... THE INFINITE VARIETY OF PANTOMIME Shakespeare said of Cleo patra Age cannot wither her, nor cjistom stale Her infinite variety. The same can be said of pantomime, which is presented as an ever-changing variation on an age old theme, to suit the mood and fashion of the moment. Victorian ballads and stately waltzes seemed appropriate enough at Prince Charming's court a hundred years ago. But ...

... PALACE BILLY BUNTER'S MYSTERY CHRISTMAS' UF.RE is a show to which all chil- drcn should take their fathers for a Christmas treat. Children themselves will enjoy it, but to old readers of the Grey friars stories it BILLY BUNTER S MYSTERY CHRISTMAS Play, by Maurice McLoughlin. Pre sented by City Stage Production* at the Palace on December 27. Dlcor by Victor Friendly. Harry Wharton John Downing ...

... ARTS THEATRE CLUB 'RADIO RESCUE' THE most successful children's plays and stories are usually those which show young people fending for themselves in a hard adult world and Radio Rescue is no exception to this profitable rule. Even grown-ups, who may find this play full of improbable coincidences, cannot fail to feel a thrill and a sense of envy as they watch the adventures of Sparky and ...

... STRATFORD E 'A CHRISTMAS CAROL' lOAN LITTLEWOOD'S adapta- J tion of Charles Dickens' famous Christmas story gives me the im pression that this is exactly how the author would have written it had he lived in 1958. The only excep tion is. that I do not believe he would have dispensed with the more alarming aspects of Jacob Marley's visitation, whereas Miss Littlewood. out of deferenoe to the ...

... WIMBLEDON 'BABES IN THE WOOD' THE Peter Haddon Company's 186th production. Babes in the Wood, directed by William Roberton, his fourth annual Wimbledon production, lays great emphasis on audience-participation. Sandy Powell, as Sandy the Page, has the children with him from the start, and the audience yell their pleasure at Cyril Fletcher's slap stick cookery in the Castle Kilchen scene. The ...

... LEWISHAM 'FESTIVAL OF MAGIC' SOUTH LONDON, which used to have so many Christinas shows, is badly served these days, but that clever magician Mandrake is filling one gap with his Festival of Magic. playing for eight days at the vast Gaumont, Lewisham. It is a cheers show which could do with a bit more spectacle, but it seems to please most of its cus tomers. Mandrake himself is one of ...

... WATFORD 'ROBINSON CRUSOE' NO pop singers or incongruous specialities mar the traditionalism of James and Gilda Perry's production of Robinson Crusoe at Watford Palace. Here is pantomime as most of us remember it, with time-honoured gags and a story which proceeds at a leisurely pace right to the finale. The hapoy family spirit which James and Gikla Perry have fostered at this theatre is ...

... 'BABES IN THE WOOD' THE line of approach to the production of Babes in the Wood at the Hippodrome, Alder shot, is difficult. It is impossible to judge it by the usual standards. In the first place. Playmaker Pro ductions Ltd. took over the theatre less than a month ago. Sheila j Archer, director and general mana- ger. and Robert Peake, director and producer, worked like slaves to j ...

... 'CINDERELLA' THIS production of Cinderella at Aston Hippodrome aims at and achieves a popular appeal that will suit young and old. Kim Tracey in the title-part enrichcs it with a charming voice and gives a touching simplicity to the part, and Mary Redfern is a fine upstanding Prince Charming who proves to be an admirable partner for Cinderella. Lcn Howe is a Buttons of quality cheerfully ...

... BRIGHTON 'MOTHER GOOSE' PRISCILLA the Goose almost steals the show in S. H. New some's Mother Goose at the Brighton Hippodrome. This pantomime is first and foremost a treat for the children, as of course, it should be, with Richard Hearne in the title role and pint-sized Dick Emery supplying much of the good, dean fun. Departing from the usual riotous opening, the curtain rises on Rich ...

... CANTERBURY 'BABES IN THE WOOD' BABES IN THE WOOD, produced at the Marlowe Theatre on Boxing Day, has a champagne sparkle and was given an enthusiastic reception. Book is by John Crocker, and additional music by Eric Gilder. Production is by Pat Sandys with Roy Hope as associate producer, choreography by Svitney Woodman and music under the direction of Leslie Wheeler. The singers really ...

... DUNDEE 'ALI BABA' AS usual at this time of year, Dundee Repertory Company have let their hair down and are presenting their own Christmas pantomime, Ali Baba, by Ken Wynne and James Grout. It s a piece of fun and nonsense that gives the cast the chance to do all the things they cannot do through the rest of the year sing, dance and make merry generally. As principal girl they have a special ...