"ALADDIN."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 912, 3 September 1910, Page 7

"ALADDIN."

A BRILLIANT PRODUCTION-

Theatrical taste, that elusive quantity the key to wliioh is sought a 1 tor a good, deal more keenly thun the philosophers of the middle ages sought ior the stone that was to transmute _ baser metals into gold, is'a curiou3 clement. It sways like a pendulum from the most serious plays dealing with social problems which will, never bo solved to the gayest, flimsiest farces and musical comedies, that drip from tho .'irresponsible pens of tho butterflies -among-.tho playwrights, most frequently without rhyino and invariably without reason. Ho who could'foretell .faithfully which way the theatrical va.no would next point would bo a wizard that could dispense with the philosopher's stone aforementioned. But one thing is certain, beyond all question and doubt, and this is tliat most theatrical tastes —from tbe brainy person who gloats over Gco. Bernard' Shaw to ho who giggles and screams at. the broad fun in "The Girl From Rector's,", from Shakespeare in the drama, to Puccini in opera —converge in a love, obvious or concealed, of good pantomime. . This year's pantomime is "Aladdin, 1 dbctorod up-to-date by Mr. Hickory Wood,-and it is quito sufficient to cay that in this particular realm Mr. .1. C. Williamson lias produced nothing finer ' in New Zealand. ■'■' "Mother (loose," "Ilnnipty Dumpty," and '■'Jack and Jill" were all very well iu .their way, but they are all outclassed by tho latest und greatest effort pf the 'firm in pantomime. Tho story, with embellishments, is not . entirely lost to view,, and tho book, so often a weakness, is. bright and chippy throughout—indeed (and the point is., worth stressing) "Aladdin" may bo sot down, as tho most smartly-writtnn pantomime seen in Wellington in recent), years/ Every'lino has its laugh, and 'all arc spokeii in such, a snappy manner- that dull periods have no 'existence..If modern pantomime.has shown development. hi one way more than, another it is in the way. of effects, which are main born of the fertile- creative'faculty of. the electrician. It was considered 'a.'marvellous feat, when jn London, the "fairies in "lolanthe" wore .electric' Stars in their hair—that was tlie beginning 'of tho " use of clectrjc light on the stage. Since then it has become, indispensable, to; every theatrical performance, and the very heart ot pantomime display. Ono superb electrical effect in "Aladdin" ■ is the liv-' ing , .Uiiion Jack; hoisted as ...a ' background to the patriotic soug. "Dear Motherland" sting by -Miss Mario Eaton .assisted, . by ? a. chorus of shapely "Boy". Scouts. On tho .repetition' of the chorus a dozen Scouts mount'ladders to-'different'heights at the/back of the. stage. 'At a; cuo the 'lights go out,, and there on the, background' glows an, animated Union Jack, scintillating with a hundred lights borne-, on its waving bosom. Another en'ect that> aroused the audience, to a seiiso of wondui' was thu illuminated balloon, which by sqmo mysterious means, unfathomable 'to tho audience, flouts slowly 'up and down over' the heads of the audience, ,1 -while' its fair occupant, Miss Nance Maher, sings "Just for Lqvp of Someone." The. balloon made, a great hit,. but refused . the loud demand for its. re-. appearance. , While on effects, 'special notice must bo given to thoso worked during the. pretty Fire Ballet. 'Ribbons : of flames: flutter ' upffa rds on all sides,'and,at tho-back a split-up mountain belches 'opalescent flameii into.the' incardiniuo atmosphere op tho mimio inferno. Iu suoli a', setting the ballot in flaming red dressps ,miglit easily bo imagined, to be .the Salamanders of legendry. .■'.,,, .Thero is really only one, specialty turn—but it, is a great one. Prico ,jtnd Revost are alono in their.particular business.. One is a ground tumbler straight ./alidrfrcsppnsivo as iiew elastic, ■■and:..clean •and, graceful in ihis;.movem'ents.'■ His .'hand-springs front, back, and twist somersaults' : are high; art., ■ /The'-partner is • a clown of much originality and ingenuity. ' ;'.Froiu .the 'time.-ho enters he - : is falling all ovCr thoiplaeo,^.:6h;, : his... head, his back,, his any clian(;ii'pn : his •feet) :;'and his antics keep the' audience a-rook'i-witli. -laughter': ;;.; The;business of this: .'.comoilian.'• v>itli;.ylialf-aWlozeji-phaiw-J i 3- i Wp-'..lmmor6us,.'-.{o''dcsbrib&r7ili; should.-; bo:; 'seen;' ■'/' Another ■' ptirformdr ivho'should.'bo classed, as u; 1 specialist, is Mr.--.Hassau,'."whose'.'donkey • is- oho of the-best'coiiiedy : .asset's ...which-the ,paii-. tominie:poscsses., ~'-: "'.' : :,-: ; ■' The'cast.is a strong-one; Mr.Harry Pliydora, - : who: was-.-: last here with "Mother Goose," bustles, into the limelight with- his , oldtime verve ''and '.newtimo; .gags,.-and . scores: laughs '.right, through the-merry'part of the-Widow 'J'wankay. .His songs.are "Kindly Step This Way" and "The Top.Notoi" .Miss Marie Eaton has just, the required; ap'pearauco and dash for , Aladdin, ; and her musical. • soprano : was: in advance of. the usual run- of principal.'.'.boys.":. . She.sang . "Meet,Mo wlie're ; the; Lanterns ■ Glow," which'' a pretty 'lanfern march; attached and captured the audience completely in the! catchy'"Rings on. herFingers" solo,..enhanced .by a'quaint. South. Sea. Island ballet. Miss ' Eva Moore, who made her. first appcavanco, in Wellington, was quite in the picture as.Princess Badroulbadour, acting with lnotlesty and refinement. Iu "My Pyjama. Girl" Miss Mooroniade one of the vocal hits of the .evening.. : Mr. Rupert Darrell made Abanazar. a -.vindictively -intense. ; old ,- magician', ■ ' who bangs, around for Aladdin's.lamp .with all .the persistence of a country, member of Parliament after,a road grant. It is quito.a good performance, but loses force when interfered "with:-by, quite an ordinary.comic song. Mr. Bert Wilson and: Mr. Clyde Cook as. Chow and' Chop- , fooled, ckyerly, throughout the picco. : Mr. Cook is especially funny' in his log comedy; Mr. J. M. Campbell has : contracted a habit of slurring his; dialogue, until half of it is incomprehensible. His Emperor was as weak as his. story-tolling in the second act was good. ' '■'"' ' ■'' '. . ■ Tho ballets are. all cntranciugly beautiful. ' Thoso which call ioud and' high for special mention are the Fire Ballet, the quaint Billikens Ballet, (for juveniles), with solo by tiny Miss Senton; the Australian Bird Bailed (in which the trail of "Chantecler" is disclosed); and the Grand March of. the Flowers.. The .scenery of Messrs. Coleman and Upward is very fine—it deserves a notice to itself. Mr. J. C. Whitfield as stage manager, and Mr. F. Quintrell, musical director, heartily deserve a word of commendation for- the important work they so successfully perform. "Aladdin" will be'played again this afternoon and for the next ten nights. The matinee will commence at 1.45 p m. precisely.

Tho two previous sales at 194 Cuba Street, which were conducted by. Messrs. Barrnud, York', aiid Co., were very largely .attended, but the complete contents of Mr.. Baldwin's, second-hand dealer's stock wetc unable to bo 'sold.. A third sale will Ijo held to-day at ' 1.30 p.m., when household furniture; siindims, and a iiuiqiio collection of Sonth Soa Island curios will be submitted, absolutely without reserve, to effect an entire clearance. Mr. Jnggar, ol 59 Boulcott Slm-i, who has instructed Messrs. A. L. Wilson and Co., auctioneers, to sell tho whole of his very superior household furnishings from flra\vii;g-room to kitchen", on Thursday' iicxr. " 'J'lk- aile' of this most cosily and extensive catalogue will commence at 10.30 a.m. on above day, ami intending' buyers who wish to view it can do so on Wednesday from'll a.in. to 5 p.m. To adctiimtely describe tho contents hero would be* impossible, hut catalogues are now readv, and ina v > ha obtained at 26 Brandon Street.. . ' '■.• r A real' good- old-established' general drniwry. iiwiiiPfs is advertised'for snle in this issue by Uefasri. liosb awl Gltudiaiug,