"GOODY TWO SHOES"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 300, 15 September 1919, Page 3

"GOODY TWO SHOES"

o~ ■ A RIOT OF FUN AND FROCKS / —:— "Goody Two Shoes," a pantomime in two parts, written by H. C. Oldham, and adapted by Frank Lis. Music by many people. Cast: — Alan Dorothy Hastings Zoo F'oie Allan Eonnio Nollie Wilson Goody Madeleine ifarrieon Araminta 'l'oby Claude Vairy Lighthcart Jtaudc Gray Tho Spirit of the Dance...Jlagsio Dichcnson Mrs. Tutt Arthur Stigaut Demon of Discontent Charles Howard Ths Mayor of Blossomville...Ai'thnr Elliott Bucephalus and Aesop"... Kctma Brotliers Premier Dancer Sydney Yates Clarence ; Herbert Walton Duko of lmprovidcutia. Gus Bluett The Wizard 1 Stanley Odgers The Toy Soldier Fred. Walton Like the people of Old England we enjoy our pantomime in the winter-time, especially if it comes at the end of winter with the promise of spring in the air, for as spring is the ycuth of the year, so does the pantomime express the spirit of youth in the theatre. It may be always a little foolish, sometimes even quite mad, but it is always young and beautiful, and if we grown-ups cannot always quite understand why the youngGt9rs chortle and crow at the seeming idiocies/and excursions into tho ultrafantastic, be sure they know; and when it goes with the children it is good pantomime. "Goody Two Shoes" has been a' kind of myth in nursery lore as long as anyone can remember. She had 110 definite talo as did "Cinderella," the "Babes in the Wood," or "Jack tho Giant-Killer," or, if she had, her story has been wilfully withheld. But there was none—tho pantomime proves it —except that whoever wore the golden shoes—and no one wore them except Goody—became fabulously wealthy. Of course the Demon of Discontent stalks round doing his best to deprive tho young li.dy of her footwear, but he is always fooled by the good fairy, who in tin's case is a very matter-of-fact young. lady. What "Goody Two. Shoes" lncks in narrative is to a great extent made up in its opulence of good specialties - and its wealth of beautiful costumes, which are apparently up to the minute, ravishing in delicate colour schemes, and dainty and ■piquant in design throughout. And they lose nothing in the manner in which they are worn, for this year's pantomime is loaded down with pi-efcty girls and a dozen very charming and clever children. The burden of the comedy falls \upon two widely dissimilar characters; that well-established favourite Mr. Arthur Stigant, who appears once more as the dame, Mrs. Tutt, and who dispenses the broadest of bumonr so that it cannot miss fire, and Mr. Fred Walton, tho Toy Soldier. Mr. Walton has no lines to speak, no gags to "get over," no topical" verses to tickle tho cars of the groundlings, but he has at his command tho art of comic pantomime in its subtler sense, and his 'is easily the most artistic and' funniest performance in the show. His business,, where as a sergeant-major he interviews two. life-size toy soldiers, reads out his warrant, arid pins a medal on one, when the other presumably objects, and finally gets the two to toss for tho honour, was a capital bic of mumming, He v. as also excellent in his dance with Miss Maggie Dickenson in" the final scene. Mr. Stigant'a happiest comicality was "Assembling a Husbahd," and he was, also funny, with Mr. Herbert Walton, in the topical item "For Years and Years and Years." Never was there a,more gor-geously-dressed dame .than Mrs. Tutt. She figures as,a poor'widow, a giddy bridesmaid, screams.at one in a 'jazzcamouflage costume with a'field-gun hat, nnd finally dazzles in a pom-potk orango creation, very tight at tho ankles and a • balloon-like effect about half-way up.. An artist who is always welcome back to New Zealand is Miss Maggio Dickenson, who, as the Spirit of the Dance, flutters and prinks around in a variety of . exquisitely-conceived dances, which she gives life and; expression to with her whole being. Her "Bubbles" number, with its curious light effects, and .then .the two great whirling.. globules, each of which imprisons a pretty child, was very fascinating. For pure dancimr her solo in the Fortune-tellers' ballet, in the toyland scene as the doll, the pierrot dance with Mr.' Yates, and. most beautiful of all, her dance, again with Mr. Yates, as harlequin, in tho delectable Kirehner scene, the most daring and modish scene of this year's pantomime, wero most entertaining. Another littl'o vital spark is Miss Toby Claude, who, unfortunately, has to sing the muclihackneyd "K-k-k-katy," which she sings very well. It was good, however, to see her in "Says I to Myself, Says I," and in the digger stunt, "I Hate to Get Up in tho Morning." Talent, experience, and personal charm all play a part in Miss Claude's success. The'principal boy and girl have not a great deal to do, and therefore do. not 6tand out with any prominence. Miss Dorothy Hastings is a nice-mannered subdued "boy" without much purpose in life. Miss Hastings' singing voice is unsteady. Her solos wero "Chasing Rainbows" (which is given a mirror-reflecting effect from a huge revolving ball of silvered glass), and "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry." The principal girl, played on negative lines by Miss Madeline Harrison, is less of a principal than ever. She is merely the wearer of the shoes that other people want. Mr. Arthur Elliott figures as the r Mayor of Blossomville. Mr. Gus Bluett shows gleams of humour as the eccentric Duke of Improvidentia, and Mr. Herbert Walton is smart and snappy as his son. A particularly pert and pleasing miss is Floie Allan, who sparks round in pretty clothes with the Mayor's son. After all. the real strength of the pantomime is the number of sterling specialty acts. The value of Jlr. Fred AValton's toy soldier has been noted. Another distinct feature, amusing and attractive to young and old, is Madam Jewel's marionettes in their act "Circus Day in Toyland." This form of entertainment onc.o so popular is now but rarely presented. Nothing as clover or more gorgeously equipped has been seen in Wellington than this miniature show within a show. Dancers, tumblers, lady riders. etc., frolic and frisk in a circus ring, but leal life is given the mimic circus when the bars are raised, and through them a wonderfully natural elephant is put through his paces by a mahout, a performance that is followed by a trained lion stunt. The act was raptouronsly received at both performances on Saturday. Another specialty of noto is tho Ivenna Bros, arterial turnbiers, who shoot off to the North Polo in a crazy aeroplane, find tho pole, and use it, suspended across the bar of a trapeze, to do some wonderful breathcatching feats, including the giant's swing.. Toyland was mado vital by a number of children acting as dolls. In the space of a few seconds n live story is told, ending in a marriage between a tinv bride and groom. An effect in this act was the descent from a gorgeous Christmas tree of the good fairy of toyland. Very beautiful scenery is provided by Messrs. Leslie Broad and W. R. Coloman, perhaps the most nutab'o being the Kirehner salon and tho glittering l'alace of Cards. Mr. Adrien Amadio controls a. serviceable orchestra, and Mr, J. C. Whitfield is once more director of tho stage. The original producer was Mr. Charles Wenmnn. Needless to say, the pantomime was witnessed by crowded houses 011 Saturday afternoon and evening, and there is no reason to doubt that it will be otherwise throughout the week.