The News For Parrots ~ All The Cage's A Stage

It is, perhaps, not going too far to say that, in the pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk, at Drury Lane Theatre, Mr. Augustus Harris has this year excelled all his previous Christmas productions. Instead of the old notion of a demon, who vindictively pursues the hero and heroine, and a fairy godmother who protects them, the motive of the opening of this pantomime is supplied by the quarrel between Oberon and Titania (out of Midsummer Night's Dream). Oberon, to spite his wife, causes the giant Gorgibuster to fall in love with, and carry off, the Princess Diamond Ducky, who is in love with Jack. Titania of course befriends the lovers, and ultimately Oberon makes up his quarrel with her, and the pair combine to defeat the wicked purposes of the giant, who by the way used to be called an ogre in the old story. The first scene is Oberon's bower, whence we are taken to the palace of the King and Queen, who are represented by the well-known Drury Lane favourites, Mr. Harry Nicholls and Mr. Herbert Campbell. Here we have love passages between Jack and the Princess, who is ultimately carried off by the giant. We are then introduced to the dairy of Jack's mother (Mr. Dan Leno), whence we pass to a marketplace scene, the grouping and colouring in which are exquisite. In the next scene, Puck, at Oberon's instance, purchases Jack's cow with the magic "beans, which are thrown away by his mother in a rage. This leads up to the growth of the beanstalk, which rises in the form of the Eiffel Tower. By its means the King and Queen, Jack and his mother, reach the giant's castle, and with the assistance of Oberon and Titania, release the Princess. This is made the occasion for a procession of Shakespeare's heroes and heroines, who are supposed to have been kept there in durance vile. The procession is admirably and tastefully arranged, and no expense has been spared on the surroundings. Then follow one or two more scenes, concluding with revels in Olympus and another procession, formed of the gods and goddesses, beautiful in the extreme. In one respect this pantomime is infinitely superior to that produced last year, which was remarkably deficient in humour. This year the fun commences almost with the first line, and goes right through to the end, so that, though the house is treated to much of the poetry of colouring, and the poetry of motion as before, it is never bored. There is an extremely comic cow, and a pantomime cock, which fights with a real cock, both of which are beyond praise.