ROMANTIC SETTING

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 119, 13 February 1941, Page 4

ROMANTIC SETTING

Beautiful Frocks In "The Gondoliers" Neither (he war nor stormy weather seem to affect the popular taste for Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas. The season opened in AVellingtou last night with “The Gondoliers,” and if one can judge by the first night, the public enthusiasm for this form of entertainment has grown. No doubt the gay music, the whimsical humour and the bright dressing of the operas serves a very useful purpose as a diversion from the serious tasks with which the working hours these days are tilled. Ihe audience did not, on the whole, dress for the occasion, as in former years. The dressing habit for formal occasions seems to be dying a slow but sure death, many women now considering it quite unnecessary in wartime. In spite of this, however, they still seem able to achieve some very smart effects in informal frocks. Some very pretty figured silks were noticed in the audience when the women removed their coa ts.

The dressing in “The Gondoliers” is, of course, colourful and romantic. The scenery was good, harmonizing perfectly with the colour schemes of rhe frocks and suiting the periods depicted by the styles. The versatile crinoline, and panuiered frocks were used to good effect in Ihe choruses. The part of Casila was played by Aliss Viola AVilson, the leading soprano, who is a newcomer from Scotland. She made her first entrance wearing a. striking and exquisite frock of white georgette with a pannier of powder-blue taffeta. Her bonnet and muff were in a matching blue. She wore another crinoline of ivory chiffon, the hem elaborately decorated with silver lace interwoven with cherry velvet ribbon. Aliss Evelyn Gardiner, as the Duchess of Plaza-Toro, wore frocks which emphasized her majesty ami were exceedingly handsome. Iler first gown was in mystic green taffeta, striped in gold. She also wore a gown of ruby-red satin embroidered with glittering gold lace and sequins, over which was a rose and gold cloak of velvet, trimmed with ermine.

Simple panniered style frocks were worn by Aliss Sara Gregory and Aliss Phyllis Curnow as Tessa and Gianette. Tessa appeared in one of shell pink, and Gianette chose blue-flowered taffeta, both wearing simple “aprons” of deep ruby embroidered satin and hood eapes of pink and blue-flowered taffeta.

The dressing of the men was in keeping with the period .styles of the women's gowns. Elaborate court styles, and the gay dress of the gondoliers' they rivalled the feminine in their gay colours and intricate laces and embroideries. At the conclusion of the performance, which was most enthusiastically received, the principals were presented with beautiful bouquets and posies and very loudly applauded.