New-York tribune., 1909-01-03

HOLIDAY DRAMA
Pant0mime IN LondOn-"PiRkie
and "Peter Pan.
London December "a.

unique and inimitabIe. the pantomiTnes are NOT
| so coarse they were. AS musical comedles
and picture plays they have improved IN quaI-
! ity and the plots or schemes have become more
| consistent. Dick Wilmington at Drury Lane
| is medley Of song, dance. farce clownins and
spectacle, but there is an Ineligible story IN
the illustrations OF the medieval shops OF Chepe-
side. the dream Of Hghgate Hill, the voyages TO
Phantasia and the state entry OF the Lord
Mayor Of London. Cinderella at the Adelphi
while conspicuous for beautiful stage effects
especially in the great white scene, is a play
well acted, with Miss Phyllis Dare the hero
ine and the familiar story effectively reproduced
with farccal touches. Little Red Riding Hood
at the Lyceum IS more of a variety show, with
most dimnuttve actress IN the name part and
an abundance Of holiday clowning. Little Lord
Fauntleroy" Is revived at the Court Theatre.
with the little boy who recently appeared in
Paris the clown in Mr.. Barrie's ''Pantaloon"
in the principal part and with Miss Eva Moore
as the Hon. Mrs. Enrol.
Mr.. Tree at His Majestys has provided a
substitute for pantomime and a rival attraction
to Peter Pan" This is ''Ptnkie and the Fairies"
by Mr.. Graham Robertson. with music by Mr..
Frederic Norton. It is not another Barrie. al
though 1t reveals a sympathetic knowledge Of
the humors and fancies OF childhood. Alice in
method Of determining the relations between
children and fairies. There is no mystery
about them. The fCtions OF the nursery are ac-
cepted as realities and reproduced In a straight.
forward way. Plnhe and Tommy, living with
their sleepy Uncle Gregory and their prim
aunts Inogen and Caroline, have friendly and
intimate intercourse with the sylvan elves
Pickle, Whisper and Twinkle, whom the elders
cannot see In the garden. Pfnkies cousin Mollie
who has let down her skirt at seventeen. IS still
young enough 70 the fairies and is included
IN the invitation from the Fairy Queen to 4
woodland party. The three guests are received
at court with special favor and allowed to sum
mon favOrites whom they want TO see. and
Cinderella drives up in crystal coach and four.
followed by Beauty and the Beast, the Giant
Killer and Jack OF the Beanstalk and the Ian
gushing Sleeping Beauty After the woodland
ban Cinderella and the Sleeping Beauty redeem
their promise Of calling upon the children at the
villa and astonishing their staid prosalc pro-
teCtors. and, with the assistance Of the fairy
elves. the pretty cousin Is enabled to elope with
ineligible lover before Pnks resumes her
piano practice as a signal for the final fail os
The curtain.
This IS a scheme readily understood that
the dulest child IN the audience follows il with
out whispered cues and It lends Itself TO artistic
establishment by scene painter and costumer
To the garden scene. where the elves play tricks
and the embassy from the fairy court delivers
with mock ceremonial the Invitation to the ball
Is added a moonIt forest glade OF wondrous
beauty, where 4 tiny fairy IS enthroned in the
heart OF lily and where radiant shapes are,
fitting among the oaks 10 the music Of a tink-
ling waterfall. Rarely has d more refined spec
tacie been seen on the London stage. and the
byplay is natural the adventures Of Alice
in Wonderland. Pinkie and Tommy are not
frightened by anything that they see. for they
at home IN fairyland. Their presentations in
the sylvan court under the are taken as
seriously any function at Buckingham Pal
ace. and their pleasure IN meeting their nursery
favorites is unaffected and artless. II the two
Jacks come 70 blows when their identity Is mis-
taken Il is comedy for which they are prepared
Hpd they not astoui5hed when Cinderella
Overstaying her time. misses her crystal coach
and drives of ANONYMOUSLY in pumpkin. Even
the Beast becomes marriegeable when Beauty
tenderly addresses him Algernon. and when
the other fascinating Beauty after the ball fails
into a trance on Uncle Gregory's shoulder what
be more natural than the artfCe OF the
awakening by the stodgy stock brokers kiss,
The principal acting IL done by three children
who are entirely at home behind the footlghts
Little Iris Hawkins sings and dances with art
less grace Pinke. and Philip Tongue, with
out a trace OF stage fright. IS admirably boy
lsh Tommy, speaking every line so that II can be
distinctly heard Even more preCoCious is the
performance OF the tiny eight -year-oId pupil OF
Miss Elise Clerc the Fairy Queen. who dances
a pas seul with the confidence OF veteran and
takes her recalls with all the coquetries OF an
experienced comedienne Miss Ellen Terry. who
appears the sunny Aunt Imogen. must be re-
minded Of her Introduction to stage work
when she witnesses the triumph OF this infant
prodigy. She joins Mr.. Volpe and Miss Havi-
land heartily IN the holiday sport, and while she
has nothing TO do at all worthy OF her powers,
she is a mirth provoking figure in her rustling
silk and bristling curls. Miss Marie LShr Is the
dainty, mischievous Cinderella, and Miss Viola
Tree the statuesque Sleeping Beauty-yery tune
ful when che is awake-and Miss Stella Camp l
bell Is a charming Molly. The performers Join
in the humors OF musical comedy and take their
numbers best they can. Miss Terry among the
others. The tinkling music cleveriy suggests
fafryland, and is a melodous accompaniment for
q charming holiday play.
Mr. Barrie's Peter Pan" while growing up.
now that he is IN his fourth year at the Duke of
York's, is fascinating as ever Miss Pauline
Chase has mastered all the subtleties OF the
part and is the embodiment OF grace and spor-
tive mischief Miss Hda Trevelyan Is missed as
Wendy, but her substitute, Miss Gertrude Lang,
gives an excellent performance and has estab-
nshed herself at once popular favorite Mr.
Robb IIarwood repeats his exploits the Pirate
and II is finished and versatile Mr..
Du Maurters two years ago. The other
performers with few exceptions the same as
In previous seasons. and each has been received
Ike old friend. with rounds Of applause on
the opening night. more delightful holiday
play cannot be devised. even by Mr.. Barrie him
self and it promises to go on every winter for