"HUMPTY DUMPTY."

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 160, 11 March 1915, Page 4

"HUMPTY DUMPTY."

A CROWNING SUCCESS. One of the largest audiences that has been in the Town Hall for a very long time past welcomed the performers in the "Humpty Dumpty" pantomime last night, and it is quite safe to say- that thei'e was net one individual member cf it that would not have been sorry '.O have missed seeling and hearing such an extremely clever musical extravaganza. The music is sparkling and catchy, and particularly suited for su«h comedy work, at the same time it is given some solidity in many places with really good harmony and interesting chord progressions, some of the accompaniments very good in that respect: but, "Humpty Dumpty" was built to make one laugh, and it is a success to an extreme. The ;ituations are screamingly funny, and it sparkles with wit of the most humourous kind from rise to fall of the curtain. Indeed, the acting of Con. Mcreni, a s Widow Buttercup, and of Errlie La c ;hbrcok, as Tiddly Wink, th? Barber, was funny enough to have -nade empty chairs laugh if there had been any in the room. Chas. Howard mad-? a geed Kir!? Dazzlum, and sang his numbers well, but his risable faculties frequently became uncontrollable 1 with the antics and wittiqisms that so thickly surrounded him. The acting and sinking of the lady performers was a long way above the average, and the dress'es were simply suprb. Olive Rcbinson made a lovely, bold boy; she acted well and sanj* well, particularly in the pretty du'et with Lolita. The most difficult part, that of the title role, fell to Miss Ida Ingersole, and it is hard to see how it could ha.v'e been improved upon, despite the misightTiness of representing a broken egg, she quickly gained the plaudits of the (great audience and held them to the end. Miss Molly King sang and actd her part well and "Stella Cazalla made a very pretty A.D.C. to the King. Tn fact, all the work of the principal performers fitted in to make an almost perfect whole. The ballet ladies, by their excellent aceomplishm'ent, natural beauty and superb dressings, forced considerable applause. In the "Grand March cf the Allies," "The Tango Ballet," "The Eg)? Ballet," and in "The San Toy Maidens," they 'e-x----•cilcd themselves, their dancing being exquisite and graceful. The vim and * r erve with whiten the ballet work started was maintained to the end, and 'here way net a minute in the thre ; e hours' performance that was not interesting.

In Lennon, Hyman and Lennon, the "Humpty Dumpty" Company certainly has three cf the eleverst and most versatile acrobats and contortionists that can be found on this slide cf the Mire at least. Their turn was so ex'•Tucialirijly funny, novel and wonderful that nothing further need be said, only that the immense audience were very loth when the blacking out for •he next scene came.

Evorything v.Tent through with a perfect swing and at to-night's performance/, if weather conditions do not pi'event rural dwellers coming in, 'The Jam cf Cathay" will receive a great welcome. To-night, the New Zealand talented soprano Miss Elsie Nicholas, will make her first appearance, and all the panto, mime favourites will be seen in new roles.