"THE FORTY THIEVES."

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 109, 9 May 1923, Page 3

"THE FORTY THIEVES."

"The Peep Show," which has drawn enthusiastic audiences to the Grand Opera House for the past -week, was finally presented last night. The company could have appeared with advantage in several more performances, but thd season was limited owing to the fact that the chief attraction of the company—"The Forty Thieves" pantomime—hag yet to be shown. This will open this evening. Special efforts have been made to produce, in "The Forty Thieves," the best pantomimic extravaganza that J. C. Williamson, Ltd. have yet presented in Wellington. Members of the company, who have been appearing in "The Peep Show," were really brought to New Zealand to take special parts in the pantomime. In Australia "The Forty Thieves" attracted record audiences for many months, and it also created records at Auckland. The dresses are brilliant, the colour schemes rich and harmonious, the dancing and singing of a very high quality; the specialty acts are novel, and most amusing, and probably never before has such a powerful aggregation of pantomimists, comedians, and dancers appeared in any one production. Miss Mona Magnet gave us a taste of her abilities as a comedienne in "The Peep Show," in which this London artist created something like a sensation. It is said that she makes a dashing "principal boy," and one can readily understand this, as she is certainly one of the best actresses seen in musical entertainments in Wellington. Miss Phyllis Beadon has won her best triumph to date as the principal girl, and Miss Ida Newton is said to be at her very best as the captain of the forty thieves. Miss Daisy Yates is good in anything she does, and it is said that she is at her best in the pantomime. Perhaps the outstanding factor which has made "The Forty Thieves" the most successful J. C. Williamson, Ltd., pantomime is the comedy element, which is in the hands of Messrs Jack Cannot, Joe Brennan, and Messrs. Edgley"and Dawe. Jack Cannot is said to be inimitable as' Ali Baba. Dancing, acrobatics, and all the other special features of the pantomime will be in the hands of those who are already popular in Wellington. There will be a matinee on Saturday.,