THE ORIGINAL PANTO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 939, 5 March 1908, Page 18

THE ORIGINAL PANTO.

The credit of producing the first pantomime in England belongs to John Rich. This performance was on December 26, 1717, at the theatre in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Rich bethought himself of the comic masques occasionally performed in Edinburgh, and he combined with their scenic and mechanical effects the attractions of the pantomime ballet. The result was “ Harlequin Executed,” which the advertisement of that day described as ‘ ‘A New Italian Mimic Scene, between a Scaramouch, a Harlequin, a Country Farmer, His Wife, and Others.”

It is :o be feared that Clara Butt will have to abandon her contemplated visit to Rotorua, to which she has been looking forward so long, and that looks as though the balance of her stay in Australia will be one rush to “ get through” all her engagements.

Tha; brilliant young Danish violinist, Max Schluyter, one of Joachim’s favourite pupils, who created so favourable an impression when he was out here some five years ago, is again to tour the Commonwealth commencing in Melbourne on the 14th March next. Messrs J. and N. Tait are undertaking the management of his concerts for him.