhere between the two; it is a very compact, humorous, well-arranged and wellwritten version that gives modest employment to all concerned, while adhering faithfully to the old story. There is the lost princess, the king’s illness through the loss of his daughter; there is, too, the gallant Jack, who, aided by fairy powers, climbs a gargantuan beanstalk, Invades the castle of the wicked giant, Gallabantus, to rescue the caged princess, and purloin the hen that lays the golden eggs. With a little artful contrivance the illusion of the tall beanstalk and the giant’s castle somewhere in mid-air was conveyed, while the sweet little cottage of Mother Grabble (Jack’s mother), who owns a wonderful spotted cow, provided what was quite a glowing picture, considering the disadvantages of the small stage. In a commercial pantomime Mother Grabble would have been- the Dame and chief mirth-provoker, but in this clean, wholesome version, she is just a depressing circumstance, forever worrying about her Jack and her precious dancing cow. Miss Irene Spidy was quite at home in this motherly role, and Jack was played with bright vivacity by Miss Isobel Young. Most of the fun devolved upon the aged gardener, Peterkins (whose ambition in life is to grow a prize cucumber that will stagger humanity), and his half-brother, Rufus, the giant’s offsider, who has been kidnapped by Gallabantus at the same time as the giant stole the princess, Mr. F. H. Dawn, who has to chatter a lot of inconsequential verbage. gave a bright and "peppy” performance of this garrulous old nitwit and amused the children immensely, especially when be was captured ,by Rufus as a meal for .the giant,-and then

again when bis cucumber proved to be a vegetable marrow. Iu the character of Rufus, Mr. Harry Plimmer cut a good figure, ami lent a certain sardonic humour to the lines of the giant’s chief meal-catcher. Au outstanding performance iu youthful vivacity was the fairy Azelle, played by Laurie Jones with Puck-like intelligence. Throughout the pantomime one could not help being struck with the admirable diction of all concerned. The lines were spoken clearly and conversationally. as should be the case. Those who were particularly good in that respect were Misses Ngtiire Horton as Prince Donzil, Annette Strickland as the lost Princess, and Rosalind Stott as the ailing King. Miss Kyrsty Page was the giant's wife. while the cow "Cuckoo” was most comically enacted by Margaret Pearson and Hilda Barrow. Mr. E. S. Andrews stalked through the part of the giant. The various dances, songs, and choruses were very well presented, though why the madrigal from "The Mikado’' should have been selected for the grand processional in the throne room scene passes comprehension. The incidental music was played by Misses Prue Lewis (violin), Ormi Reid (’cello), and Mav Putnam (pianoforte). Miss Yvonne Bendall painted the pretty cottage scene; the costumes were lent by •Madame Foley, and the pantomime was produced by Miss Isobel Young, with Mr. F. H. Dawn as director. , “Jack and the Beanstalk” will be repeated at the Concert. Chamber on .Saturday afternoon next.