THE PANTOMIME.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1520, 16 August 1912, Page 6

THE PANTOMIME.

"SINBAD THS SAILOR.""Sinbad tho Sailor," a pantomime in two nets, by J. Hickory, Wood. Cast:— S i!l »rcw ■lorn Alders Sinbad Charles Howard hmpcror of tho Sahara. Fred Winn The Old Man of tho Bea 0. 15. Lennou I)irk William A. Hassan Mrs. Sinbad- ; -pip" p offca Ituby Fiim j 3 Princess Fatinia Mario Katon »?'J' y , h l> m t of Adventure Nance Mahor £ Ml " • :.'.:..'.......Li1ian, Sheldon f° a , ■■■; Lillie Harvey tl'nbad Florence Imeson

In tho sentimental regard of almost every mature playgoer pantomime bears Mm same relation to the stage as "Robinson Crusoe-" and "The Swiss Family Robinson do to fiction. In tho misty rd> cesses of tho memory it is enshrined is tho magical vohiclo'for the unravelling of wonders too dazzling in their beauty and complexity, too glittering and decorativo for anything appertaining to mundane humanity, and only food for eyes filled with delight and astonishment. At the back of mostly everyone's nature is tho boy and the girl, and associated with it is deep, if secret, love of pantomime. It has never failed in Wellington, and _ Sinbad the Sailor," who has been voyaging in Australia since last Christmas, and .came to port at the Opera House last evening, is not going to break tho spell, this year's effort, is quite, up to the standard of its predecessors in point of spectacular brilliance, and scenically it is perhaps tho finest pantomime tho firm has ever presented in this country.' "Tho 1 Port of Bakora," where Sinbad first pro-, duces tho chart to tho Old Man of the Sea's Golgotha, is an artistic sot that would grace any Br;anjLppera, and "Tho Docks," and "The fSi Garden," with its clinging clusters of rises of every form and hue, are other splendid pictures from Mr. Coleman's talented brush. Other scenes which set out moro particularly to captivate by superabundance of purely stage glitter, are "The Homo of tho Serpent," "The Cascade of Jewels," and the wondrous' "Valley of Diamonds," in which the electrician joins forces with the artist and producer in creating an effect almost bewildering in ornate brilliance. But the production is far from placing dependence on its scenery. Involved in its progress is an armv of the smartest, trimmest lot of girls who have ever furnished a pantomime with "a populace" in Wellington, an efficient corps de ballot, and a company of principals who work efficiently, if a little mechanically, in disguising tho true story of Sinbad. No ono nowadays wants tho tnio story from • tho "Arabian Nights." Sufficient is it to convey that Hinbad does find the enchanted Valley of ..Diamonds, despite tho machinations of an intensely dramatic and fearfully vindictive ,Old Man ot the Sea, and that' 'lie returns homo wealthy to wed tho beautiful' daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sinbad, of Balsora. This is not accomplished without a struggle. He has to defeat the aims of tho Emperor of the Sahara, to resist the fascinations of that monarch's sister, tho Princess Fatima, to fight tho great Serpent which guards tho treasure, and get rid of the terrible Old Man of tho Sea, all of which ho accomplishes with, that fearless grace and charming nonchalance common, to "principal boys." Miss Flo. Imeson, who is. not new to Wellington, cuts an attractive little figure as the impetuous adventurer. Perhaps she is not quite so dashing and magnetic as some "boys" who have done aiid dared in pantomime in these parts, still she won general approval by her brightness and clmrni. Vocally, Miss Imeson is not strong, and last evening sho was "snowed under" by the orchestra in all her songs. Her chief' successes were "Fall: Hi," ind "Follow tho Train.Track." Li Miss, NellTinnis, as Ruby, Hinbad had a handsome lover, whoso smile was one of the nicest effects in tho production. Miss Finnic had not a great deal to do save to look .pretty, in which sho could not do otherwise than (succeed. Her "Silvery Bells" song and the duet, "The Silvery Moon," wero among the vocal successes. Tlio dance is after all the thing in'a pantomime, and it is cheerful to record that in Mr. "Pip" Powell, who appeared as Mrs. Sinbad, the firm has secured a comedian who has a laughter-compelling stylo that is never strained. Mrs. Sinbad is presented as a wiry-faced bony old lady, with a , quiet determination • to get her own way. Mr. Powell brings new witticisms, and his methods tire not. Ho was successful in his songs, "Up Sho Goes," and "You Can't Judc» £■ Woman by her Clothes." Of"; highly amusing people weri ■*..' ■=*-:> Drew and Alders as Sailonnen Bill and Tom, a pair of eccentric tars who pervade-' the pantomime most acceptably. Their dancing and'mumming were admirably ludicrous, and the oft-repeated "Sanile.Bill," always raised laughter. Mr. O. E. Lennon -was remarkably good as tlio "Old Man of tho Sea," which ho played on tensely dramatic lilies. His posturing, make-up, and biting declamation were all part of a telling impersonation. Mr. AV. A. Hassan appeared as Dirk, the dog, and was as clever as ever. Miss Nance Maher, who possesses the voice of tho company, made an attractive picture as the Fairy Spirit of Adventure, and her song, "My World is a World of Love," was quite.tho best solo of the evening. Miss Marie Eaton was the Princess Fatima, Mr. Fred Winn the Emperor of tho Sahara, and Mr. Charles Howard figured as Sinbad. The pantomime is punctuated with beautiful ballets and miirches, none being more alluring than tho rose ballet, in which -Miss Maud Amery danced delightfully. In that ballot two of tho dancers swung out high over tho heads of a somewhat amazed audience. -The only specialty turn is that provided by tho Sleedcs, who, against a black baokground in a frame of electric lights, present a hotel scene, in which all manner of articles appear and vanish most mysteriously. The illusion is quite an original cue, and is full of comedy. A capable orchestra is conducted by Mr. Albert Vernon. .The ballets were arranged by Miss Minnie Everett, and tho stage is directed by Mr. Thds. Foster. "Sinbad tho Sailor" should have a lively time in port. A matinee performance will be given to-morrow afternoon.