... PORTSMOUTH 'RED RIDING HOOD' DESCRIBED as a fun and games pantomime, the presentation by Dick Ray and Harry Dennis which opened at the Empire on December 26 certainly lives up to that claim. Producer Dick Montague appears as the red-nosed Dame Trot and keeps the slapstick scenes moving at a robust pace. He also leads the audience in the singing of the tongue twister, Sixty-seven Single Sets ...

... LEICESTER 'ALADDIN' PRINCE LITTLER'S Aladdin at the Palace is marked by brightness, briskness and an all-round exccllence. Leading the comedy is Leo Franklyn, and his Widow Twankey is in keeping with his great reputation as a character comcdy actor. Joan Bailey as Aladdin, and Jean Scott as the Princess, look well, sing well, and completely satisfy. Of course we must have an Abanazar of ...

... SALISBURY 'ROBINSON CRUSOE' FOR the Playhouse pantomime John Barron, who has now joined the theatre permanently as producer, relies almost entirely on the resident talent, and the company respond magnificently by providing a bright and tuneful entertainment. the excellent r>ook is by Henry j Marshall, and of the 15 scenes, particularly impressive are those depicting the wreck of the pirate ...

... BIRMINGHAM 'PUSS IN BOOTS' HAPPINESS is the keynote of Nicholas Stuan Gray's The Marvellous Story of Puss in Boots, at Birmingham Repertory. Even the Ogre becomes a sympathetic Character whose evil derives from the wounds to his dignity in youth by being called Weenie in spite of his PUSS IN BOOTS Revival of the play hy Nicholas Stuuri Gray. Presented ai the Birmingham Rcjierutrv Thrsrtre ...

... BOLTON 'MOTHER GOOSE' MOTHER GOOSE, at the Royal, a Jack Taylor-Albert Modley presentation, is a success from the first curtain to the spectacular finale. There is good entertainment for all. The story of the prosperity lavished on the emotional widow through the medium of the golden ??eggs produced by the wander ing goose, provides the medium for both hilarity and despair, and in the title ...

... LUTON 'MOTHER GOOSE' TWO days after Mother Goose opened at the Grand on Boxing Day, Tommy Godfrey took over a specially created part as the Goose's butler. A show that might otherwise have floundered has been saved by him, but in the process he turns it into a variety performance. At limes the production lacked finesse. Some superb hand shadows were spoilt because there was no draping ...

... HALIFAX 'ALADDIN' AT the Grand, on Christmas Eve, the Repertory Theatre Club presented their second annual pantomime, Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp. This is a much more conventional choice than last year's success, Alice in Wonderland, and looks somewhat below the ard of its predecessor, but it should prove a box-office draw. There is plenty to interest and please child ren of all ages ...

... CHATHAM 'BABES IN THE WOOD' PANTOMIME with all its tradition plus the top cal flavour of an ice show, opened at the Empire on Boxing Day when the production by Vic Templar and Della Sweetman, Babes in the Wood on Ice, began its four-week run. The show surpasses similar Yule- tide presentations of previous years. It is well produced and well dressed, and the company have effectively overcome ...

... PETERBOROUGH 'MOTHER GOOSE' ELKAN SIMONS made a shrewd move when he signed comedian Jack Anton for the lead in his production of Mother Goose, at the Empire. Opening on Boxing Day, the show has been playing to capacity audiences which show no indication of falling off. It is scheduled, pro visionally. for an eight-week run. Mr. Anion's performance as Mother Goose simple, straight acting mixed ...

... WORTHING 'ROBINSON CRUSOE' SHIRLEY EATON, as Robinson Crusoe at the Connaught, sets a new fashion style. She may not be the robust, thigh-slapping type of principal boy, bin her vivacity, singing and long slender legs make her as dashing as any of her predecessors. As Crusoe's mother, Lupino Lane makes a jolly dame, whether con juring with plates or splashing paint, in his long knitted jumper ...

... SOUTHAMPTON 'CINDERELLA' SYD SEYMOUR presented Cinderella at the Grand on Boxing Day. Lavish in settings, costumes and spectacle, Mr. Seymour's production achieves a delightful blending of tradition with modem and even futuristic touches, the result simply abounding in calchy tunes and hearty comedy. Syd (Mad- j Hatter) Seymour ha-, a pail after his own heart as ihe wistful Bultons. and ...

... STOCKPORT 'BABES IN THE WOOD' REPERTORY to pantomime for the tirst time is the noteworthy accomplishment of the Frank H. Fortescue Players at the Warwick, Hazel Grove. For two weeks, commencing Boxing Day, they are providing the only local pantomime. A local school of dancing, the Aileen Price Young Ladies, came along to give a helping hand to the limited company. and player- producer Geoffrey ...