ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 112, 27 September 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"SINBAD THE SAILOR." Philosophers have sought for years for the elixir of life, but modern folks who have no pretensions to scientific thoroughness look no further for rejuvenesence than the annual visit of the pantomime. It is really surprising howmany grown-up people it requires to take one small child to the pantomime. Aunty is quite sufficient chaperone to take a whole family of infants to a Sun- '> day school picnic or a Punch and Judy show, but when it comes to pantomime, father and mother have to keep a gentle eye on aunty, and uncle cannot be left at home safely, whilst grandpapa, realising the danger to'which his offspring are liable to be subjected, lias to take grandmama along with him to take car* of the rest of the family. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that the Theatre should have been filled to overflowing last night, when the J. C. Williamson company produced "Sinbad. the Sailor." Pantomimes are like girls —they are all awfully alike, only' some of them are more so. In this respect, Sinbad is "more so." It sparkles and it. frivols and it revels through a maze of bright and entertaining song and story and dance, with a vigor and a general eclat that must have satisfied even: ' grandpapa. Of course, but for a few incidentals that are lugged in by the ears, it might just as well have Veen christened "It," or "When the Wind Blows in from the Sea," as "Sinbad .the Sailor," but no well-behaved pantomime ever • took the boards unless it conformed to precedent by being ostensibly based upon a nursery rhyme or a, story from the"Arabian Nights." Modem pantomime, is the result of a long period of evoliition. The original pantomime was a mimic representation without words; that of to-day is a wordy presentation that calls for little mimicry There are people who call this lapse into glorified ■ • vaudeville a degeneration, but these are mostly folk who revel in the recollections - of things years ago, when no pantomime was complete without a clown, a harlequin, a columbine, a red-nosed policeman and a string of sausages. Some of these items of the menu still remain, but for the most part they have gone the way of all flesh, and even the regulation "Transformation Scene" has been embodied in a ballet. Australasia is fortunate in having such a conscientious producer as Mr. J. C. Williamson to interpret its. pantomime for it, and the productionsof the firm are looked forward to annually with a confidence that is never misplaced, for every year brings something frc3h and something new and up-to-date. "Sinbad the Sailor" simply bristles with novelties, and it riots through two long acts .and goodness knows how many elaborate scenes with, a delightful hilarity and a vim and sparkle that must appeal to everybody who has an appreciation of the frankly humorous. It is a medley of" engenuous freakishncsß, and it has the outstanding merit of not having a word of sens* in. its whole composition. It 13, in fact, quite impertinent in its anomalies, and it does not care the proverbial "tinker's curse" whether the roc lays a bantam's egg or an aeroplane, or whether Sinbad's diamonds are made of petroleum or but-ter-fat. It is this unserxousness of effort that constitutes its charm and gives th« elders a legitimate excuse for unbendingfor once and growing young again at the instigation of hearty laughter. There are no Madame Melbas or Seneeas or v

George Washingtons or Henry Irvings or Neitsches in the cast, but there are a whole lot of jolly girls and, fellow.s -who make continuous merriment, until even Dick Stewart, blase with centuries of theatrical productions, has to sneak away from the counting of his ihekels and stand at the back of the circle an* laugh once more. There is no necessity to traverse this shimmering and scintillating entertainment in detail. It is one long laugh from beginning to end, whilst its magnificent mounting and its thoroughness of mechanical detail are a mir-

acte of stagecraft. Its shortcomings could be stated in a line; its merits would sake columns. To speak of the cast is simply to express a personal predilection, but the antics of the two British sailow, Messrs. Drew and Aiders, are inimitable, whilst the extraordinary illusions of the Sleedes have to be »ecn to be appreciated. As the inevitable "Dame," Mr. Pip Popwell is excellent, and his "gag" has the merit #£ novelij; added to its cleverness.' Mr. Hassan continues his excursions into the animal world as a dog of quite exceptional parts, whilst the vocal portion of the entertainment is well held up by Miss Marie Eaton, Miss Nance Maher, Miss Nell Fhinis and Miss Florence Imesen. The ballets are marvels of gorgeous speetacularism, and the dancing and the grouping are incomparably splendid. Nothing, in fact, has been spared to mate the production as bright and complete as brains and money can make it, and that it succeeds absolutely is the beet compliment that can be paid to it. From the call-boy to the curtain it never flags, and it never misses. This afternoon there will be a matinee of the pantomime, and to-night the company 'will say farewell to a thoroughly appreciative New Plymouth.

EMPIRE PICTURES.

''Dick Turpin," the inspirative genius of many a small boy's adventurous escapades, figured in a film at the Empire Picture Palace last night, which was graced, .with las patronymic. Despite counter attractions, there was a very good house. The picture was -excellently staged, and added interest was lent to it by the fact that many of the scenes were kmematographed on the spots identical with those attributed to his wild and daring exploits. The holding up of the "London Mail," and the subsequent encounter with the Bow street runners were brimful of exciting incident. In "Counsel for the Defence," a powerful dramatic subject, oast on popular lines, was portrayed. It depicted a' young lawyer defending his quondum love—who had married a wealthier mart —on a charge of murdering her husband. The acquittal scene was a dramatic masterpiece. Still another «tnr film was released in the shape of n stirring 2000 feet production, "The Indian Massacre." Tt received a very popular reception. Several excellent scenic and comic subjects were also included in the programme.