CHILDREN’S PANTOMIME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 11, 10 December 1926, Page 3

CHILDREN’S PANTOMIME.

WEST END SCHOOL PRODUCTION

The pupils of the West End School achieved a brilliant success last evening when, before a large and appreciative audience in the spacious assembly hall, a modernised pantomime version of “Dick Whittington and his Cat was presented on an elaborate scale. The production was staged on a specially constructed platform with excellent settings, and the interpretation of tho theme by a group of over oU pupils reflected great credit upon the work of the producer, Mrs J. Oswald Telford. A feature of the entertainment was the costuming, and this was shown to advantage m the ballets ancl choruses, while a splendid cast of principals completed the success. The story, woven around the romantic adventures of Dick -Whittington (Millie Penk.eth) and his cat (Billie Herron), opens in a country lane near a town of Lancashire. Dick, left destitute by the death of liis parents, is thrown upon his own resources and, imagining London to be a city overflowing with wealth, he determines to set out on the great journey. With only a starving cat, which h© a has rescued from tho roadside, as a companion, the lad reaches the metropolis.; only to be rapidly disillusioned, and; is forced to seek shelter as a sculleryboy in the house of a rich merchant. It is hero that Dick meets Mary (Maisie Puklowski) and soon falls in lovo with her only to realise his poverty. Dick resolves to return to his home-town, but at tho village of Holloway the famous Bow Bells chime out a prophecy that he would be thrice Lord Mayor of London, so he retraces his steps* only to meet Captain Sailaway (Mary Scott). The captain, with Dick and his cat, set out for ' foreign lands and on arrival at a country “somewhere in the east or west” sell the cat to the Emperor (Jim Woodlands) for many bags of gold to stop a plague of rats. On arrival in London again Dick marries Mary and, as tho bells had whispered, ho becomes Lord Mayor of the city. Miss Millie Penketh made a charming principal boy, singing and acting most gracefully. In the difficult role of the cat, Biilie Herron was a great success, while Maisie Puklowski made a dainty Mary, her singing being loudly applauded while she also showed confidence in her acting. As Captain Sailaway Mary Scott acted her part delightfully. Jim Woodlands made an excellent Emperor. Other principals featured in the cast who also acted splendidly are the Gipsy Chief (Michael Krivan), Jack (Mary Thwaites), Princess (Peggy Jarvis) and her attendants, Mollie, and George Thwaites, while William Mouldey as the cook introduces sparkling humour into the situation at every turn.

Tho following children are also included in the ensemble and last evening admirably fulfilled tiro various roles allotted to them: Fairies and Geishas, M. Beattie, K. Koyle, V. Chalk, J. Beattie, N. Dustin, N. Davidson, A. George, A. Gray, M. George, H. Jarvis, F. Matthews, It. Penketh, J. Spillman, N. Laivson, and C. Telford; Gipsies, Japs, attendants and villagers, P. Coyle, C. Bambury, J. Beattie, M. Clark, W. Chalk, H. Canpenter, \V. Honey, B. Kyle, D. McEwan, C. Penketh, G. Robertson, B. Singleton, G. Scott, D. Spring, J. Woodlands; rats, J. Beattie, P. Coyle, D. McEwan and C. Penketh. Those who contributed solo items were: Songs, Milly Penketh, “A Hundred Years from Now”; Maisie Puklowski, “Mary was a Housemaid,” and Peggy Jarvis. “Butterfly Land” ; recitations, D. Spring, “How the favourite beat us” ; Michael Krivan, “The Game of Life,” and Tim Woodlands, “Why should it make me cry ?’ Dances were rendered by Noel Dustin and the “Jingle Johnnies,” J. Spelman, C. Telford and N. Davidson, while the Misses N. Puklowski, P. Jarvis, M. Scott, A. Thwaites, M. Penketh and M. Thwaites as the “Statue Dancers” gave an excellent representation of spring, music and bubbles in three distinct acts. A violin solo by G. Penketh, entitled “The West End Hornpipe,” was well received and an excellent pianoforte duet from Chopin came from Mary and George Scott. “Birdie’s Ball,” another pianoforte duet, was played by Alice and Molly George, being equally fine in rendition as the provious items- , ~ . . , There is no doubt that the principals of the pantomime acquitted themselves creditably and the introduction of such well-known choruses as “Picador” by an harmonious quartette, “Moonlight and Roses” and “Do Ye Ken John Peel” as concerted vocal numbers, brightened the production and drew hearty applause from the audienoe. Other popular turns were “Broadcasting,” a burlesque part song, and the “Egyptian Mummies,” a company of clever entertainers. Followed by some pretty tableau work by a bevy of fairies, the final curtain was rung down upon a medley of choruses, and a storm of applause

marked the appreciation of the large number present. The pantomime will be repeated this evening when it is expected that those of the public who ha,ve not yet availed themselves of the opportunity of seeing it will do so and assist the school in its effort to provide a bright entertainment.