ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2706, 28 February 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"OLD MOTHER HUBBARD." "Old Mother Hubbard," a pantomime . In two acts. Cast:S?kin Essie Jennings. Blue Bell Rosie Coleman. Pansy Hubbard James Gerald.. Archibald AViIL Hayner. Gammadelta Richard Dunbar. Sally Horner Miss Carmen Coleman. P°nto jfr. Rupert Green. Haliz Miss Ruby Raymond. Except in title, "Old Mother Hubbard," the_pantomime produced by the Stanley M'Kav Company at the Grajjd Opera House on Saturday evening,. differs Very ■ little , from "Boy Blue," which ran throughout the wJiole of last week. Its cousinly resemblance extends to tile characters, the dialogue (some of which is word for word the same), and the mise en scene. The mu9ic is of the bright, tinkly order, that is quite conventional and popular, but the selection of songs was not'quite so good all round as those we heard last week.. As to tho 6tory, all that is known of tho ancient Motner Hubbard is that once upon a tiuio sho went to the cupboard to obtain

provender for her faithful dog, but, finding none, lier canine, friend and companion, had to go without. This touching stcry had no counterpart in the'pantomime further than existed in the presence of Ponto, a very well-fed animal. Mother Hubbard, it seems, had a beautiful daughter named Blue Bell, who was beloved by Robin, the village Romeo, but she is desired by the ruler of the State, who raffles himself, notifying Hafiii, liis slave, to see that Bine Bell gets the winning ticket. But the sweet young tiling changes tickets witli her mother, which causes complications, for there is Already a Mr. Hubbard (an opponent of tlie 6 o'clock closing movement). Mrs. Hubbard, however, takes up her quarters in the royal palace without creating any scandal, and fun and frolic ensue until the air is cleared by the ruler being ! bowled out by Robin, who proves by "the ,i papers" (the same that appear in every i melodrama since the time of tho Pliar-. : aohs) that he and no other is the nght- ' ful ruler. Miss Essie Jennings makes a . robust Robin, whose acting and singing ' ure quite up to the' ordinary standards 1 of principal boys. She was particularly 1 happy iu her singing of two patriotic < songs, which she delivered with sincerity and spirit. Miss Rosie Coleman as Blue ' Bell had the required characteristics for the part, and sang a bedtime rag with no | little chaim. Mr. James Gerald as Mrs. • Hubbard was a good deal more amusing , and less outre than he was in "Boy . Blue," and in consequenoe • pleased a J greater number of his audience. His | acrobatic agility helped him to a good | deal of hearty laughter. Archibald Hub- , bard, the boozy husband, was humorous- . ly played by Mr. Will Rayner, who lit , top the pantomime In unexpected places , with vocal bursts of "unusual quality. t His serious eongs, both finely sung, were i "The Deathless Army" and "Mother of c Men.' The abrupt manner in which the hrst-named song was introduced was as f iiughable as anything in the show. Miss , Carmen Coleman made Sally Horner a , person whose blunt vulgarities savoured i too much of the gutter to be funny; Miss Ruby Baxter made, a smart and hand- t nonie Haflu, and Mr. Richard Dunbar was i the raaled ruler. The Fredos repeated + their clever musical acrobatic act; and I Will Speedy cavorted round trickily on , ftis cycle. Mr. Tim O'Carrol failed to impress- in his dancing a la volinin. Rhythm, is the soul of dancing, as of music, and his movements lacked that eaentPvl, and there was a want of va- ? rietyiu li'is steps. "Old Mother Hub- , Raid will be played again this evening.