“HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21265, 20 February 1931, Page 10

“HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT”

A DELIGHTFUL PANTOMIME. In this 'age of composed urbanity and immobile gentility there are thousands of unfortunates who have not the time, or, perhaps, the inclination, to believe in fairies. The brothers Grimm, Madame D’Anois, the Sultana Scheherazade Merlin, and the immortal host are nothing but names. The gold and jewels of fairyland are not theirs, because they can never watch for witches on broomsticks and fairies in gilded coaches. They have lost their imagination, and will not be expected to be enthralled by the lovely extravagance of "The House that Jack Built,” which the J. C. Williamson management presented for the first time at His Majesty’s Theatre last night. From what realm of magic was such beauty brought? What abracadabra was invoked to present such exquisite loveliness of colour and melody? What living soul could wish to conceal or stifle the quick, pleasant stir of wonder and delight that rises involuntarily in the breast as the sequences of this glorious pantomime are unfolded?

“The House That Jack Built” is entertainment of rarely pleasing kind, which derives its appeal as much, from its simplicity as from the lavishness of its presentation. Its infinite variety, sportive, gaiety, and incomparable splendour makes it a beautiful phantasy which young and old alike will long remember. It cannot fail to make a wide appeal, and its simple delicacy should constitute'of its greatest charms for the hosts of young people who should see it during its short season at His Majesty’s. The J. C. Williamson management has on this occasion made incursions into the realm of fancy which have called for all the ingenuity and invention. of which the stage is capable, but the task has been well within the scope of the producer, who has presented a phantasy of inimitable charm and loveliness. It is one of those glorious kingdoms of reconciled impossibilities so dear to the fairy tale writers in which the large company laughs and frolics, sings, and malccs merry. The whole thing is a beautiful fiction, in which the poetry of movement, the spirit of music, and the wonder of colour have been marvellously blended. It is full of fantastic illusions and magic spells, and so admirable is the co-ordination of spectacle and action that there is no time or desire to consider the theatrical artifice and mechanical device by which our senses are deceived. “ Fancy cannot be embodied any more than a simile can be painted,” but “The House That Jack Built ” very near acomplishee it. The pantomime is perfectly cast. All the human characters have depth and precision, while the sportive fairies and sylphs, the vegetables and the dolls, and the tin soldiers make up for any lack of ethereal form with their graceful gambollings and pretty performance of some of the loveliest ballets seen in Dunedin for a long time. What a strangely assorted company they are! Mrs Barleycorn and Farmer Barleycorn, the beautiful. Princess Susetta, dashing Jack Bilder, the Scheming Prince Regent, and the cruel Lord of Misrule, the fascinatingly lovely Princess ludustria with a voice of surpassing sweetness and purity—a crew of patches, among whom we must not forget Lily the Cow, the Demon of Despair, the irrepressible Sammy the policeman and all the fairies and toys. Such variety of spirit, nature, and action has’seldom been seen and cannot fail to please. A blessing on the southern breeze that wafted this company to Dunedin! “But all the story of the night told over,” we come back to the splendour of the settings, the brilliant lights, flowering bowers, and gorgeous costuming which form the background of all the humour, romance and moral in which the tale abounds. The youthful insouciance, refreshing vigour, and captivating originality of the piece depend entirely for their effect on the settings, and when they are described as perfect the same may be assumed of the rest of the show.

Jim Gerald as the Dame Barleycorn is his usual irresistible self. We have heard his wisecracks before, have laughed at his drolleries, and been amused by his grotesque manners and movements, and yet we laugh again. It is not that we laugh at him so much as with him. His merriment is infectious and his appeal unfailing. Dunedin will alwas's welcome Jim Gerald as they did last night—enthusiastically. But the most vivid recollection. of the evening is not of him, for aIT his sterling, performance, but of the Fairy Queen portrayed by Mrs Kathleen Goodafi. What loveliness of manner and movement, what exquisite charm she infuses into the part! When have we heard a voice of purer sweetness than the fresh young suprano that demonstrated its effective carrying power and perfection of tone in “ Fairy Laundry." Such decorative sedateness and interpretativegentleness are denied to all but the finest of players, and it is with regret that we reflect that such a Fairy Queen will not soon be seen again. Why could not the producer have shown us more of her, allowed us to hear more of her exquisite singing? In her one song was the spirit of magic and her brief appearances was the breath of that wonderland from which, unhappily, most of us drift further as we grow older. Miss Nell Taylor’s Princess Susetta was a charming one of quiet brilliance. She is a personable little lady and is possessed of a beautiful voice which was heard to no better advantage than in “Just a Memory of Long Ago.” The show owes her much. Miss Amy Rochelle was suitably dashing as the principal boy, Jack, and her powerful voice and -vivacious manner gave a great lead to the choruses. Kathleen Fallow as the Prince Regent was very effective, and captivated the house with her twin sister in “ Swinging in a Hammock.” Mr Arthur Stigant, jun., as Lord of Misrule, and Mr Eric Bush as the Demon of Despair were both quietly effective.

The dancing, of which there was so much, was mixed, but never unacceptable. The poetry of rhythm as expressed by 'such exponents of the, terpsichorean art as Miss Edna Moncrieff, Miss Mona Zeppel and the Fallow twins was delicious, and there was beauty and charm in the lightest of the ballets provided -by a mixed company ranging from the tiniest tots to full-blown chorus girls. Nothing could have been better than “The Ballet of the Seasons,” and one of the delights of the evening was undoubtedly the “ Toyshop Ballet.” There is so much humour and nonsense in- “ The House That Jack Built" that Jim Gerald had to have helpers, and he found them in Mr Phil Smith and Mr Roy Rene, both of them perfect fools and excellent foils for the buffonery of the star. . They were among the most popular members of the cast and deserved all the recognition they were accorded. The Paulasto brothers produced a vigorously life-like cow and caused a great deal of fun.

The musical numbers are legion and all are good, with “ Fairy Laundry ” an easy first. The Pham tom Army, the suspended girl, the vegetable ballet, the illuminated owing, and the variety of comic numbers by the comedians were all deservedly popular, while Miss Taylor’s “ It Must be Love,” and “Just a Memory” were charming interludes, equalled only by “ Strolling Through the Tulips.” “ Down the River of Golden Dreams,” and the beautiful song scena, “ I’m Marching Horae to You.” The pantomime will be presented for the rest of the week, with a matinee to-morrow afternoon. COMPANY’S GENEROUS OFFER. Prior to the commencement of the performance of “The House that Jack Built ” at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) expressed the appreciation of the people of Dunedin of the generous offer of the J. C. Williamson Company to devote one-halt of the profits of the present tour to the Earthquake Sufferei-s’ Relief Fund.