"THE FORTY THIEVES."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2209, 23 July 1914, Page 8

"THE FORTY THIEVES."

A RIOT OF COLOUR AND COMEDY. "The Forty Thieves," a pantomime in two acts. Cast: — All Baba- Barry Lupino Cassim Baba J. B. Atholwood Quicksilver W. A. Hassan Haesarac Eupert Darrell Efrcet of the Cave Charlie Albert Nakeeb , E. Turner Cogisi Baba Edwin Bfett M'orgiana Dorothy Firmin Lizzie Anil Dolly Banner Abdallah Marie Eaton Eose of Persia Gertie Latchford Spirit of llisohief Maggie Dickinson Fairy of the Gorge ....; Nita Barry Ganem Winnie Volt All the world loves a pantomime, and no one-will lose a little of their affection for this ancient and honourable form of theatrical distraction by witnessing "The Forty Thieves" by tho J. C. Williamson Pantomime Company at the Grand Opera House, which (as produced for the.first time last evening) in many respects sots a new standard. Comedy of tho broad burlesque order is generally considered to be an essential, to success, in which regard the present pantomime is generously, endowed. There is no hope for tho playgoer who can endure the attack of such an artist in comedy as Mr. Barry Lupino without being shaken .out of his, veneer of reserve. He is good meat and drink to the work-weary. His dry humour and quiet, confidential manner struck'the right chord with a 1 twang that.never' ceased to vibrate until the final curtain .had descended on the Kay scene. And not only is Lupino a comedian. He gives a glimpse of his ability as an expert in serious ballet dancing, and in his acrobatic moments lie is a sheer delight. He v is associated with Mr. Edwin Brett a great deal, and all who romember that satisfying comedian's unctious stylo and homely comedy will be glad to leam. -that his capacity to .entertain is as robust as in Bis "Cinderella" days. "The Forty Thieves" has many other' delightful attributes to commend itself to the public favour. Tho scenery, .'commencing with the Bazaar at Shakra, is an artistic delight. There is a boldness in design and a courage in glowing colour that entrances the eye throughout, and reflects more than mere credit on the "Firm's" scenic staff. Mr. W. Cole- s man's work is always highly meritorious, and his bazaar scenes, "The Vision of Australia" (which was not lighted to the' best advantage last evening) and the exterior of All Baba's house (by W.Coleman, junr.) were all very beautiful _ specimens of the scenki artist's handicraft. In admirable keeping with tho scenery, which 'Very faithfully convoys the exotic colouring of the world "east o' Suez," is the moving revue of aresses, which show an artistic resource and delicaby in design. The ballet of the industries and flowers gave, ample .opportunity for the display of' ideas, which have been seized upon as the basis of-sartorial creations'of exquisite , beauty. .-.•••■... As to the.pantomime itself, it deals very briefly and airily with the old "Arabian Nights" story of the wicked thieves whose fabulous treasures-are discovered by the courageous Ganem for the_ uplifting of the Ali Babas in the social scale. The glittering "Forty" and their confiscating captain parade gallantly in gorgeous trappings, but aro at length boiled in their own oil through tho agency of tho faithful Morgiana, thus" saving , the treasure won from' the thieves for the family into .which she has entered through tho lustrous portals of love. •:The cast is a found one throughout. Enough has been said of Mr. Lupino'to', satisfy -.any pardonable .curiosity- 'as to ith.6'qualities df the-paritomime's pivot,but special mention 'should be made of: his Bacchanalian interlude in the .pretty, fretwork score,,where ;he;returns j home in, a comically: dishevelled condition; with a bunch of chrysanthemums for his wife, but fears the- encounter owing to his incapacity to pronounce the names of the flowers he.has brought.. The corkscrew dance which/followed was high art. With Mr. Brett .ho alsoscored in the merry refrain "Whoops! Lets:Do It Again,", in which, the pair managed to induce half the audienco to join. To. see the stalls .competing against the dress-circle, and one set, of boxes , against tho other \ was, one of the" funniest sights '.yet .witnessed in the neiy theatre.' Miss Winnie 'Volt made a winsome and shapely Ganem, acting vivaciously and making love with tiharming girlishness, Vocalism is not her istrbng featurej but she scored in tho searchlight song "Hullo, Who's Your Lady Friend?" at tho expense of people in the audience. The principal girl, Mbrgiana, was prettily acted by an old favourite in tho person of Miss DoroI thy Firmin, who was equal to all demands.- Miss. Marie Eaton made a hold Land vigorous Captain Abdallah.of 'the "'Forty," and;scored in her sea song "The' Navy,"■ in which she is backed by a squad of, bluejackets and deft signallers. That sterling actor Mr. J. B. Atholwood figured as Cassim Baba, and in deep gutturals'made the most of his dramatic chances in the scene where he is entrapped in the thieves' cave, through failing to remember the magic word that opens tho wall,of rock. This scene, by the way, forms an excuse for a very delightful ballet, in which Miss Maggie Dickinson_ and Mr. Charles Albert figure to.distinct advantage. Miss Dolly Harmer. gives a broad character sketch'of a Cockney girl who has strayed into tho Baba household, and "wants to go home." Her song with reference to Percy was the least delectable in the pantomime. Moreover,, it has been doner to death in yaudovillo in this country. "Quicksilver," an intelligent , ass, was played with delicious humour by Mr. Wm. Hassan, and Mr. Rupert Darrell figured as an centric adjutant to Abdallah., .The one specialty in the pantomime is that provided by the Three Rubes, a team of clever dancers and knock-about artists, whose humorous fooling has the golden merit of originality. One foot somersaults and ono hand hand-springs are executed with comio facility by those people, and their act is a feature of tho performance.' Tho massed effects are admirable throughout, the notable features being, the grand parade of "The Products of Australia," and finally tho impressive tattoo entitled "The Drums of All Nations," which is an exhilarating and stirring spececcentric adjutant to, Abdallah. The t-acle. A word of praise is duo to the producer, Mr. C. A. Wenmau, to the stage manager, Mr. J. C. Whitfield (who had his troubles last night), and to Mr. Ermil Bierman, who presides over a small but efficient orchestra. "The Forty Thieves" will run throughout the week. ■