"HUMPTY DUMPTY."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 5 September 1908, Page 4

"HUMPTY DUMPTY."

thT 1! a nthw-i?J f "H™nP<y Dumpty/'V it due at the. Opera House next Wednesday, is J Hickory Wood, who *k also responsible for the book of "Mother Goose.". There is little doubt that two more successful pantomimes have never come from one pen. For the purposes ° stage, presentation Mr Hickrov Wood rt •? P^ y L DumP*y" has resurrected the ill-fated hero of nursery rhyme from the awful smash that baffled all the king s horses and all the king's men and has.-carried on the story to the exhaustion of six wishes. Through aJI tne comicepisodes, the gorgeous spectacles, and muscial interludes, the storr is never lost sight of. The strings ar» pulled by the demon and the fairy queen as the presiding destinies for evil and good "Humpty Dumpty" is far from Demg a- loveable" character. Mr Bert Gilbert, who plays King Sollum, insists that, he is a bad egg, and gets no better as he grows older, and Mr Harry bhine as Bison Bob curses him seven times. The malevolent spirit of Humpty Dumpty" is responsible for [ many changes of scenes for those who cross his ambition. He dethrones King bolium and ursurps the crown. He dispereses the court, so that the characters journey to strange regions. The result is described by the Melbourne Argus," which sums up the production as "an amazing succession of appealing artistic pictures; a wonderful union, of illusions, graced by colour har^ i.mony, bevies of charming damseis lavishly costumed^ excellent comedy, troops cf clever little people quaintly earnest *in their business, tuneful incidefetaT music, and songs well above the.aver■ag*." . ' •' " "' '

Fred Elton . (Comedy Company) and Grace Elton, who have lately finished a starring engagement "with Hi Riokards* circuit, breaking records at Melbourne (seven weeks), Adelaide (five weeke), and Broken Hill (nine weeks), are in town, "resting* for a,few days in what they .term the prettiest town in New Zealand^r-Wanganui. They wished to open here with a big " picture" show, besides "the comedy and bellringing, but find " Humpty Dumpty" dangerously near their dates, and so postpone this tow« for about three weeks. They play at Waverley on the 12th, then Patea, Hawera, and up to New Plymouth