HAPPY PANTOMIME CHILDREN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1583, 26 August 1920, Page 34

HAPPY PANTOMIME CHILDREN.

ENTERTAINERS IN THEMSELVES. The children in “The Sleeping Beauty” pantomime are irradiating features of the brilliant show, and off the stage they are just as happy a band. They are like one big family after their long association with the panto, and their absorption of the songs and music and, dialogue is remarkable. Mr. John Farrell (manager) and Mrs. Farrell entertained them at their residence, Lawrie Avenue, Parnell, on Sunday afternoon, when a very jolly time was spent. The children are possessed of enough talent to provide an entertainment themselves that would be enjoyed by a grown-up audience, and several of them gave items, their little comrades looking on proudly and joining in the applause. A nice spirit was shown in the way each was anxious to display the other’s talent. Freda Mitchell and Nellie Hutton gave their pantomime specialty, “I Want to Snuggle,” and a clever mimicry of it was done by Connie Hobbs and Edna Moncrieff (the smallest of the party

and a cousin, by tiie way, of Gladys Moncrieff). There are some specially bright reciters and monologuists as well as singers amongst them, and it was pleasant to hear them all spontaneously harmonise when there was a refrain. The performers included Rita McGee. Una Moncrieff, Pearlie Cocking, Thelma Burness and Willar Blume, and Miss Lucy Sullivan. After tea was dispensed, several competitions were held, the winners being Rita Pennington, Rita McGee, Willa Blume, Lina Watson, Dona Cheriton, and Edna Moncrieff. The prizes were donated by Mrs. Farrell, Messrs. Mat. Carr (Wellington). A. Diddams, Stanley Caro and Dan O’Connor. The children, who were in the charge of the matron (Mrs. Cocking), gave hearty thanks to their host and hostess for their kindiv thought.