Mexborough and Swinton Times, December 30.
“The Sleeping Beauty.”
Christmas Pantomime at Denaby Main.
The Denaby Church Entertainment Society produced the Christmas pantomime, “The Sleeping Beauty,” in the Large Hall, Denaby Main, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The operetta was staged in aid of the sanctuary fund of the Denaby Main Parish Church.
The performance showed how thorough and enthusiastic had been the rehearsal; the stage pictures and the chorus singing, and particularly the dancing of the tiny tot’s, were very bright and pleasing.
The first scene opened on a room in the Palace, with a good fairies in complete possession. The white and silverrobed “Immortals,” sang very charmingly. This was the most effective and dainty scene of the pantomime.
Miss E Engledow; as the “fairy of the Palace” sang and acted with confidence and spirit. Miss E Robinson, as the “fairy of darkness,” playedthe dreadful part of the evil spirit with true cruel indifference and cynicism.
When the “mortals” entered the Palace, the contrasting colour of the costumes of the courtiers andmaids ofhonour, made a fine picture.
The Wise Man, the Jester and the Poet all played their parts well. They remained the Wise Man, the Jester and thePoet to the close of the play, refusing to lose caste in merging withthe chorus.
Mr A.Platt worked hard to bring every particle of fun out of the limited opportunities afforded by the book.
The transformation of the happy revellers of the Palace to a state of helpless sleep was effective and humorous.
As the well-known rhythm of the “Waltz Demure” was heard, above all rang but the fateful hour of “12” and the Jester was quiet for the first time in his life. All the court stood still, and when we found them, 100 years later, they were in exactly the same positions, with the identical expression.
Mr T Hallcroft was dignified and austere as such a high-handed King should be this. Mr A N Robinson, as the Chancellor described his tax gathering in fine tenor notes. “The Queen”, Miss A Willis, Miss M Curtis as “The Prince,” and Miss E Wilkinson as the “Fairy of Life,” were all very successful in their various parts. Miss M Curtis as the dancing instructors, deserves great praise.
The children were fully painstaking and the movements were graceful and artistic.
Orchestral music was provided by Miss D Wathey, Miss F Wathey and Mr T Rushton, the accompanist of the pantomime. Their efforts were loudly applauded.
The Large Hall was not full, but the audience was delighted with the result, which was, indeed, creditable to all concerned, and the producer, Mr T Holcroft should feel quite satisfied with the performance.
Perhaps it would have been better to introduce the extra items into the play, which was somewhat weak in dialogue, and the musical airs would have been better if more varied