January 1924: Children’s Pantomime, at the Athenaeum Theatre – “Cinderella”

**PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS WORDS THAT MAY CAUSE UPSET
OR OFFENCE.**

 

An article on page ten of The Glasgow Herald, on Friday the 4th of January, 1924, reads:

 

“CHILDREN’S PANTOMIME AT THE
ATHENAEUM

 

The production of ‘Cinderella,’ of which the first of six performances was given by members of

the Athenaeum elocution classes in the Athenaeum, Glasgow, last night, should fill an apparent

gap in the list of seasonable entertainments if there be any truth in the charge commonly levelled

against pantomime of to-day that it has lost its appeal to children, and that they continue to be

taken out by their elders mainly as an excuse for the latters’ self-indulgence. This version of the

old story, which has been specially written for the occasion by Miss Kathleen Mary Carroll and the

producer, Mr Percival Steeds, aims at delighting the young mind with a connected narrative prettily

diversified with song and dance. It succeeds not only in this, but in providing a very pleasant

entertainment for maturer taste not only by the merit of the acting of the older members of the cast

but by the quaint and dainty ways of the youngest. Miss Lulu McMillan brings a charm of voice and

manner to the part of Cinderella, and the despair of the Prince (Miss Molly Campbell) on her

disappearance is readily intelligible to the audience. The faithful servant Peter protests his ineffectual

love to Cinderella very effectively in the person of Miss Elsie Brotchie, and in the opening scene shares

the stage with his mistress and an affectionate cat (Greta Buchanan) in a practised manner. The rest of

the Cinderella family have the humour of the piece in their keeping, and the terrible Baroness (Miss Helen

Ford), together with the Ugly Sisters (Misses Anne Stewart and Peggy Henderson), lose no chance of

showing their turn for broad burlesque. The cast in comparison with non-amateur productions seems

unlimited. There are bands of fairies, housemaids, courtiers, demons, and dancing princesses. There is a

complete Golliwog Play, with quaint child actors, and a Bo-Peep Play in which little Miss Evelyn Shields,

in the title rôle , so to speak, vies with Miss Dorrie Brotchie (Boy Blue) in winning the heartiest applause.

Appropriate, and many of them charming, costumes have been designed by Mrs Archer and Messrs

Ashmore, with the assistance of Miss Constance M. Herbert, who has arranged the dances, which go

beautifully to Mr James Black’s music. Special mention must be made of the captivating minuet stepped

by the Prince and Cinderella, and of the lighting effects in the same ball scene, when the dancing

princesses execute one of their figures in ballet dress. If merit has its reward, the Royal Scottish Society for

Prevention of Cruelty to Children is certain to benefit largely by this bright and varied pantomime.”

 

 

An advertisement for Cinderella is on page eight of the same issue of the Herald.

 

 

 

George Fairfull-Smith, August 2023.