“BLUEBELL IN FAIRYLAND.”

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 929, 26 December 1907, Page 16

“BLUEBELL IN FAIRYLAND.”

OPENING ON BOXING NIGHT. On Thursday evening (Boxing night) the Pollard Juvenile Opera Company will open a season at His Majesty’s Theatre in the charming musical drama play, “Bluebell in Fairyland.” Much curiosity has been aroused as to how the “ new Pollards” will compare with the old organsiation which was always immensely popular up here. Reports from the South have been quite unanimous in praising both the company and the piece, which is said to be beautifully mounted and to contain some very bright and sparkling music and many graceful dances. That it is full of merit is shown by the fact that when Seymour Hicks produced it at the new Aldwych Theatre, London, it scored an immense success. It is quite safe to venture the prediction that there will not be a vacant seat at the theatre when the curtain goes up on Thursday evening. “Blue Bell in Fairyland” is described as a “ musical dream play,” and was written by Seymour Hicks, who, in the original production, played the part of Dicky the Bootblack. The story is simple and pretty and revolves around the poverty and subsequent good fortune of Bluebell and her two baby sisters. Blue Bell is discovered sleeping on the isteps of Mr.. Joplin’s house, and is moved on by an unsympathetic policeman just before Mr. Joplin, emerging from the house, inquires vainly for the little flower-girl he had so often seen in the neighbourhood. The scene changes to Piccadily Circus, where we find. Blue Bell with her pal and sweetheart, Dicky, a crossin-sweeper, and bootblack. Here the kind-hearted Mr. Joplin who appears to have taken quite a fatherly fancy to the child, finds her and gives her a sovereign to buy Christmas toys. The next scene Is in Blue Bell’s garret in Drury Lane, where her two baby sisters are awaiting her return. Having hung up their stockings, they kneel and pray: “ Please, Father Christmas, send us some toys because we haven’t got any, please.” A cat, who is really a fairy in disguise, enters with a companion, and with the babies sings an irresistibly funny* quartette called “Two Little Cats.” Then Blue Bell comes home laden with good things, and there is much joy in the garret. The children are nut to bed, and fall asleep while she reads to them a fairy story of “ The Sleeping King and the Little Girl Who Found Him.” Blue Bell too, slumbers, and in her sleep the story is enacted. Waking from her dream, Mr. Joplin comes to tell her that he has decided to adopt her. and make her rich. But Blue Bell will not go without Dicky and a pretty love scene concludes the play.