"BABES IN THE WOOD"
WILLOUGHBY PANTOMIME COMPANY "The Babes in the Wood," in two acts. Book and music by Mr. Alf. J. Lawrence and otters. Cast:— Dame Durdaii Dan Thomas Weary Willie Bert La Blano Tired Tim Tod Stanley Bfiron Hardup Biliio Watson Simple Simon Bert Barton Friar Tuck Granville Jones The Goat Jack Heller Mulko Undin Evans Robin Hood Ruby Davies Will Scarlett Lola Hunt Marjorie Daw Nellie Fallon Spirit of Good Intent Eleie Sloan Spirit of Evil Intent Holly Leslie Boy Little Averil M'KellaJ Joy Baby Lily Skinner llaid Marion. Daisy Jerome
A vaudeville performance masquerading as pantomime would probably be the happiest brief description of "'The Babes m the Wood" presented by the Willoughby management at the Grand Opera House last evening. Such a definition _ applies more or less to every pantomime produced in this part of the world, but 111 the case of "Tho Babes" it is distinctly more than less. Though the author has managed to squeeze in the boy and girl who went astray in tho wood, he has, possibly through a lack of matter that the subject suggests, gone off at a tangent by making Rcbin Hood the principal boy and Maid Marion, a curiously eccentric and ultramodem principal girl, so that the plot is one that • is likely to puzzle juvenile sticklers for the verities in nurseryland literature. But nowadays anything appears to serve in pantomimo so long as there is plenty of bright music, gorgeous costumes, and pretty' girls, and thoss have been provided in abundance by the "Willoughby management. It is perhaps a little to be regretted that most of the artists _ employed have recently appeared ; here in vaudeville, and in most cases have elected to sing songs that are over-familiar to the 6teady theatregoer, robbing the performance to a great extent of vocal originality. In tho "Babes in the Wood" the audience is given glances of tho babes—fine healthy babes they are, too—in bed, the plot of the wicked Baron to kill them, and finally their rescue by Robin Hood and his merry men. Dame Durdan, the comic old woman, without which character no pantomime dare show itself, is made the mother of Maid Marion and the inamorata of the aforesaid bad Baron, and these two take full advantage or the opportunities afforded them to get much broad, rough-and-tumble tun out of their parts. Permeating the entire pantomime is the chief character, _ Maid Marion, entrusted to that whimsical and altogether erratic artist, Miss Daisy Jerome, who is seldom off the stage, and whose vocal efforts were so numerous that they began rather to pall before the ourtain fell. Miss Jerome is vital in all her work, .but she plays within herself, and never for one moment did she suggest any association with the characters in the pantomime, but was simply Daisy Jerome, the vaudeville artist, and in at least two of her songs, "I Don't Care" and "I'd' Like to go your way Homo" emphasised the fact somewhat egotistically. Many are inclined to. the belief that Miss Jerome is seen to better advantage hi her serious moods, and not always does her comedy ring true, besides which she hardly suggests the gentle maid of Robin's choice. In her own specialty turn, Miss Jerome revived "The Press, the Pulpit, and the Petticoat" (in tho final dramatio verse of which she is at her best), "Row, Row, Row," which she sports with in the most eccentric fashion, and "Pull for the Shore," a song in very questionable taste. - On the other hand t'his performer is highly temporamental, and is fortunate in the possession of a timbrous, low-pitched voice suited to the dramatic work and full of appeal wheii so used. Miss Ruby Davies cuts an attractive figure as Robin Hood, and acts with grace and vivacity, but is given comparatively little to do. Old "Tipperary" is dragged out once more, and thanks to a bright ballet setting goes with great spirit with Miss Davies as the soloist. The Dame is a gay, rollicking, likeable, old woman, and Mr. Dan Thomas proved himself to be an expert low comedian, with an agile pair of feet. Mr. Bert le Blanc, the l'iddisher comedian, appeared as Weary "Willie, and in association
with Mr. Ted Stanley as Tired Tim extracted a good deal of legitimate fun out of the plot to murder the children. Mild humour-was also produced by Mr. Billie Watson as the Baron, and Mr. Bert Barton as Simple Simon. Tho children were very well played by little Averil M'Kellar and Baby Skinner. Mißs Nellie Fallon made a sweet Marjorie Daw, and Miss Elsie Sloan added a nruch-necded touch of refinement as the Fairy of Good Intent. As is usual, a good part of the second act was monopolised by specialty turnß, none of which was quite new_ to Wellington audiences. In addition, to Miss Jerome, the New York Comedy Four made harmony acceptably, and Josephine Gassman and her Piccaninnies appeared under tho calcium light. What Miss Gassman lacked as a soloist was amply compensated for by the talent of her aids, four coloured juveniles, ranging down to a tiny dot, who lisped out the chorus of "Get Out and Got Under" and "Tipperary" in the most comical manner. The boy comedian, too, of this little family was humorously expressive. Marcell and Fallon appeared in an attractive seaside specialty, in which Miss Fallon sang "Teach Me to Float" very sweetly, with a background of bathing nymphs in enticing seaside costumes. The pantomime is really well mounted. The opening scenes were artistically conceived, and the final paTaco set is as glittering as one could wish. Tho final of the first act is a grand escalade, in which thrco rows of girls, standing one above the other, close to the footlights, step out gaily under tho illusive light of a vari-coloured flickergraph. In the final scene is a parade of the Allies, each nation being represented by a platoon of correctly-costumed girls. The quick tempo at which the accompanying march was taken tended to depreciate the effect. Mr. _F. WynnJones conducted a capable little orchestra. . "The Babes in the Wood" is due for production for a week to come.
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Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 8
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1,034"BABES IN THE WOOD" Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 8
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