"MOTHER GOOSE."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8541, 23 September 1907, Page 7

"MOTHER GOOSE."

The success which has attended the 1 jng run of "Mother Goose" in other towns was repeated in Masterton, on Saturday night, when the pantornime was staged in the Town Hall. This is the first pantomime that has visite.l Masterton and so great was the rush for seats that long before the curtain rose "standing room only" was announced, and a great number of the audier.ee contented themselves with standing in various parts of the house throughout the performance. To sum up the production one must refer to it as magnificent in every detail, rich in its numerous and pretty ballets, especially those by. the children, its "catchy" songs, and its clever witti - cisms and "gags." There was not a dull moment from the rise to the fall of the curtain, novelties were ushered oh in quick succession, and the audience were never tired of lavishing applause, a remarkable fact being that every song, without exception, was encored. Mr Harry Phydcra gave an exceedingly fine representation of the character "Mother Goose." His comedy was produced without any great effort, his "make-up," was funny in the extreme, his "gags" were clever and new, while his local "hits" scored every time. In the role of "Mother Goose's" son, Mr Harry Shine was a greafe success. Hi's humour was given in a quiet way, while his voice effects and humourous misplacing of words were very effective. Another splendid character was that of Mr G. Victor LoydaU in the role of the Scotchman. His. accent was particularly fine, and his song "'We Parted on the Shore" was a treat. A study in the art of animal impersonation, such as that ; given by Messrs Qtieen and Le Brun, as the donkeys and afterwards as the excruciatingly funny horse, has never been seen in Masterton before. Miss Mabelle Morgan as "Colin" made a handsome "principal boy," and had three vocal gems, viz., "Cupid is the Captain of the Army," "Sweet Eyes of Blue." and "Moon Dear," the last-named being rendered more attractive by moon and cloud effects, which were thrown on a screen. Mks Olive Godwin filled the part of "Jill" in a captivating manner, and scored a complete triumph in her vocal items, "Lilacs," "Somebody's Sweetheart." and the "Swing Song." The latter was an outstanding fea-' ture of the programme. While the chorus was being sung the stage was darkened, and Miss Godwin and a quartette of ladies were seated on svy"!§Kpd swung outwards into the auditorium and back. The ropes of the swings were exquisitely lighted with various coloured electric bulbs, and the effect can be imagined. The character of "Gretchen," the Dutch girl, was pleasingly pourtrayed by Miss Irene Dillon, who rendered a very catchy song entitled "Gretchen von Gretchen." The Little Dartos' whirlwind dance was loudly applauded, and the humourous club juggling by Messrs Lennon, Hyman and Lennon .was well received. Other outstanding characters in a long cast were "Heartsease," a fairy (Miss Beatrice English), the "Golden Goose" (Mr Eddie McLean), "Malignum," a demon (Mr Oswald Cushing), and the "Mayor of Moortown" (Mr H. H. Wallace.) The arrangements of the various choruses and ballets- were splendid, while the scenic and mechanical effects of the whole production were excellent in every detail.