ENTERTAINING IDEAS FOR YOUR PARTY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 72, 18 December 1928, Page 21 (Supplement)

ENTERTAINING IDEAS FOR YOUR PARTY

Hints for the Hostess

By

JUDITH ANN SILBURN

(Diplotnee of Domestic Science, M.1.H.)

Exclusive to The Dominion

Christmas is a season of rejoicing in the home, a time when rich and poor alike gather their home circles around them for revelling. Wherever Britons are to be found, an effort is made to retain some of the old customs and superstitions with which this season is inseparably connected.

A Few Notes on Decorations. No house at this time is, complete , without holly or mistletoe, Sad whatever other decorations there may be, these should predominate. It takes far less trouble to wire large branches ol holly together and festoon them across arches and doorways thau it does tc make niggling wreaths and fancy shapes of the holly. Also, the result is much more picturesque and looks far more important. Where holly Is • not obtainable, it is best to purchase a few artificial bunches and wire these to the branches, as without its touch of colour, holly does not look festive Though many housewives use a great deal of paper decoration, it is not recommended for good style. Paper may be used for covering lights in the guise of shades, or special lanterns of paper ’ are pretty, but garlands of coloured paper draped across sitting-rooms are apt to look rather tawdry. This type of decoration is more suited to large halls, not private houses. Chinese lanterns are, of course, always charming, but remember to fill the bottoms with sand so that they do not sway about and catch tire as they sometimes do when placed empty in a draught. If coloured bunting is used it should be rendered fireproof by dipping in alum water or tungstate of soda. It is also as well to take the precaution of screening gas and coal fires in rooms where they are much exposed and in danger of brushing against skirts or flowing draperies. Do not forget to have a bucketful of sand ready at hand, also a fire, blanket in case of accidents. Table decorations are most important. Some scheme for a centrepiece should be thought out, and the rest of the table decorations kept in harmony with it. Delightful effects can be managed with large bowls filled with wet sand and set in the form of a scene. All that is needed are a few small figures, diminutive bridges and houses, photographic plates to represent water, and twigs. If the latter are painted white and are wired with holly leaves dipped in thin gum, and then dusted with “hoar frost,” charming snow scenes are possible with the aid of cotton wool and a little ingenuity. See that the menu cards are original, and, if possible, inscribed with a jolly greeting to the guests, with possibly a special motto for each member of the company. The addition of a comic toy helps to make things go, especially if the toys are well-chosen and appropriate without being too personal. Some hostesses spend a great deal on their crackers. A far better plan is to buy a good selection of paper hats and give cheap crackers. After all, the main ainusment of the cracker is the pulling, and when tills is done the cracker lias no more value from an entertaining point of view. The paper hat, however, if really good ones are bought, is a source of fun for the rest of the evening. Novel Suggestions for Slipper and Tea Parties.

It would be hard to devise a more delightful and charming form of entertainment than An Old English Evening. If the hostess is clever at organising she can make a great success of this idea. Invitations should be sent out stating that every guest is expected to arrive in some “olde Englishe costume.” The next tiling to do is to arrange the programme of events. First, there might be a dance, at which, of course, only old English dances, such as Sir Roger de Coverley. Polkas, Barn Dances and Lancers should be danced. Then there, should also be a list of old-fashioned games, such as Nuts in May, llow Many Miles to Babylon, and so on. If the organiser can manage to think out a few appropriate drinks and hand round oldtime refreshment on suitably chosen trays, the success of the evening is assured.

An alternative parry Io the one suggested above would be a Review Evening on ultra modern lines. Guests might come in futurist costumes, or disguised as Robots. Tables and chairs should be arranged round the sides of a room a in Cabaret show, and exhibition dancing by some of those wiio are known expert dancers could be an amusing side siiow. A Nursery Party for grown-ups is always humorous and gives great scope for originality’ in the way of garments and also patter talk. In order to carry out this idea properly, naturally all food should be served in porridge bowls or children's “feeding plates.” Only spoons should be allowed, and feeding bottles ought to be much in evidence. Here is a chance for community singing of nursery rhymes. By the way, it is just as well to get these word-perfect iii "advance, and the entertainer would do well to make sure of the airs I

A special turn could be rehearsed for a Toy Cupboard display. Those of the guests who excelled in acting might be induced to come disguised as dolls and toys. Amusing charades could be acted by these members of the party by way of passing the time. Cotillons might also be prepared in advance to come in between the games and other dances. By the way, obstacle races for the “children” would be very comic, and help to set the ball rolling. Musical games should also be a feature of a Nursery Evening. For those who do not care for so much dancing, there are, of course, always cards or a concert party. The latter should be well rehearsed, and should be, above all, amusing. It should be remembered that Christmas is nob a gloomy time, and heavy serious songs are out of keeping for a merry party of friends. Another idea for an “elderly” grown-up party is a cinematograph show. If there happens to be a . photographer amongst one’s friends who is expert with his camera either a display of films or lantern slides could be shown. If the films are homeproduced, all the better fun. Great amusement can be derived out of a Spoof Evening, in other words, an evening when fortune-tellers, spirits and fairies are about with all their witchery. Someone who is proficient in the art of fortune-telling should be told off to be a palmist and should be supplied with a marked teacup, dice, dominoes and a crystal, and then suitably placed in an alcove. The palmist, should, of course, be dressed up. One or two others could be suitably attired as ghosts, while some of the children could take the part of good and bad fairies, gnomes and witches. Weird music should be chosen and the evening should be filled with pleasant and unpleasant surprises, tricks and spoofs. A conjuror is a great asset to a spoof entertainment. The great art of making any of these evenings really successful is to enlist the services of competent friends and relatives and to have a definite scheme of entertainment, otherwise things are bound to fall flat. Also, do not make the mistake of exhibiting all the surprises at the beginning of the evening, as many people do. Keep the best things until later on.

r For afternoon parties, Book Teas are > a constant source of delight, and also t have the merit of keeping people busy. ! There are many variations of Book > Teas, but perhaps offt of the quaintest - is where the guests are required to come attired with a headdress describt ing the book, instead of a card with . the requisite signs. “Who was IT” makes an interlude I to a Book Tea afternoon. For this I merry guessing game, each member of s the company is required to bring a photograph of himself or herself in in- , fancy. The name and age of the in- , fant should be marked on the back. I The hostess then collects all the photos I and exhibits them in a row. The mem- ; ber of the party who guesses the greati est number correctly ma.- be awarded i with a prize. Guessing games always create mirth, . and there are an infinite number of ■ them which can be easily devised by anyone with imagination. For ini stance, a sheet placed across the room ■ in -front of a light and the rest of the i room darkened, could be used for many amusing shadow pictures. These might take the form of small scenes, the more Grand Guignol and alarming the more successful they will be. When presents are being distributed during a party there are various ways of making the process lively. For example, a small shop could be staged in one corner of the room and each member be asked to draw his shopping number out of a hat. Armed with this he proceeds to the counter, where the salesman then describes the present without exactly stating what it is. If the lucky guest is clever and guesses the name of his present he is then handed it out and ca- go his way. If not, before receiving it, he must pay a forfeit. A Select Committee can sit to give forfeits. Presents hidden in bran-tubs are always popular, but for children an alternative way of hiding the gifts in the coal-scuttle is worth frying. Each present should be carefully wrapped in black paper to represent coal, and when present-giving time arrives the coalman calls with the scuttle. The children then pick out whichever packet appeals to them. A present hunt is also quite thrilling for very young people.

Private Theatricals. A Few Tips. Be sure that there Is a really good organiser who knows his business and will insist pn rehearsals. On the night of the entertainment gee that all is in readiness. A good supply of grease paints, powder and wet white, also cream, should be put in the “making-up” room. By the way, for those who are darkening their faces a light brown, coffee stain is frequently more effective and natural than grease paint, provided the lights are not very white.

Do not forget to have plenty of extra candles if the footlights are lit with them, and see that there is an extra lamp bulb for the stage in case of accidents.

Be sure that the drop curtain Is working properly and that it is in competent hands.

Do not forget to have a good prompter.

If the stage is limited and there are very few “props,” it is always best to have a plain setting composed of onecolour bunting, or, If this is impossible, sheets. A black setting nearly always looks effective, as with the aid of a few tables and chairs almost any scene can be set before it and the set appear well.

Besides seeing to everything behind the scenes, remember to make certain that there are sufficient seats for guests, adequate supply of programmes and proper arrangement of places. It is as well to arrange for an extra performer to sing or play in case there should be any hitch in the evening’s entertainment.

Do not aspire to theatrical entertainments unless there are at least one or two good players who can be certain of carrying off the play and making it a success. A complete company composed of players who are absolutely raw will never be able to hold the interest of an audience for a whole evening.

If the hostess possesses a number ot pretty young friends she can possibly utilise those who cannot act to pose as charming tableaux vlvants. These, if well done, are appreciated quite as much as a dramatic entertainment.

Should the entertaining room be large enough, it is a good plan to raise the stage on a dais. It looks far more important to the audience if raised, and, of course, ensures that all can see the show.

General Advice to the Entertainer.

Choose the form of entertainment according to the tastes of your friends. If you belong to an unmusical circle do not bore them with a concert. Send out invitations well in advance.

Clear the house of all useless bric-a-brac and unnecessary furniture before the party. These things are apt to get broken by revellers and also are in the way.

Provide plenty of seats and sittingout places. This Is essential! See that the house is well warmed.

Be sure that the food and drink supplied is sufficient for the wants of guests during the evening. The best way to arrange for feeding the guests is to have a buffet supper and see that it is served at a stated time.