THE BABES IN THE WOOD.

Evening Star, Issue 11454, 23 January 1901, Page 6

THE BABES IN THE WOOD.

II A pantomime season was inaugurated at! |tbo Princess's last evening by a company f selected mainly from the variety organisations which have been appearingin the four {centres of tho colony for some time past sunder Mr P. R. Dk's management. The ipantomimo ' The Babes in the Wood' has 1 adapted and localised by Mr Tom E. nard, and has been running at the Royal, iington, since Boxing Night, so that it es to us with the hall mark of approval Tellington amusement-seekers. The fun ist and furious, and there are few dull aents during the three hours occupied on stage. Most of the principals engage;! e previously appeared in this Citv, and established favorites. Of the new ers the Williams Family, four sisters, and of the most versatile quartets seen here, certain to rank in that category before present week closes. They are capable ety artists, and exceptionally fine cycle ormers, introducing feats " never * atpted here before. The Misses Williams from Melbourne, njid learnt their daring k riding at St. Kilda. Their "turns" e will well repay a visit. Miss Ivy Scott, nother stranger to these parts, but is an hand at the pantomime business, having ed a lengthened apprenticeship under Mr ,'. Williamson at Melbourne and Sydney. ha>a nice voice, and her opening num'The art of kissing.' at once placed her ;ood terms with her audience. The part principal boy in the pantomime, that of! in Hood, is entrusted to Miss Ida Roslvn ,\ > made a decidedly attractive and dashing! aw. Her dancing was greatly admired,! her vocalisation suffered owing to a re-J Ijlaxed throat. The comic element is mainly! by Mr Tom Leonard (of the detec-i IS department) and by Messrs M'Kisson andf ||lvearris (knock-about artists), and it suffices? Sto say that all three were fullv equal to the! made on them. As the wicked' Baron Mugwump, Mr George Dean, too, wasf responsible for a large share of the fun,' ands the political caricatures introduced by himf were highly appreciated. A few" local! characters would, however, be an improvement in place of the Northern representative!! men, pj*tl the same remark applies to thej local allusions. Tho pantomime was evi-f dently written up for a Wellington season.! and probablv there has not been time to re-[ model tho dialogue. This is a mere detail,] and we mention it in case it has been over-! looked. A ballet or two are given, and there] is a- pretty transformation scene. la the] harlequinade the Staunton sisters are*, ic-j

ij[ sponsible for some nice dancing. 'Theg HBabes in the Wood' is likely to enjoy al Iflengthy Tun. ■. a, Bj In consequence of the death of .the Queen,gj w[the management have decided not to give agj §|performance to-night. [|