AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1915, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

'•MOTHER GOOSE." ''Mother Goose" attracted a fair audi* i enee to the Theatre Hoval last night, ] and it is safe to say that all were pleas- si ed to renow acquaintance with this old 1 friend of childhood's days, attended by J King Cole, Little Boy Blue, Red ■ Hood, and other personages so dear to <j the hearts of the young and even the old* | Last night these were all presented in s attractive guise by Stanley McKay 1 * j Royal Pantomime Company, the mem-> bers of which scored distinct hits. From J the opening inarch to the fail of the i curtain there was a delightful spring * and freshness about the pcrfonnMpo that was recognised by the audience, andt i was greeted with ' unstinted and well-' i merited applause. The principals, who 5 were all new to New Plymouth, at once leapt into popularity. There i» very little plot in the pantomime—it is not necessary. So long as there ig good ' bright music, sparkling dialogue, sprightly dancing, spectacular effects, and vaudeville eccentricities, and last, buti not least, an animal, its suocess is assured, and last night all these were pres4 ent. The principal characters could, «od did, sing well, their enuneiation bring > clear and distinct. Miss Essie Jennings made a charming "Boy Blue." The possessor of a fine figure and rich voice, ahs « completely captivated her audience. Ia ! "Down in Burgundy" and "Waiting by, : the Mississippi Shore" she was heard to , advantage, but possibly her best effort was the march and recruiting song, "We Don't Want to Lose You, but We Think You oujjht to Go," This waß sung with great depth of feeling, and evoked an outburst of applause and also a shower of silver amounting to £2 13s s}d, which has been handed oyer to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. ■ Tri concerted number* with Red ljiding Hood she was equally at home, the sweet voices blending harmoniously. "I've Got All I Want But You" and "Love Me While the Loving's ' " Good" were perhaps the pick. Mies - Rosie Coleman was a dainty "Little Red Riding Hood," her melodious singing and ■ vivacious acting proving irresistible. 1 Her best numbers were: "A Girl in the Heart of Maryland" and "Thomas Atkins." Mr. Will Rayner upheld the reputation of "King Cole" as ft "merry old soul." His beautiful tenor voice at once held his hearers. In the song "The Deathless Army" he created a furore, whilst his rendition of the National Anthems of the Allies was particularly effective, He was equally as good in a, humorous vein, and acted well up to "Mother Goose," the drolleries of the pair being inimitable. A report would be incomplete without mention of the costume song with Jennie Lynne (Miss Cottie Wilson), "A Wee Australian Laasie." Mr. Jimmy Gerald as "Mother Goose" was a splendid old woman, and kept tho audience in roars of laughter with witty sayings. The solo, "The Finishing School" was excruciatingly funny, as was the Tango Burlesque with * King Cole, "You Made Me Love You." Miss Carmen Coleman scored a success in the song «ind dance "Whistle It." "The Fairy" and 'The Demon" were in good hands. Mr. Will Speed made an inimitable "Matilda." The choruses were well balanced and spirited, whilst the ballets were well executed, particularly the Oriental Ballet. Miss Rub\ Rayner'.j "Toe Dancing" was a delight, Tho spectacular effects were splendid, thought not so gorgeous as in some other performance s . A beautiful tableau was tin', set to the recruiting song, in which a wounded soldier at the guns made a powerful appeal. The orchestra under Air. Leslie Smith was efficient, though «ie lass at times was rather noticeable. The performance abounds in novelties, chief among which must be mentioned the trick cycle riding of Will Speed; the we. i'i which he manipulates his wheel stamps him a *tar 0 f the first raagnitu<\\ Credo Bros., musical acrobats, also gnve « first-class performance, producing Ifcautiiul music from various in-, straareb v/lL'kt nonchalantly performir.g r.v.rt diring 'ricks. jr!:.™ st lavgj, Oe performance is anenf;;v!,ws ore, snd il is hoped that ».r.> C.'o. Stephenson's enterprise will bi rded with crowded houses, both * at ens aatln-s this afternoon and toni?.U, -viien "Cinderella" will make her cor.