Queenie Leighton (1872-1943)

"Cinderella"
Produced at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
Reviewed in Lloyds Weekly News [London] - 25th February, 1906.

Cinderella, which has been "going strong" since Boxing night, reached its one hundredth representation on Friday evening, the occasion being celebrated by the offering to every member of the large audience of a copy of the "Whispers of Love" valse, founded on Mr. Harry Fragson's songs, of which "Whispers of Love" is the most tuneful and the most popular. It has never escaped an enthusiastic encore since it was fiirst sung by Cinderella, so charmingly represented by Miss May de Sousa, who at every performance has added largely to the number of her admirers. Mr. Fragson, who in the part of Dandigny has brought refinement as well as humour into his work, on Friday introduced two or three new songs, the most effective being a negro composition which was given partly in English and partly in French. It "brought down the house."

Miss Queenie Leighton, too, had a new song, which was called, we suppose. "How D'ye Do, Little Girl?" It was descriptive of the travels of Dandigny, and introduced the comely and graceful group of dancers he had brought home from Holland and Scotland and Spain and Japan. The little Japanese dancer created quite a flutter of excitement throughout the theatre. Another novelty was a duet for the Prince and Cinderella in a parody of "I wouldn't leave my little wooden hut for you" - the song which has been heard everywhere, and which is whistled by every boy in the street and sung by every girl. Tears of laughter continue to attend the droll sayings and still droller doings of Mr. Walter Passmore as the Baroness, Mr. Arthur Williams as the Baron, Mr. Arthur Nelstone as the Sentry with the elastic legs, Mr. Johnny Danvers as Samuel Snapp, the irrepressible interviewer, Queen and Le Brunn as the most comical bull ever seon on the stage and Misses Polly Emery and Emily Spiller as the Ugly Sisters. Another good word should be given to Mr. Arthur Conquest, who as the Cat creates immense excitement when he runs round the house and inspects the occupants of the grand circle.