... Fredd Wayne's Success At the Berkeley Restaurant. W.l, Fredd Wayne (from South Pacific scores a marked success with original patter, catchy songs, and crisp lyrics. At the start, after mentioning very many introductions and their outcome-- Flanagan meet ing Allen, Ava Gardner meeting Frank Sinatra, and so on he presents himself to patrons. Sly digs at British types are worked in, a brief but ...

... 'LOTUS HEART' TO FIGURE IN ALL-CHINESE CABARET LIAN-SHIN YANG, Chinese TV artist, will present an all-Chinese revue at the Club de la Cote d'Azur, Frith-street, on Monday next for two weeks. She will be assisted by other Chinese artists, including dancers and jugglers. The title of the revue is Lotus Time, and this is the first time an all- Chinese revue has been presented in London. Lian ...

... DIFFICULTIES THAT BESET THE ART OF SONGWRITING SONG WRITING has a universal appeal. But the songwriter of to-day little realises that from the moment he puts pen to paper the cards are stacked high against him. In a new book entitled So You Want To Be A Songwriter, (published by Colin Venton, Ltd.), Cleethorpcs songwriter Walter Howe, whose The wedding of Jack and Jill continues to be ...

... BRADFORD 'ROBIN HOOD' THIS pantomime at the Alhambra is on such a high level of excellence that it is impossible to say which is the outstanding feature. Some will plump for the singing; others for the scenery and mounting, and others for the comedy. But all will agree that it is a remarkably good production, and one which .stamps Mrs. Gwladys Stanley Laidler as well qualified to carry on ...

... EXETER 'JACK AND THE BEANSTALK' THE pantomime at the Royal has all the familiar ingredients expected in the seasonal show. Indeed, the script has been adapted by Cliff Gwilliam (who also pro duced the show and is orchestral director) from his original of 1950. That it is a success is undoubted. In Charlie Ellis there is a Dame Trott wilh a great sense of fun and. what is more important, a ...

... GUILDFORD 'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST' A BRAND-NEW pantomime, Beauty and the Beast, is being given by Guildford Theatre this year. The script, bright and unusually eloquent, is by local writers. Mollie Liggett arid Jack Penycate. George Hall's music helps to make the show a buoyant affair. with Jack Rodney s deft and imaginative production lending it enchantment. The show opens with a candle light ...

... CAMBRIDGE 'CINDERELLA' STAGED lavishly, and telling the old story in a straightforward manner, the pantomime at the New is of special attraction to the children and the still-young-at-heart. Producer Davy Kaye makes an engaging Buttons. Whether inducing children lo conjc on to the stage and Mng. trjing to play a drum bigger than himself, consoling Cinderella, or thwarting the Ugly Sisters, he ...

... PRESTON 'THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE' JACK GILLAM'S production of The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, which opened a fortlight's run at the Hippodrome on Boxing Day, is satisfying from start to finish--perhaps the best pantonine seen in the town for four years. It is smartly dressed, well >lagcd. and thc action never falters. The story is not a strong one, but he talented principals ...

... KING'S LYNN 'LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD' LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD opened a two-week run on Boxing Day at the Royal. Good rollicking fun abounds but, as successful as it is the comedy team does not steal the limelight. That goes to 12-year-old Jennifer Burch, of Colchester, who--appearing in only her second pantomime is Little Red Riding Hood. She captured the hearts of everyone with her sweet ...

... EDINBURGH 'LITTLE BO-PEEP' AT the Gaiety, Leith, on December 26 W. M. and S. L. presented Fraser Neal's pantomime. Little Bo-Peep and Her Real Live Sheep. Fun for the children is the key note of this brightly staged, well dressed show, which keeps up a merry pace, containing all the ideal features to delight audiences. Tommv Morgan, as Simple Simon, has the children responding lustily ...

... BOURNEMOUTH 'ALADDIN' WILL HAMMER'S Aladdin, at the New Royal, is the best pantomime staged there since he took the theatre over seven years ago. It is ihe complete family show, with good, clean fun, lovely costumes, spectacular scenes and all the traditional pantomime features and characters. The show moves with admirable speed and has a gaiety which cannot hut apnea), and the whole ...

... OLYMPIA THERE is a brisk tempo about Bertram Mills's Circus, which opened on December 20. No act is allowed to remain too long in the ring and novelty is the keynote of most of the offerings The whole makes a most satisfying show, which is probably the best since the war. The circus opens traditionally with The Parade of the com pany. and then the Clowns take over, presenting several ...