"THE JAM OF CATHAY"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2314, 23 November 1914, Page 7

"THE JAM OF CATHAY"

STEPHENSON-LINLEY COMPANY. "The Jam of Cathay," an extravaganza, writtoh, and composed by. Mr. Harry Taylor. Cast: — The Jam : Ohas. Howard. Marmalade Olive' Robinson. Mane : Elsia Nicolas. Hon. Bobby Atkins Ernie Lashbraok. Alphbnso Ida Ingorsolo Babetto Mollio King. Frascati Con Moreaii The pantomime company which has been attracting ;large audiences during ■ the. whole of last week, submitted a change on Saturday, when "The. Jam of Cathay" was presented for tho first timo in New .Zealand. This work, which may be classified as something between amusioal comedy and a pantomime, and is best described, for lack of a better term, as an extravaganza, is the sole invention of Mr. Harry Taylor, the musical director of the company. In it Mr. Taylor shows a .distinct -aptitude for writing pretty, catchy melodies of a simple conventional character, and humorous dialogue, on the realisation of which so much depends on those, entrusted with the parts. There *• are songs in the score. that would grace any pantomime, and the action, particularly that of the second act, is merry and bright. There are some pretty and gracefully executed ballets, that of the Pierrots and Pierrettes in the second act being both lively and original, and many of the songs are given the usual dance accompaniment. One fault Mr. Taylor is guilty of is the positive baldness with which the ballads are introduced, easily rectified by trifling rearrangements of the dialogue immediately preceding the songs. The story is of little moment.' Plain ißill Smith has purloined the name and business of Frascati who has stolen the receipt of and with the aid of a bevy of shapely girls, is doing excellent business, when Marie Frascati, the doposed's daughter, turns up io claim kinship, pursued by an amorous military officer in the diminutive person of the Hon. Bobby Atkins. Bobby is trying in his idiotic way to show how essential Marie is to Ins existence, when the Jam of Cathay, very tall and fierce, arrives with his chocolate-coloured daughter Marmalade, very short and plump. The Jam is searching the world for the particular Frascati who has stolen the receipt of hi?, famous pickles, and after a comic interview with Wobbly Bill, discovers .that he is tho culprit. He is about to wreak an awful vengeance when the pseudo Frascati saves himself by an alliance with sweet Marmalade. ' The Jam also desires Marie as an'addition to his harem, but just as ho is about to claim the girl Bobby invades the place, .disguised as a corn doctor, and rescues his sweetheart, whereupon all sing -and dance gaily and presumably are happy ever afterwards.

Mr. Con Moreni was genuinely funny aj Erascati, whom ho makes a limp, loose-jointed fried-fish morchant, with a -waggish tongue and the baok-bone of a jelly-fish. His burlestrue mumming in "The Moving Picture Show" was excellent, and he scored a hit in "De Dago Rag," to which he appended n. lively eccentric dance. Miss Elsio Nicholas, who figured as Marie, has a pleasing prcsenco and voico, and with tuition and experience would do well on the* stage. At present she is inclined to ho amateurish in motion and gestures, and is self-conscious. "Give Mo Love" and tho pretty "Lotus Land", ballad were nicely sung. Miss Olive Robinson was too plump and pretty for such a virago as Marmalade, and was not so well suited as in the pantomime. Tho vocal success of tho cvoning was her patriotic lilt "E-n-g-1-a-n-d," which she sang with vigour and aplomb. Mr. Charles Howard makes a "sticky" Jam, but sings, woll when given a chance, which is not often enough. His ono song, "If I Were King of Love" was encored. Mr. Ernest Lashbrook was quite in the nicturo as iho onrkv tom-'tit Bobby. His amusing cnrlclo is an .excellent! imitation of the toughing jackass, and never failed to evnko hearty laughter. As the coni-rlnntor he was very amusing, and scored in tho song "Professor Soltikoff." As Alphonse, Miss Ida Ingersoln played with plenty of assurance, lint there are iarring tones in her voice. Miss Mollie King appeared as Babotte. Her attempt to simulate tho Parisian maid was hardly convincing, and not nearly so pleasing as her clover dancing. The colours employed in the scenery speak for the ability of tho artist.