"ALI BABA, AND THE FORTY THIEVES."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11202, 24 October 1899, Page 6

"ALI BABA, AND THE FORTY THIEVES."

The box plan for the forthcoming season of the combined shows, the Williamson and Musgrove Pantomime and Comedy Company and the ever-popular " Pollards," was opened yesterday morning, and during the day a large number of scats were booked. The opening attraction will bo an up-to-date pantomime, with everything new and bright, and exactly the same as used in Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney. It might be obsorved that the children of New Zealand ought to be deeply indebted to Mr. Pollard, as owing to his energy in the past they were enabled to learn what a modern pantomime production meant. Till some six years ago, when Mr. Pollard first produced " Aladdin," thero was grave suspicion whether any Now Zealanders who had never left their native soil had ever seen a pantomime. Herein their education had boon shamefully neglected. But "Aladdin" came, and when it was seen it was thought the acme of stagecraft had been reached. Later on Mr. Pollard startled New Zealanders with that magnificent production "Tho Forty Thieves," which fairly outshone the splendour of the previous production. Then came " Djin-Djin," the gorgeousness of which put all previous efforts in the shade. On Friday night next playgoers will have an opportunity of witnessing a production that is said to excel anything ever seen upon a colonial stage. We are promised an entirely new version of "The Forty Thieves," founded on the popular Eastern legend of that name. Every child knows the tale, and every grown-un person, it is to be hoped, has still some soft corner of his heart for "the dear old Arabian Rights, as Alfred de Musset used to call that best of child s companions, The plot is of the slightest, but no one looks for "plots" in a modern pantomime. A " plot" is out of date, and a mere thread of a narrative is sufficient nowadays to connect the brilliant «verchanging scenes. The mere mention of pantomime suggests visions of liejowelled eaves, dazzling dressos, gorgeous scenery, glittering and moving masses of -colour, and up-to-date localisms, songs, and i-j dances, and of these a superabundance is promised.