"THE SLEEPING BEAUTY"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10616, 15 June 1920, Page 7

"THE SLEEPING BEAUTY"

WILLIAMSON'S PANTO. A "GORGEOUS SUCCESS." Writes a prominent Sydney critio of the J. O. Williamson "Sleeping Beauty" pantomime to be seen hero on Tuesday next at the Grand Opern House:—"Last night the purtiain rose at the Criterion on as wonderful a. pantomime as the magicians whom the firm of J. C. Williamson employ in thu guise of pijoducers, stage managers, bul let mistresses, electricians, mechanics and scenic artists have ever been able to conjure up for the delight of a thumping big holiday audience. 'The Sleeping Beauty' was the story chosen —the legend beloved of all healthy minded children and even grown-ups. We had old King Pompos in the capable hands of that dry comedian, George Welch, and an excellent dame, by name Mra Spoopendyke, impersona. ted by the quaintest of humorists, Marriott Edgar. These comedians wer« ably backed by the brothera Egbert, jesters of the first order. If the Spring Cleaning scene with the Dam© is a scream, the Golfing scene and Duel is .'i riot. Princess Beauty (Miss Eve Lynn) lives up to her name. We seldom,remember a sweeter or more winsome princess. She has. too, an exceptionally dulcet voice, can dance daintily; and is a siffleuse of no mean order. Her Prince (Winifred Roma) is a: great big dashing 'broth' of a boy,' and well in the picture all the time. One of* tho most beautiful and wonderful scene.? in the whole show is the Fox and Pheasant descriptive dance, by the premiere danseuso, Maggie Dickinson, and her dancing; partner, the agile and graceful Sidney Yates. The ballet, work was a. revelation. The children, too, are wonderful and get a lot of dancing to do, and seem to enjoy it. The succession of gorgeous scenes is by those wizards of the brush, W. R. -Coleman, Geo. Upward, W. Coleman, junr., and O. Newman. The orchestra performs yeoman service throughout an arduous evening. The 'Sleeping Beauty' is indeed a wonderful production." The box plans for the first six nights of tha nine nights' season will be opened at the Bristol on Monday morning next.