ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 32, 1 August 1911, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"JACK AND THE BEANSTALK." The box plan for J. C. Williamson's pantomime, "Jack and the Beanstalk" will be opened at Collier's to-morrow morning. The glorious spectacular scenes, brilliant marches, captivating ballets and lilting music of the new pantomime extravaganza, which Mr! J. C. Williamson has promised to regale us with on Monday next, has been described by more than one critic as the very best that the big firm has produced. There are, it is said, many fine effects in the entertainment, notably, the growing of the beans that subsequently culminate in the fairy beanstalk, J 011 which the redoubtable "Jack" climbs skywards and encompasses the Giant Blunderbore's downfall; the building of the Australian navy, with a striking march of cadets; a fine biographic effect designated the "Mysterious Aeroplane"; the "Golden Gates of Cloudland"; and the storming of the castle of the Giant Blunderbore. There are two features of the great show that would appear to call for special notice.- The Pantzer troupe of acrobats give a performance which is generally spoken of as being, to say the least, extraordinary. It is said to be an astonishing display, nothing like it having been seen in the southern hemisphere. The other special sensation is provided by the Doherty Sisters, ■American vaudeville artists, who give a clever sketch finishing with a dance of 'tho "whirlwind" description. These ladies also appear as Ilal and Dulcie in the production. The appearance of such firstclass artists as Miss Dorothy Firmin, the Doherty Sisters and Miss Mabelle Morgan, Mr. Jack Cannot and the renowned Pantzer troupe of acrobats should bo an undoubted attraction. Added to this the fact that "Jack and the Beanstalk" has been dubbed by Australian critics, "the best ever," has easily broken all records for pantomime, financially and for length of run in both Melbourne and Sydney, and is claimed to be the most extensive production in tho way of pantomime that "the firm" have ever attempted, a presentation of more than ordinary excellence may be expected. A feature of the production is said to be themusic specially composed by Mr. Hamish MaeCunn, while the ballets numerically and artistieally are much above tho average. The costuming and general mounting, it is positively asserted, is on a very lavish scale, while many spectacular effects are both novel and astonishing.