New-York tribune., 1905-01-08

can Write II, for Mr.. Barrie has not only the
whimsical humor and the poetic ina gination for
work OF this kind, but also the s,Iile,sss heart
Of child.
The childrens pantomiine at pr,:ry Lane. Is a
holiday variety show With amazing snlaY,lor.
oi spectacle, many beautiful dances topical
SONGS without end. conturing tricks with plates
LOOPS ana balls. and rocking buffoonery by
haf dozen trained comedians Mr.. Arthur
Collins was warned by the death of two nopu,ar
-"Foiites' Mr.. Leno and Mr.. Campbell, that he
would have to make more effort than he usually
does to keep up the reputation of this recognized
London institution: and there has been no fall
ure OF inventive powers. The White Cat" is a
Pretty romance of fairyand with a more CON
slstent story than is ordinarily seen at Drurv
Lane. 1t is the tale Of a beautiful princess who
was transformed by Heeate into white cat for
eioslng 10 marry an ugly dwarf; but Cupd
Kept watch over her fortunes and restored her
10 her riehtful lover when the kinedono co,,1d
pe CANNED. King Ivory had agreed to abjicate
III IaVor of the prince who should find the
-Naeicdi golden net big enough to be wound
around the world. yet so flexible as to be drawn
through wedding ring One son returned from,
ene guest with goldfish; another came with a
fantastic lobster orchid; and Prince paerless
OFought golden net with a metaphor-tbst II
MAS MAS rove that made the merry world eo round
80 4uest rs then changed into search for the
1alscs s tt princess; and she is found in the
tor ~ u @ the white cat but it is not necessary
f oI me prince to cut off her head with a sword
a tupld Is there to touch her with an arrow
Iins 80 ~ ienew ne ner youth and beauty. Mr. Col
llis ana Mr.. Hickory Wood do not allow Tho
Lalry story to hamper their inventjye raso,,rner
go .He 4tnilqren old and young, are entertained
@ oi "a, aIler hour by medley of romance and
IoIneoy walls rise tier after tier while the
puILoons are clowning upon them: houses are
shattered and islands come out of the sea. there
Slnpie and compound. disport themselves IN
olaPou Market; a huge monkey humanized by
ui edIeLui oleting, learns to dance and looks on
sympathetfcalIy while the fairy Asbestos va shes
4 oaDy; 1airy orchard is filled with white and
o pI.1h blooms ripe cherries. white and purple
S!IpeS, oranges and lemons, as scores of pretty
srIs wind In and out and dance together.
haslcaI potlons are served by a erotAsana har
la tl,@u aia lodging house is transformed into
tSpHJuier oen; there are dissoiving views of
the city OF Phantasia; the triumph of Hymen
Is GeIeorated IN revel of light and color; the
"t5te cat holds court with courtiers of her kind
ana the splendors of the royal banouefire hall
are are rounded out with old fashioned harleoiinade
- = mere IS not only little, but even good deal
OF everything, for Boxing Night the enter
ta1nment occupied over five merry hours
Drury Lane has felt the impress of the music
nan. The topical song is now a pron,inant
feature of the pantomime and the Older cbii
uFen are Kept in frolic by the hits at public
men men and literary celebrities in such jingies as
IN IN! what a Happy Land is England!' and
Inc Square Peg in a Round Hole If the actors
Could sing as well the ballet performers
VI INC SIoWIS prank or the scene paint
ers paint 1t would be musical comedy in hoIi-
oay gulse; but this stage of perfection has not
yet been reached, and the topical song is DIM
enough When 1t is virtually recited i'm a lolid
voice pltched high The comic business is man.
ageo more mtelligently. Mr.. Harry Randall is
MT. Lenos successor the funny man in petti-
coats; and ne is Unceasing in energy and broaj-
~ humorous. AS the fairy Asbestos with the
junction of protecting Prince Peerless he does
not lack employment, but he plays MANY parts
turns parmald, keeps lodgings, scrubs and
Scours a Daby, experiments with palmistry, bur-
LesqueS coon songs and operate scores, and
dahces all over the stage. Mr.. James Welch has
ms trained donkey to ride, and, sporting prince
as ne is, he is transformed at one stage into a
languishing princess; and when he is accus-
toned TO his new surroundings he will probably
succeed IN broadening his style and acting with
less se1-repression. Mr.. Eastman, as another
sporting prince is old hand in pantomilne
ana let's himself go whenever there is a chance
for drollery. Mr.. Woottwell is another hu1norfst
with style of his own; and last years fantastic
scarecrow, Mr. Ward, the monkey with a
smile, is an artist full of comic spirit. Mr. Hearn
comes from the music halls and is good corr
Jurer, with a fine talent for the antic. Miss
Marie George has beauty and is a charming
dancer, and acts with grace and charm as Cupid
Miss JEANNE Macdonald is as pretty a princess
as was ever seen out of fairy story and Miss
Leighton does not lack either charm or vivacity
as Prince Peerless The White Cat' is quite
as good as the best holiday pantomme seen at
Drury Lane during the last decade. 1t lacks
the freshness and originality of Mr. Barrie's
features of the timeworn Christmas pantomine
with more vulgarity, it is true than is whole
some for children of any age, but with fine
variety and most ingenious scenic effects.
/, N. F.