PANTOMIME NOVELTIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9642, 17 January 1903, Page 6 (Supplement)

PANTOMIME NOVELTIES.

UORGEOUS SCENE THAT WILL COST £5000. ' Is the Christmas pantomime losing m popularity ? Theatrical people axe divided on the question, but half-a-dozen over-worked costumiers and scenic artists who were seen by a.' London Express reporter cSai'ly m December were unanimous m declaring that "business was never better!" ■ r '. "There is a greater demand for novelties than last' year," said a representative of one of the biggest firms of London costumiers. "Our individual experience is ; that managers are spending more'mohey for new 'features, and we .have beteii tin- . able to cope with the demand m certain , lines." .'..!" .''"<■ The novelty market is strong. 'There is a good run on electrically illuminated; noses and "trick" handkerchiefs. ,• A wonderful cock, costing £35, aiiyi covered with real feathers. in the most ingenious fashion, is being made , by 0. Hoi/,, of Wellington street, . for the* . Coronet Theatre pantomime. Nine girls i,hav« been working for five weeks sewing thp feathers. The cock will be about sft 4in tall, and ithe unfortunate man who ;is "cast" for the part must wear his dress of feathers for three hours continuously. An uncanny black cat, with long white whiskers and a red neck fib.bon, is, a great pantomime novelty this season. The' cat made its stage debut m "Dr. Nikola,** .* and was as much of a hit as "Dr Nikola" himself. - ..-.■;• .; ■ • .-,•' • ' Elaborate are the devices- employed to > evoke a single laugh. A brass telescope,. - carried by a stage sailor under his arm, is one of the newest. A quick movement and the telescope* Shoots out for 14ft, re-:, mainirig ' perfectly rigid while its ,- owner takes an "observation" of the horizon. _ JNew "freak" wigs and moustaches, that can be twisted m all sorts of grotesque shapes, are also a great favorite with, the seekers after pantomime novelties. ■ Some remarkable stage effects are-se-cured m the production of ■ "Song and Sword," which Miss Julia Neilson will present for the first time m London on • February 18. The greater part of the scenery is supposed to represent musical instruments, the story of the: play hinging on a supposed conflict between "good"---and "bad" music. : '■<-..■■ Thus, great snakes are found to be bassoons; a python is m reality a trumpet ;■■< a gnarled tree, apparently covered v with . mushrooms, is a tree cohered with kettledrums. One tree trunk, 9ft long, is so heavy that three men are required to carry itr on the stage.' There are also harps of honeysuckles and flowers. "•' Thousands of pounds are being spent by managers m new scenery -and accessories for the London pantomimes. For in- ! stance, the last scene m the Hippodrome's ; production of "Dick Whittington" will re-^ present an outlay of £5000, and the jewelled emblems of the City 5 Guild carried m '. this scene .are valued at £40 a-piece> ' '