“OLD MOTHER HUBBARD” PANTOMIME.
“Old Mother Hubbard,” pantomime, which ran for 22 consecutive performances in Auckland at Christmas time, is to be staged with exactly the same big Sydney company that took part in the large northern city, at the Town Hall, Koxlon, on Friday, March 3rd. The following critique from the Wanganui Herald of February 16th, 1922, -peaks for itself: —
“The Stanley McKay Pantomime Coy. had a very Successful opening last evening, when they staged “Old Mother Hubbard,” at the Opera House, and that the large audience received full value for its money was evident from the manifest enjoyment which all derived from the performance. The panto, while less spectacular than some which have been seen here, is yet excellently mounted, and is perhaps superior in regard to continuity of plot, while there can be no question but that the ability of the principals is well above that seen in the average panto. The jokes and witticisms are smart without having to rely on vulgarity, and the local hits which were introduced tickled the audience immensely. Another matter that deserves mention is the quality of the voices; the performers not merely look well, but sing well. The music is bright and catchy, changes of scene arc frequent, and the stage management is exceptionally good. Altogether it may be said that, considering the modest price of admission, the audience are exceedingly well treated both in the quality and the quantity of fare provided. From a musical point of view, the feature of the evening was undoubtedly the wonderfully fine singing of Miss Ethel Osborn in the role of the Fairy Queen. . . In contrast to the usual run of “principal boys,” Miss Lulla Fanning, who took the. part of ‘Robin Goodfellow,’ showed that her qualification for the part was not confined to physical attractiveness, but that she also had a good voice and knew how to use it. Miss Audrey Carlyle, who appeared as “Bluebell,” also sang nicely, and was a pretty and vivacious ‘principal girl.’ The ‘dame’ part was splendidly filled by Mr George
Harpur, . . . and as Old Mother Hubbard’ he gave a performance which stamps him as one of the best exponents of this particular kind of part that have yet visited us. Mr Fred White as ‘Gamma Delta,” and Mr Arthur Bertram as ‘Archibald Hubbard’ both carried off a full and well deserved share of the honours.
. . . . Miss Rubee Raymond, as ‘Sally Horner,’ proved herself one of the best interpreters of ‘slavey’ parts we have seen. There was a huge number of roles of a minor nature, all of- which were capably filled, while the splendid dancing items by Miss Laurie McLeod and Arthur and Rubee Bertram still further added to the pleasure of the evening.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19220221.2.13
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2395, 21 February 1922, Page 2
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458“OLD MOTHER HUBBARD” PANTOMIME. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2395, 21 February 1922, Page 2
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