ROBINSON CRUSOE.

Otaki Mail, 1 March 1922, Page 3

ROBINSON CRUSOE.

A BRIGHT PERFORMANCE

The size of the audience that assembled in the Otaki theatre on Honda? evening to witness Brandon Holt's proauction of the pantomime Bob.n,on Cru soe" was scarcely an indication of the quality of the entertainment;^£ ■ deed, the audience was not large, while the entertainment was of a standard that must have given every satisfac ion to those present. The story ot Robinson Crusoe is too well known to need any reference, and at anyrate the business of pantomime producers is to trouble little about the story in its detail, it being rather their way to seize upon t be well known and to make from it a collection of nonsensicalitaes that will strike the beholder as being something new and pleasing in the realm ot fun, song and pictorial. The performers surely seized upon the opportunities provided in the pantomime version and_ the fun was fast and furious from he overture which, like. the rest of the music, was artistically rendered. The principal boy is invariably one of the main centres of attention in a pantomime, and in Miss Dorothy Manning there is a graceful personage who made an excellent "Rob." Miss Manning ic a splendid boy physically and added to this she is the possessor of vivacity -,nd a useful voice. As indispensable as the "boy" is the "dame.' The company is fortunate m having Mi Harry Graham to fill this role, and he was always sure of a laugh on hrs appearance "on the stage. His. dresses m themselves do much to tickle the sense of humour, but it is his drolleries that set the laughter ringing. The treatment of "Cab-bages, Ca-beans and Carets" and "In the Days of Adam and Eve" were wonderfully popular. Miss Wvn Faulkner made an impressive Fairy Queen and the parts of Polly Perkins (Christine Andrews), Bill Bulwarks (Will B. Keany), the Captain (Keg. Moore) ' and Friday (Charles Cousins) were filled acceptably. As "Bill Bulwarks" Mr Keany might have been tempted to overdo the pirate, but this he avoided, presenting an interpretation that, while involving a good deal of work, never grew monotonous. The singing of Mr Moore, who *9#>Jair baritone voice, is also *Kf fif nipntion. Although not • lirle the' chorus was always pleasing and it was evident that no effort had been spared to enhance the effeet_ by means of simple but effective dressing, -he "Hawaiian Moonlight" chorus to Christine Andrews was excepticmally ,ood. The company, whose entertainment is to be recommended, will showin Otaki to-morrow night for the last time.