"ALADDIN."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1994, 27 February 1914, Page 8

"ALADDIN."

WILLOUGiIBY PANTOMIME.SEASON. . "Aladdin," a pantomimy. '• Book by A. .13, Martin; music by F. WyiwcJones and others. Cast :«-> • Kolt-o Mis.i Gra« Polotla Ahawuar Jfr. farcy CitftftJi Emperor of Chin* Mr. -Ernest Pitetoer Widow aVraJwy Mr, E(twnrfl Stanley yistw. Jfr. Bert Barton JoJid Opj) ond Onp ... The MnUtUiey'Twins Ah SSng -. ; Mien, toby Dn-vini Biddy 1 : ....,■... Mr. JohiTP; O'Neill Pnnews BadrouWttdour

' '' Miss Habtel- B&tctalor ghco Kes ~: Mies NoHift -Rulloh Oft (Hop: It Kiss Flb-SSic C«rey J 8 a,™ flf the RiaS Mfes SKpliensen ! Slave of the Lamp ... Miss Fkiesie }y*e«tt,Teddy, The B*jik«y ...'.;. Mr.' Jus -Morris - lIo»k.«y .' Mr. Ernest Wand Aladdin. Misa' Carrie Jfaore ' ■Trad' Mem has 'accustomed the greater ' half of the English-speaking world to associate pantomime with tftitt spirit, of fua and gaiety that comes wtfli Christmas, but in Sew Zealand, through eircumstanceß over which wo have no' control, we may oxpect our pantomime at any. season of. tho year other than caroltime. Bat whenever it comes tWe is never any doubt as to .the theatrical cheer it brings, and the production 'of "Aladdin" at the Opera IJoaso last evening, witnessed by a full house,-bids fair to give capital entertainment to many people during the nine' nights ia Wellington. In liiorc senses thai! one the production is significant.' It heralds in New Zealand the *spaJisiofl of the activities of the George Wiliougiiby Company, which has hitherto • confined its attention to melodrama, and, hy ta-ckling a costly- pantomime production with its endless accessories, '' indicates that tlio nw management''is piiimiiig' its wings for. flights beyo.net the villabiy* va.-nquisiied.virtue-tritniiph-ant typo of play, with its time-worn arguments and tawdry heroics, Although "Aladdin' 5 ifiny not disturb the impression created bv'somo of the New Zealand in'recent years,' it courts otfr favour by the medium of-a host «f novelties of a daring 'character. . Ohiel among these is the big ragtime revue, which brings the, first .act -to a close. To the maddening syncopation of the band the dancers, Hot content with the ■ stage, invade tha ' a-uditormm by means of an elongated platCorti: w'hreh'traverses the centre aisle 'of thi> stalls. ' Along this gajly-fflumi-nateri track the full, ballet and- clients■ sidle, sh-ufflo,_ and spring their way'to'the'Kit m, music that sets the feet tapping and the blood a-tingling, vanishing into ffi'b dark of'the stage,' as the 'soloists' keep the dance proper going.. .Then up goesthe cloth, arid tho full ..company is discovered nriaingefl on'the," steps of a . sew-i-circn'iar dais swaying to "the ragtime as Miss Nellie ' Fallon': and Sri. Henri-MarceUc-'whirl.in tjuV giddy niaze of an incomprehensible' dancV in fhc totoground. This interlude -embraces ■ inch rags a* "How Do 'You Do, Miss lUgtirno,"..-''Tho Gaby Glides""'Dkioi*' Hitohy Koo,'!. and "SwS.tjee which give the dominant"feejfhdto- to tho Score-' of the pantomime.' 'Scenic spec* tack, is not perhaps a feature 'of the production, if one applies' tub' measure of ■ comparison, 'nevertheless'' there 'are some very beautiful" scenes to entrance' tho eyes, as witness tfts'kco sisene : ni .% lung's-Palace, and the garg'-eous fialace Scene erected by, the'Slave'(f tlie Lamp. a ;t Aladdin's''behest, both of which are -fine/examples of' the -scenepaiiiter'g subtle art. .•-. ''■•;.'•

As for the'ancient Arabian Nights : story, H obtrudes Very little' upon this general scheme of things,'serving merely as aa.excuse for tho maj.e of irresponsibilities that forms the J.ifeJblWd of the pantPmimo. There were t-biii patches here- and there.k the aetjqn of tlio first net last evening, hut ample CMpensatiqn i m,fortltcOßiirig.m' the sec-, oral pnrfcj where the fun. wases fast and: furious, attd songs, ballets, and specialty : actsfoll'pW'.ono. another in a merry pro- ] cession, A ..feature"'of. the production i is the number of solidly+fistablishcd favourites wjio appear in. 'tho' oast. In the. title rote wo hsv© Miss .Carrie ; Mopre, who makes a -dfl- | iightf u.lly vitnful, and shapely principal iboy, throwing into tho part t'h.e .whole of her energetic arid high-spirited personality. . Vocally Miss Moore was suffering freim huskinws, hut even that drawback did not prevent her making a hit in; tho altogether 'attractive lilt,. "Tfle Trail of tho LoaesoflM? Pinej" in which she was assisted by a mate qua):-: tot located at tho side 'of tho urcss cirde. Miss" Moore also. sang "Moon-' : shine" _ snd 'Baby," Another pppuhrj favourite was Miss Grace fril'pita,. w|io ■ swaggered bravely hi the gari of Kofeo, the. Grand Viirer s son, and received s ' \varrn welcome frorp the audience. Mi*? Palotta' is not a great, vocalist, but sho has' "a way' with• her,"' and 'her #o songs, "Whe-o do thev go' when the Band Steps Playing?"' and. "Whistle ..It," were among the decided successes'' ;o{ tho show. In. her frocks, Miss Palotta- always shows excellent taste,' and as.Kokp she is delectable,' lie. cpmedj; is distributed variously. Mr.' Percy Clifton, a comedian, not unknown in Wellington, wits unctuously h'wftofous as Abariasi'ir, and scored niafty pointe | with 'bis 'total, and fojreign , gags. 4jto : "business'' in" the rioTclt,''. , 'ssrig, j "Whistle .when Ton Walk Out," wiih'its ; buripaqup grand opera ob,erusos., was . distinctly corniest.; Mr.' E. Stanley rrtWo .a. mildly. afnusiiig W r idow Twaiikey. which' he. played on..the' 'broadest a,na ;mbst'bo'istero.,is linos. Though' ho 'daw ;'ftot exactly ooaw comedy, Mr.Stanley caused a good deal of laughter by the } various ways he produced his curiously ! assorted voice.. Mr.. Clifton and he ■ ■scored a s'ucccsß in tho.burlesque love 1 "you'Mado Me Loyo You;" . ; The; vocalist- of .the company is Miss Mabel! ; Batchclor, who as tho Princess JJadroub.- : ladour, lifted up a sunshiny soprano? voice of eseclient quality in sash songs' ■■a* 4 'A Heart's That's Free" and 'T Need Toil.'-- Mr. L. P, O'Neil inteidcd j lo\idl5 r 'as a biisoirt suffragette .without mucb jastificatJon, and. Mr. .Bert Barton was naught but gaitalous as thfe Virferl ■ Tlio eoatloman ;who plsycd -the' Emperor of Cfiiiia Was oovteujly tit at and s .somewhat depressiflg spectsdle.' Messrs. Morris.and Sharxd fooled.cleverly as AMnSiir's donkey and' nionkeiy. The Mullaney Twins' wero cntcrtain'ing' as the cormc polfce'nicn> _ ' The chief specialty set is that pro'nded bv Leoa Morris and his .wrestling ;ponics, who. afe'assisted by John Hedges,, a' coioiired comcdia.n,. who compels laughter.' .This, is' oho of the cleverest' ;nnd most aitmi?ing. antmal act;-seen in Welliiigto'ft for a very long .time, and. one that should defight every child in;tho eonypiunity. Very ■ completely • padded, Htvcsge' ventiires 'to wrostlo with ' these ponies,. hut thflii' playful and coniifi&l kickings and bitings mako tho_ turn one scream' of laughter from beginning to.end. Apart from'these equine comedians there lis'- a third' pony which gives a very clever performance • under, the SUpciTisiofl of Mr. Morris. Morris and Stiand. give, a deft 'acrobatic, jicrformtj'ncei, in which they arc assisted by Tiny Tot Marjoric,' a perfect 1 rriarycl in cpntortionistic itcro-batics, and who last evening received an ovation. Anofter attriistivo act Was tho {jerformnnee of tlio Royal Midgets, a group of a. diwon small children,' rt'hoi with markecl agility, combine in what is; professioiwl'ly known as pyrnniid-lniildlng. The .graceful dancing of Miss Bertha- Biiscli w : as a bright feature of tho panteiiiiine, and the audience would hayo liked to see ■mora of this lissom lady's' finished work. An ample ballet and clianis—numerically the largest in our meiHOry-rnllgd hi the tw.scmUeij' cifcctively. A capahlo • ■ or- ■ chcslra,. nndc'r Mr. F. Wynne Jpaos, niac.fo glad music throughout.tho long e.vcninff.' "Alarldih" will; bo repeated I to-night and until further notice. Thefo will he a matinee pprforiiiaiico to-mor-} row afteTftoon,' and «lss on' Wednesday [ ond Saturday of nest week.