COLOURFUL PAGEANT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 54, 27 November 1928, Page 12

COLOURFUL PAGEANT

LEAGUE OF NATIONS IN ■ SYMBOL PICTURESQUE ALLEGORY OF WAR AND PEACE GRAND MARCH OF THE NATIONS To the accompaniment of rolling of thunder and flashes of livid lightning, the “League of N...10n5” pageant, was opened at the Winter Show building last night. Owing, perhaps, to the' threatening weather the attendance was not very large, but perhaps that was not altogether a misfortune as “Ye Olde London Faire" was scarcely ready last evening to distract those who wish to wander at will through the vast building. But the pageant was the thing, and everyone will wish to see It before Ge week is out, for Miss Elizabeth Blake has managed to give, life arid colour to a clever idea —an allegory of peace and war—and then the Great Peace, made by the League of Nations, which • breaks down all ‘ barriers between countries and spreads the brilliant-light of clear reason over the entire'world. The pageant opens- with a grand parade of the nations —all people that ou earth'do dwell —who- in their national garb-entered upon the great 80ft. stage to-the-pompous strains of the “Ilakocsy March,” from Berlioz’s “Damnation of Faust.” Represented in the march .were not-only the big nations, but the numerous small, ones created.in Europe'by the last war; as well as” the’smaller republics of South America, Lib'erf " (in Africa), Abyssinia, Latvia, Lithuania, etc. Colour was aimed at. and colour; was secured. There vvere/teal Chinese to represent China, real Maoris, to'.symbolise New Zealand-, the whole - making a glowing colour scheme, which bld a blazing defiance to the gloomy elements without. ■ . ' : " At the conclusion of the match, the" nations’-took' the-stage in groups— Germany, France, and Great Britain in that order.' The Gernuftis offered obeisance to a flaxen-haired Germania'; the French,' jfeppeiT.n diilnty "measure, and the English 'roiiiped through a Sir Roger de Coverly, whilst the great choir of 200 voices sang folk songs of the various nations as they figured on the stage. And all was Peace.... then a sinister spirit in grey, with a head-dress of wriggly-snakes, crept through the shadows into the light. It was Suspicion. To her side she summoned trembling, distraught Fear, a very wretched fellow of hang-dog looks and; sneaky habit. A whispered conference, and flaming Mars, with gleaming helmet and dripping nds, . joined the party, and with him - stalks skeletonie Death and wan Famine. They plot. Then the nations reassemble; France and Germany commence a fight, others join in, and in a moment the fighters are the centre of a whirling vortex of nations. Pandemonium reigns—chaos has come —War is triumphant! “Danse Macabre! I” At last ail are exhausted and slip to the ground in a gloomy stage. Light appears on the far horizon. Justice and her aids, Hope and Mercy, appear, and together they summon the "League of Nations.” She kneels to Justice, takes his wand, and waves it over the heads of the stunned and bleeding nations. Light —the light of hope—breaks out to Grieg’s “Morning” music. Slowly the nations* arise, and, seeing more clearly, greet each other kindly, and all salute the great League of Nations, which has saved the world from itself, and as they do so the “Hallelujah” chorus (from'“The Messiah”) is jubilantly sung by the massed choir. There was as a prelude to the programme an athletic display : by the members of the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium, given under the direction of that competent instructor. Mr. J. A. Duffy. The boys gave an exhibition of “Jerques,” the Indies performed a Russian dance and wand drill, while the men were seen to "advantage on the pa rallel bars, the horizontal bar, and In pyramid, formation. Altogether they made a very creditable display. The Mayor’s Remarks. In opening the pageant, His Worship the Mayor (Mr, G. A. Troup) said that Wellington was entering upon the closing stages of the great campaign, which had been, undertaken in order to provide for all; time a National Art Gallery and Dominion. Museum, and it was hoped that as the result of the effort embodied in-the League of Nations and “Dream- of Fair Women” pageants to round oft what had been a very remarkable. effort, indeed. The appeal had met with a wonderful response and all classes had given according to their means, and with nine-tenths of the money,promised, be hoped that by means of the carnival and pageant the full amount (£100.000)' would lie raised nt an. early, date.- (Applause.) Considering that Wellington had experienced two dull years in trade, they had done remarkably well, said Mr. Troup. He very-much doubted if’any • other centre in New Zealand would have excelled or even equalled the amount Wellington had raised. He. took the -opportunity to thank all who had helped in the past, and particularly those who had been instrumental in organising the splendid and gorgeous displays involved in the pageants. His only wish now was that they would make a great success of the whole thing. He wished particularly to thank Mr. W. H. Honey, Miss Elizabeth Blake, and Mr. John Bishop for their great efforts. and also thanked . the several “'jueens” and their coinmitfees for the gallant efforts they were making on behalf of the great cause. He had much pleasure in declaring the League of Nations Pageant opened. (Applause.) The Pageant will be staged every evening in the Winter Show Building up to arid including Saturday next. Effective Colour Scheme. There .are. some very striking dressing and colouring, in the. pageant. The most effective scene of all was that where the nations have been nt. war, and are depicted dying and exhausted, and “The League of Nations” enters. First, there appears two angels in deep apricot ye.llow and gold, then two figures in vivid mauve, followed by Justice, in deep purple and green, and the League, in rich blue, with red lined, sleeves and train, and a gold..halo. War makes-a strikingfigure in helmet and shining armour, wearing a cloak representing flames nnd death. The . March of the Nations was very fine, and was led by Abyssinia in long striped robe and high rounded headdress. Miss Olsen made a line Britannia, and Mr. J. Drummond an effective John Bull. Scotland, Ireland and Wules had their -national dresses, and there; were, .nowboys anil -cowgirls for Canada and Australia,” Maoris for New Zeeland, nnd n beautiful India repre rated by Miss Sherman. A pretty couple in the English group were Mr. V.

Oswin and Miss B.'T. Hope as an early English couple, the latter being in grey silk over a crinoline. An old English dance was given by six girls in green and yellow country dresses, which were in harmony with the old English songs. The German group was headed by a symbolic figure in a long green robe, and the members were variously dressed in pleasant costume, some with high hats, and some with low massed with feathers.. In the French group The ■ women - had the large white .Breton .caps,, others the black Alsatian, and . the. men the short sinoeks and peaked caps, familiar to those who know France. Each of these groups performed movements while ' the choir sang songs of the-countries. Each of the different countries was represented by a national dress, sonic very effective. others less so. The whole effect was a wonderful kaleidoscope of colour, especially when the nations, having started war. all broke into a swift rush in two rings around the contestants. This Was perhaps the best carried out part of the whole pageant. The dresses were designed nnd carried out bv Miss Sherman, assisted by Miss Alexander—pH under .the supervision of Elizabeth Bloke. who was responsible for the grouping and arrangement of the whole performance.