ATHENIANS' ARTISTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 55, 2 September 1937, Page 18

ATHENIANS' ARTISTRY

"TOPSY-TURVY" DANCE

An old saying has it, "There's nothing new under the sun," but if there is, the Athenian Club is likely to make it a suitable vehicle for bright and novel entertainment. Breaking a series of picturesque national tributes, Athenians last night confirmed their versatility,. by making the theme of their fortnightly function jn the Pharmacy Hall a "Topsy-Turvy Tangle," in which was produced, with skill and colour, a comedy dance. It was something totally different and, as the title indicates, quite unusual in fun and frolic. ~ ■

The programme was capably arranged and directed by Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Howard, a popular and experienced host and hostess,, with characteristic humour and discernment, and their cail for; the grotesque was well answered by a capacity attendance of members and friends.

Few "Katzenjammer" castles ;of Exhibition1 wonderland- fame have ever afforded quite so many surprises as the danceroom, with its canted windows, weird cartoons, futuristic posters, numberless painted decorations in eccentric, comic, and cleverly humorous vein, profusion of stencilled balloons and comic masks, and articles placed , upside-down, insideout, and back-to-front. Many smiles were evoked at the sight of a camel anchored to a lighthouse in the desert, a beaming tax commissioner handing dividend cheques to startled taxpayers, a gardener mowing lawns on the roof of a sky-scraper, or a Scotsman up the pole, ear to aerial, listening cheaply to a Springbok broadcast.

The guests, too, adopted frivolity as the keynote of fancy-free dresses to suit the occasion, and some notable creations resulted from-their disregard of the regular in garment, headgear, and facial adornment. A set of distorting mirrors made even the most sedate look funny.

The lady president (Mrs. E. Loader) introduced the host and hostess, exhorting "all who couldn't Katzen, to Jammed"; while a lady controller, Miss R. Walshaw, aided by Mr. R. Walshaw, made special efforts to see the injunction carried out.

Musical numbers were generously provided. Mrs. H. ("Petticoat") Lane, an ex-Auckland Athenian, and Mr. Lionel ("Lily") Alexander (saxophone comedy) performed delightfully Mrs. Lane was the recipient of a handsome novelty bouquet in which kitchen utensils had become things of beauty.

Freak dances to aid the hilarity included the "Has Beans Gordons," Mr. L. Middleton and Mrs. ■__;.Smith finally winning the champion "Never-wassers" prize. The "Hush-Hush" saw dancers denied the floor for errors real and imaginary, Mr. E. Reeder and Miss I. Clark, being the only couple to behave as required receiving a handsome memento. Congratulations were tendered to the host and hostess and their assistants. Members danced m full strength and among the many visitors present were:—Mr. arid Mrs. C. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Knox, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, Mr. and Mrs. Elston, Mr and Mrs. A. Woodman, Mr. and Mrs. H. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. E. Johnston, Mesdames June Herbert, M. Hooper, E. Atkinson, F. M. Sherwood, A. Don, A. F. Baudinet, H. Herbert, B. Fllntoff, Misses W. P. Duff W. Fletcher, F. O'Neill, I. Clark, S. North, I. Thomas, M. Doiiglas, J. Keating, Jean Burbery, B. Smyth, P. Eddleston, W. Easte, N. Bayliss, M. Burns, and Messrs. A. E. Page, T. G. Smellie, J. Gale, Allan Robinson, J. Vaughan, E. Middleton, G. C. Sherwood, J. Sutherland, N.- Adcock, Keith Chambers, N. Burbery, R. K. Keating, E. R. ' Newman, and L. Diamond. -