'THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN.' PRODUCED BY CHURCH SCHOLARS.

What would Christmas be without a pantomime is the question every child would ask and if there is one thing that goes to make a Christmas more Christmassy it is a pantomime. The children of Bramley, at any rate, should not be without their (Christmas pantomime, and they will enjoy witnessing the efforts of the members of Bramley Sunday School, who, in the National Schools, are producing "The Pied Piper of Hamelin."

Last year they produced "Aladdin" which was a splendid effort, and whilst it would be going too far to say that this year's is quite as good as that really fine production, in which they reached a very standard, "The Pied Piper" is very pleasing entertainment.

On Saturday evening, when it was first produced, there seemed to be some hitch behind the scenes and the production was rather marred by the curtains failing at the crucial moment and the scenery waving about as some frenzied person was trying to adjust it when the actors had already taken the stage. In one instance one wonders whether the roars of laughter were caused by the comedians or by the wall of a house which was bending and rolling about most fearfully.

Undoubtably the most successful two on the stage that evening were Mr. G. L. Broadbent and Mr. P. F. R. Armitage as Herman and Sherman, the burgomaster's beadles. Their efforts were more, enjoyed than any other actors on the stage, and it is no idle praise to say the laughter caused, by their antics was more hearty than was caused by any other fooling. Their painting and hospital scene was a real work of art, one of the most humorous scenes witnessed for some time, and when they arrested Pat, who was acted in splendid fashion by Miss Alice Haith, after his bumping descent from the aeroplane, was another really comic episode. Where they drank the love philtres and fell in love with one another, was, however, rather silly.

The next in pantomime talent were the rats. That chorus of rats, little children in tight brown costumes with comically bobbing tails gave a delight scene when they performed a flopping dance with their tails wagging in a very ratty fashion. What a shame it was that the scene with the Pied Piper was spoilt by the way the rats came on. They were J. Chadwick, M. Dixon, C. Dockray, I. Falkingham,, V. Marshall, A. Marston, J. Parkinson, M. Rosedale, D. Spetch, N. Thompson, D. Townsend and M. Wray.

Whilst mentioning the children, we must draw attention to the sunbeams. The scene illustrating the song, "I'm swinging on a rainbow" when a brightly coloured rainbow with coloured lights descended on the stage and a pretty little miss swung on it was exceedingly good. The sunbeams were M. Clark, M. Copley, J. ?????ton, R. Patterson, P. Robey, P. Spetch, D. Thomas, M. Watson and M. White.

After praising Liza, the burgomaster's, cook, who was one of the most delightful characters on the stage and raised some hearty laughter by her acting, especially after the rats had been, it would be useless to individualize. Miss Lily Elliot this part. Miss Olga Hainsworth was good as Greta, the daughter of the burgomaster, who was acted by Mr. S. F. West and Miss Evelyn Newton made a rather good "nagger" as his wife, Patience. Mr T. Whittam showed his abilities as Pied Piper and one would have liked to see and hear a little more of him as he was in the title part, but, as we have said, the story matters little in pantomime.

Whilst speaking of the Pied Piper, we must not forget to mention the really good scene of the Hamelin Council meeting. The words of the famous poem were here used as the Pied Piper came in and addressed the Council, and it was a pleasing bit of acting.

Mr. E. Nash acted as King of the Rats and the characters of Karl and Jeanne were portrayed by Miss Kathleen Dennison and Miss Marjorie Fisher. The Town Clerk, an officious and pompous person, was acted by Mr. J. Brown and Mr. W. Townsend was spokesman for the crowd. Pat's father was acted by Mr. Arthur Cobb.

The Prologue, where the grandfather was reading the final passages of the poem to a little child, was not quite as effective as it might have been. Mr. G. L. Broadbent was the grandfather.

The scenes at Koppelberg Hill, Happy Land and the finale Palace of Stars were all effective scenes, and it is worthy of note that one of the most pleasing features of the production was the beautiful scenery, and it is a pity that on the first night it was so mismanaged.

The chorus should have had a little more practice, but possibly they were labouring under the same constraint and stage fright as were a lot of the cast on that, their first appearance, and, no doubt after a few more performances they will brighten up a little. As it was they were very effective and their voices were well pitched.

One familiar figure that many people missed was a thin vinegar-faced Widow Twankee.

The chorus of villagers was composed of Misses M. Bradbury, I. Clark, V. Cornaby, E. Greaves, C. Haith, A. Horn, D. Idle, N. Jackson, H. King, A. Kershaw, V. Marsden, M. Robinson, L. Spencer, E. Thomas, G. Wade and L. Waterhouse.

The burghers were Messrs. M. Ellingham, J. Gambles and F. Russell.

The orchestra was Misses E. Buckle and K. Storey and Messrs. H. Leuty, J. V. Cox, M. Ash and H. Fisher. Miss H. Buckle was the pianist and Mr. J. H. Leuty managed the drums.

Mr. J. P. Kershaw was the producer. The pantomime was staged on Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday and will be shown again tonight (Friday) and Saturday.