CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 957, 9 July 1908, Page 18

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

My Christchurch dramatic correspondent writes: —John F. Sheridan is with us once again, the same old John F. as of yore, only more so. Directly he made his appearance on the first night of the season, the house fairly rose at him, and he had to bow his acknowledgements again and again. Christchurch has a soft corner of its heart for the “Widdy.” This time Mr Sheridan brings us an exceptional attraction in “ Cinderella,” which is magnificently put on and recalls the days of our youth when pantomime was pantomime. “Cinderella” is one of the old fashioned pantos, with a gorgeous transformation scene, and a harlequinade. Miss Heba Barlow, well and favourably known here, plays the part of Cinderella the girl who put her foot in it,” and right worthily does she fill the bill. Her “ Mirror Song” won’t be soon forgotten. But all her songs are good, and her dancing is beyond reproach. In fact she is largely responsible for the success of the show. John F. as the “Baroness” is screamingly funny and scores heavily in the topical ditty, “ After You with the Soap.” Miss Stella Selborne is charming as the Prince, and Jack Hagan deserves honourable mention for his “ Buttons.” The part of “Mephistryon” is capably taken by Mr Jas. Hughes, who possesses a capital bass voice and sings “ The Storm Fiend ” like an artist. Miss Vera Payne’s toe-dance is a novelty, and “ the educated cow ” act by those smart acrobats, Morris and "Wilson is a feature of the entertainment. They are also most successful in “ the Acrobatic Burglars.”. Oh, and Fred. Morris does some rol-ler-skating quite in his old way. The ballets, marches, etc., are magnificent.

The rush on the last night of the Julius Knight season was terrific. Imagine hundreds of people indulging in a sort of free fight at the doors, and you have some idea of the scene. Frank Thornton opens here on Saturday in “ When Knights were Bold,” one of the latest London successes. We are hoping he will put on “ The Private Secretary ” before he leaves us. This famous play is perennially popular. The “ Royal Pictures ” continue to draw enormous audiences to the Colosseum, thanks not only to the excellence of the pictures, but to the personal popularity of Mr Liston, who is one of the right sort.