... EXMOUTH 'PUSS IN BOOTS' WITH a deft hand producer Joyce Worsley created success with thc West of England Theatre Company's Christmas presentation of Nicholas Stuart Gray's Puss in Boots, at the Sayoy. Norman Rose excelled in the title role and showed agile versatility. As Gerard, Barry Wilsher gave understanding to thc part. To gether their performance left little to be desired. Another ...

... STOCKTON-ON-TEES 'ROBINSON CRUSOE' WITH Ken Platt heading the comedians, shapely Joy Marlowe playing Robinson Crusoe, and Morton Fraser's Harmonica Rascals providing lively interludes, Robinson Crusoe was assured of a successful three-week run when it opened at the Globe on Boxing Day. Thc production, by Charles King, presented by Lew and Leslie Grade, in association with Will Collins, is ...

... BATH 'JACK AND JILL' THERE is no better-mounted pantomime in the provinces than a Maddox pantomime, and this year there is some breath-taking colour in Frank Maddox's production, at the Royal, of Jack and Jill, which owes a great deal to the design of Mrs. Nellie Maddox. It is all delightfully fresh, and this is reflected in the playing of the large cast. It is good, too, to see the ...

... BLACKBURN 'CINDERELLA' THERE is a curious mix of ancient and modern about Frank H. Fortescue's Cinderella.'' which opened for a three-week season at the Grand on December 23. The book adheres closely to the traditional pattern and the principals have their own ideas for freshening the theme. All but i he principal boy. Jean Campbell. Mine, Turner's Girls, and ihe speciality Profe sor ...

... BRIGHTON 'CINDERELLA' CINDERELLA, at the Hippo drome, has all the traditional trappings, powdered wigs, pure white ponies and a sparkling coach lo lake Cinders to the ball. It has, too, something else, Derek Roy as Buttons. There are times when this googly-eyed comic submerges self in ihe somewhat pathetic part >f Buttons, but for the most part lie is himself; thc polished and ex ...

... ST. ANDREWS 'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST' THIS fairy play by Nicholas Stuart Gray was given at the Byre Theatre. The author has approached the old fairy story from an original angle and has made it admirable Christmas entertainment, full of magic for children and humour for the adults. The part of Beauty provided an j admirable vehicle for the polished j acting of Una McLean. The Beast was equally ...

... BELFAST 'ALADDIN' IN the role of Mrs. Twankey Clarkson Rose gives a characterisation for which he is renowned in Derek Salberg's production of Aladdin at the Grand Opera House. From the opening scene to the finale the audience is under his command. He is at his finest in a I caricature of the principal boy of the nineties, and altogether his stage manner is mosi amusing. 1 lie Three ...

... BOURNEMOUTH 'ROBINSON CRUSOE' ROBINSON CRUSOE ON ICE is the best pantomime yet staged at the Westover. A solid, charming, colourful and happy production, it has the added attraction of being great fun, too. I he scenery and costumes, dc. signed by Erik, and painted by John Lewis, are the most lavish the rink have produced. In addition, ultra-violet effects have been skil fully used to ...

... MANCHESTER THE twenty-seventh international circus al Belle Vue is a well balanced mixture of turns, animal and human, drawn from several European countries as well as from America, with veteran George Lock-hart as ringmaster for the twenty-seventh time. Added to the human skill and animal intelligence, is colourful and appealing presentation. After the clowns have made their bow. .ponies ...

... WESTON-SUPER-MARE 'BABES IN THE WOOD' THIS Dan Sherry production at the Knightstone is an excellent achievement in traditional style, and if it touches with affection on aspects of pantomime which some producers to-day discard in favour of modern streamlining, it is fast moving and up to the minute in presentation. From Dan Sherry s playing of Simple Simon it is clear that ho could r.ot ...

... BEDFORD 'PUSS IN BOOTS' at ihe Royal County, Sandy Lauri presents Pu^ in Boots. .1 lovely and brilliant show, with many colourful scenes. Sandy Lauri. a ...

... HUDDERSFIELD 'LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD' THE Winter Garden Players make Red Riding Hood, at the Royal, a good repertory actors' pantomime. Nita Valerie is not only an appropriately dashing Hal the Hunter, but is also responsible for original lyrics and the choreography, Fred Ferris introduces somethinig of the atmosphere of his broadcast material as King Whacker and Josh Woolgar suggests a ...