... VICTORIA PALACE 'NODDY IN TOYLAND' THE fidelity with which the same actors make their annual return to Noddy in Toyland makes comment more difficult as the years go by, for true to the requirements of the very young, the performances do not vary by a gesture from Christmas to Christmas, and the adult viewer expects little entertain ment. It is therefore pleasant to be able to report that ...

... THE ODEON WYATT EARP SHOW IT is a bit shattering, on entering the Odeon, Tottenham Court Road, to see Wyatt Earp's Western Variety Show, to be charged two shillings for a souvenir programme which, as it turns out, bears little reference to the running order of the actual show, as seen on Boxing Day. Group One according to the printed pro gramme -introduce Hugh O'Brian TV's Wyatt Earp, but ...

... LYRIC, HAMMERSMITH 'KING CHARMING' THIS enchanting Victorian panto mime, which was successfully produced at the Players' Theatre last year, is even better when seen on a larger and better equipped stage, and invokes the thought that, where pantomime is concerned there is much to be said for the good old days. Gwen Cherrell is no less delight ful as a romantic and enchanted Prince than in her ...

... GOLDERS GREEN 'DICK WHITTINGTON' IF one wished to show a foreigner what pantomime really is like I do not think that any would serve the purpose better than Jack Hylton's production of Dick Whittington at Golders' Green this year. it would not, perhaps, make the mystery any clearer to him, but it would certainly help him to understand why we cling with such affection to this form ol ...

... CHISWICK 'CINDERELLA' LEW and Leslie Grade's Cinderella is a smooth, thoroughly professional production, with Joan Regan nicely cast in the title role and McDonald Hobley working hard and with no mean talent to score a major success as Buttons. No wonder that, with a big audience warming to his work on the opening night (December 23). he was able to comment on the success of live (hows ...

... BATH 'LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD' rlis year's pantomime at the J Theatre Royal is clever, captiv ating and charming. Frank Mad- dox has produced another winner'' with his Littlo Red Riding Hood. It is splendidly and lavishly cos- turned and staged and it is obvious that Mrs. Nellie Maddox has had a good deal to do with this side of the I show. The production is slick and colourful. There arc ...

... BEXHILL 'CINDERELLA' FINE family entertainment is the pantomime Cinderella which is presented at the De La Warr Pavilion by the Bexhill company of the Penguin Players repertory company. This admirable festive show is a sure delight and pleasing to both eye and car. The Penguins company as in previous years has been specially augmented for this annual feast of fun and gaiety, and all combine ...

... BIRMINGHAM 'PUSS IN BOOTS' DEREK SALBERG'S presenta tion of Puss in Boots at the Alexandra, is not perturbed by the lack of a story. Its manner of production is so direct and unbroken that the tale seems ample to span its 16 scenes. George Lacy is at the top of his form as the Dame and gives a zest to the whole show. He- wears a multitude of outmodish gowns with an air of fantasy and lie ...

... COLCHESTER 'DICK WHITTINGTON' THE twenty-second Christmas choice of Colchester Repertory players is Ronald Parr's version of Dick Whittington, witty and topical, and graced by music from the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. The production is neat and scene; change smoothly. It is a mattei of luck that a Rep Player should have a singing voice, but one lady and two men prove fortunate in this ...

... EDINBURGH 'MOTHER GOOSE' THIS year's Howard and Wyndham pantomime presented by Stewart Cruikshank at the King's on December 5, is a lavishly staged, gorgeously costumed production. Under Freddie Carpenter's imaginative direction the dazzling show has something to suit all tastes Pantomime tradition is not forgotten, with a harlequinade at the beginning and many vividly colourful scenes to ...

... GLASGOW 'SINBAD THE SAILOR' A SECOND look at this lavish new Howard and Wyndham pantomime, at the Alhambra, produced by Freddie Carpenter, proves that first-night mishaps and slowness have been ironed out. While the comedy remains mainly local in its appeal, the spectacle and stage mechanics reach a high and intri cate level, the costumes and colour ings are breath-taking, and the entire ...

... GLOUCESTER 'DICK WHITTINGTON' APPROPRIATELY enough, at Gloucester, on the eve of what is believed to be the 600th anniversary year of the birth of Sir Richard Whittington, this year's pantomime choice is Dick Whittington. The original Dick was born at Pauntley Court nine miles away. A new approach makes the show the maturest since the Christmas pantomime tradition was revived with the ...