THE PANTOMIME.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9169, 18 August 1908, Page 5

THE PANTOMIME.

"CINDERELLA" AT MASTERTON. The Town Hall was crowded last evening, on the occasion of the visit to Mastfrton of the "Cinderella" Company (Messrs W. Anderson and J. F. Sheridan). The pantomime abounds in clever vaudeville "turns," the dialogue is fresh and sparkling, and the amount of "business" thrown into their parts by the chief characters makes the whole performance very meritorious indeed. It was splendidly staged throughout, the voices of the principals are specially good, and the children who are introduced in various parts in dances and marches are very clever indeed. Miss Heba Barlow, who was Cinderella, both sang and acted the part with much spirit and success. She was particularly good in the cleverly effective device of the "Mirror Song," the song being well given, and the effect very amusingly worked. In the duet with the Prince, "Wonderland," Miss Barlow sang well, and in the palace scene she was also successful, infusing into her impersonstion plenty of life and spirit. Miss Stella Selbourne made a very charming Prince, and her music was sung with considerable artistic abil-, ity—notably, in the duet already referred to. The part of Dandini was filled by Miss Marie Eaton well, though at times there was a tendency to strain her voice unduly in the music of the character Miss Hilda Lane, as Fairy Fair Star, sang a waltz song with much success. She has a cultured voice, and sings with much taste and effect. Mr Sheridan's Baroness was a most humourous creation, and he played the character with a keen appreciation of the absurdly funny situations in which the scion of a noble house finds herself during the play. He was particularly good in the topical duet, "After you with the Soap." This character is on the lines which Mr Sheridan has made so peculiarly his own, and was successfully played throughout. Mr Jack Hugan was capital as Buttons, and he sang and danced very well indeed. In the opening scene the children taking part played their various characters with much finish and completeness, and one little lad sang a solo capitally. This was one of the many pretty scenes of the piece. In the ballets the children danced with a grace and effect quite wonderful, considering their age. The ballet in which three contingents, each smaller in statue than the other, took part was specially noticeable. Mr James Hughes, who played Mephistryon, has a fine bass voice, and sang very good in the ensemble which closed "The Storm Fiend" well. He was also the first act. All the other numerous characters were well filled. The ballets, which -were many, wore danced with a great deal ot skill. Of these specially deserving mention were the Sapho, Rainbow, and Sr.ow ; and Robin, the children dressed as robins iri the last, being excellent. Miss Vera Payne gave a toe dance rolo with much finish and grace. Of specialities there is quite a number. The educated cow by Messrs Morris and Wilson was exceedingly funny, some remarkable acrobatic feats being executed. Mr FreJ Norris gave an exhibition of eccentric. and fancy skatin. , which was enthusiastically applauded. "The Porcelain March," was a gorgeous spectacle, and the orthodox harlequinade at the close of the performance was replete with mirthful quips and laughter-raising antics. The company will give a matinee performance this afternoon, commencing at 3 o'clock instead of 2, for the convenience of school children. The season will conclude this evening. The pantomime is po excellently mounted and capably performed that no doubt many who attended last night will be pi-esent again this evening, while those who did not witness last night's performance should not miss the final production.