ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 16840, 16 September 1911, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. Once again has unmistakeable proof been afforded that Invercargill will willingly welcome and extend hearty support to any theatrical enterprise that is worth while. Many there must have been who Mainly sought admission to “Hack and the Beanstalk” last night. Not only was the theatre packed in every part, but the big audience was most demonstrative throughout. “Jack and the Beanstalk” is built on the lines followed by- the modern amusement contriver in', fashioning modern pantomime. The old time fairy tale has been seized upon as a foundation for a series of eye feasts and novel spectacles, while at Intervals comedians come along and cheat the eye by coaxing dyspeptics and misantropists into noisy mirth with the gags of their trade. Throw in a couple of music hall turns, a bevy of ballet girls and a fairy queen, and there you have Jack and the Beanstalk, a typical modern pantomime. In this their latest effort in pantomimes J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have eclipsed all previous ones. Through the three hour course of its fourteen scenes, the pantomime hurries from one triumph of stagecraft to another with bewildering haste. The dressing is magnificent, and is carried out on a style of lavishness that prompts visions of a stupendous wardrobe bill at the outset. The inanimate contribution to a grand production loses by reason of indifferent scenery. Some of the borders showed signs of wear and sometimes there was observable a neglecj to mask the scenes, which permitted of unsightly objects at the back coming into the audience’s line of vision. The “cloud” scene did not enhance the effect of the “Shine little glow worm” chorus. The big attraction of pantomime is the series of well executed and striking ballets. In this connection it would be fitting to accord a big measure of praise to the ballet girls, upon whom falls a heavy share of the arduous work of the performance. The Willie Pantzer Company provide a marvellous turn. Their balancing, intrepidity and judgment are wonderful, and far ahead of anything ever seen in the lino in Invercargill. The Doherty Sisters, who have been top liners on many a leading music hall bill, retain all the cleverness which lend to them the reputation of being in the first flight-of the world’s \ariety artists. Their turn is a delightful one. The Company has a plethora of comedians, in fact all the male principals are comedy merchants and play the fool through the whole chapter. And good, healthy fooling it is. To Dir Jack Cannot, as the Dame, fell a big share of the comedy, and during the time he held the stage the house was full of merriment. Mr Cannot got off the old Tweedlepunch joke about, the roasted hons’ t Maying the fried eggs when he bounced on and worked off a few old time relics of youthful recollection

amongst a host of new gags. Still, even the old jokes come from Blr Cannot s cookhouse, so garnished in his inimitable manner as to. make them more palatable than ever. Blr Cannot has a personality, and raises many a laugh by a simple gesture or whispered aside. He makes the most of his chances, and will live long in the memory of those who had the pleasure of hearing him last night. Then comes our old friend Blr William A. Hassan, “the one and only animal impersonator.” As Jessie the cow, and also the horse, he is very funny and shares with Blr Cannot the honour of being the cause of much sound, healthy laughter. There is always something delightfully novel and original about Blr Has'san's performances. The other comedians who also contribute towards the making of a good show are Messrs Rupert Darrell, Victor Loydall, Bert. Watson and Clyde Cook. Bliss Blabelle Morgan as principal boy has little to do beyond look well and sing well. Both qualifications fall to Bliss Biorgan’s lot, and she assisted materially towards the general success. Bliss Dorothy Firmin and Bliss Blarie Eaton, as the princess and the fairy queen respectively, are deserving of special mention for pleasing interpretations of somewhat thankless parts. Three numbers which linger pleasantly in the memory are the Dance of the Dolls by Blisses Flo Rice, Kitty Howard and Blessrs Cook and Watson, and the two solo dances of Bliss Maude Amery. A word of praise is due to the orchestra under Blr Fred Quintrell, as the music was one of the outstanding features of a good, all-round show-. To-day there will be a matinee, and to-night, the Company will give its final performance in New Zealand. FULLERS’ PICTURES. The programme of Fullers’ Pictures shown with such success at the Zealandia Hall on Thursday night and again last night will be specially strengthened for the matinee this afternoon and for the final performance to-night hy the addition of “The Blue Bird” pantomime, Blaeterlinck’s famous creation which is said to have been the inspiration of that sensational stage success “The Chanticleer.” The other leading features of an already strong programme have already been noticed in detail in this column. They include “Agriculture hy Blotor,” “The Great Centipede,” and “Peninsula of Sorrento” (genuine reproductions); “The Klondyke Steal,” "Buried Past,” and “ Queen of Nineveh” (interesting dramas); and several humorous sketches. The programme with the ipantomime picture will be shown at the afternoon matinee and finally in ithe evening. THE LYCEUM. The new programme of pictures at the Lyceum was presented for / the second time last night. It contains several films of an attractive nature, and is altogether a collection that will keep an audience thoroughly interested for a couple of hours. “-The Great Centipede" is a picture which throws a vivid light on the habits of a very interesting actor on the natural history stage. Some very pretty scenery Is shown in the pictures of Bonholm (an island in the Baltic Sea) and of Cassino arid Blount Cassino (in Southern Italy). The dramatic interest of "The Spirit of the Light,” "A Blexican Legend,” “His Father’s Enemy,” and "Saved by Providence,” has already been referred to in a previous notice. Good variety is provided in the humorous films “The Amateur Conjurer,” “Soldiers Three,” “In Perfect Harmony,” and “A Four-footed Pest.” The programme will be shown for the last time to-night.