THEATRE ROYAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 126, 30 May 1893, Page 2

THEATRE ROYAL.

ALADDIN UP TO DATE. o : — Last night Pollards' Lilliputian Opera Company opened at the Theatre Royal for a short season, when the comic pantomime "Aladdin up to Date" was produced. Pantomimes have ever heen popular. For centuries the British youth have been .amused by the antics of Harlequin and his daughter Columbine. As far back as 1685 Dryden describes an opera which would fairly apply to modern extravaganza or to modern pantomime with the harlequinade left out Attempts have been made over and over again to free the English stage from pantomimes but if anything it is more firmly established now than ever " Aladdin up to date " is fouuded upon tiie well known arid romantic fairy tale of , Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp." Of course in this kind of entertainment the plot of the f)iece is merely a framework whereby to tang the most ludicious songs, and the very graceful dances etc., which form the principal attractions of the burlesque. L Bt night's performance, call it whit y v wil! — pantomime, burletque, extravagaza — was an entire success, From the moment that the curtain lifted until tho transformation sosne, everything passed off without a hitch, and Mr Pollard is to be warmly complimented upon the high Btate of perfection to whioh he has brought his young oha<*ges. Their bearing on the stage was ever graceful, and the smart, prompt manner in whioh they moved, when executing movements was very noticeable. The very pretty and graceful fai dance elicited rounds of applause, whilst the '* grand feast of lanterns" was extremely pretty. Wheu the lights were turned low, and the children with their lamps were winding their way up aud down the stage tbe effect wns excellent. 0 c of the most pleasing features perhaps was the drill of tho Am zons. The dresses were very appropriate and the members taking part drilled Bp'endidly. The several movements were all warmly applauded ns they well deserved to be. When one considers that the Nelson stßge is by uo means a lirge onr, aud that tho stage appliances, to put the matter iv a very mi ; d form, are somewhat defective, it seems almost incredible that the management should hive bean able to mount the burlesque in t'.e able manner in which thoy did. It is many years sinoe the stage of our local theatre has boen so completely transformed is it was last nighf. The m^eba-iic-il effecta were quite eqaal to the scenic ones, which were excellent. The cave saene and the transformation scerce were of such an artistic character as to give pleasure to both yuung a.d old, and when lit up by the coloured fires looked exceedingly well The actors in pantomimes oannot be criticised. Suffice it t> say th t all the respective parts were wellsustained, and that those who were preaeut iast night had a pantomime of no mean order Bot before them. From start to fiaish the iuterest was maintained, ond the wholo performance wa** such an indescribable mix up that it was impossible not to give way to one's risible faculties The ekirt dancing was keenly appreciated by all preseut, every gesture of the dancer being graief ul and effective. The dresses were gorgeous and very appropriate, and the stage management left nothing to be desired. During the burleeque several local hits were introduced. Why the maragement should thiuk it necessary to do this is beyond comprehension. It is exceedingly bad taste and it is decidedly to the credit of the audience last evening when we say that they were not keenly apprc-ci-.t:d. We must nofc forget to mention that the company has a very efficient orchestra under the directorship of Mr Arthur King. List night the musioal part of the programme was keenly appreciated. Iv opera companies good orchestral music is quite an esset-t'al and we cau safely say that Mr Pollard ha? brought with him an o cbestra whioh will da much to e-hance the beauty of the operas ti be given. To-uigbt the company appear in ihat brightest of comio operas— Edmond Audran's "La Mascotte." An outline of the plot is as followa :—

Rooco, an unfortunate farmer, bps a Mascotte or luck briager givea to bim, such luok bringer being a turkey herd, by name Bettina. Laurent XVII, the monarch of Piombino, coming across Bettina whilst witb Rocoo, determines to annex her, and carrying out this determi- ation, ale is oarried off to the kings palnce, and thus kept away ftom hir lover-, one Pippo The latter, by many wiles nnd disguisrs, often sees bia lndy love while sho is at the palace, but a Princess Fiametta appearing on the scene is a yery disturbing element. She, noticing that Pippo ia jealous of the monarch, and having fallen in love with the former herself, tikes ndvnntigo of hia jealousy and persuades Pippo to marry her. That puts La Masojtte on her m ttie, she thinking thatPipp) doea not care for her, and decides to marry King Laurent, tho latter 8 idea being that by' marrying the M isootte he would have good luck. However, Pippo and Bettina become reconciled and manage t) eso.pe from the court. The third act opens wth a BOldiary scene ; a Prinoe Frit-jlliu, who had been jilted by the aforementioned Princess Fiametta. dr clares war against the king's troops, Pippo aud Masootte biing allied with the Prince's nrmy. Laurent and Fi-imetta, disguised a*i wandering minstrels, p netrato ii.to the oamp. They thin bear that Pippo is about to marry Maso tto, .-md after a little noi:-su* oeeßful mat oeuvri.'g on the part of Rooco to oirouunvent themirrir.ge everything turns out right, the Prince Fricellini alao being reatored to favour by Fiametta, and thu?, as the story books Bay, a'l ends happily, Seats may be reserved at Mr J-v.kson's, and day tickets are also obtainable there.