"IN WONDERLAND"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 18

"IN WONDERLAND"

CHILDREN'S PARTY AND BALL

WELLINGTON COMPETITIONS

SOCIETY

" 'Twas brillig : and the slithy tones did gyre and gimble in the wabe" — j "Brillig" Humpty explained to Alice meant four o'clock In the afternoon, "slithy," he said, meant (among other things!) active, a.gd "gyre" meant to go round and round rlike a gyroscope. Yesterday afternoon hosts' of the beloved characters, ' of Lewis Carroll's immortal fairy-tale became very "slithy" and certainly did "gyre" not in the wabe but in the Town Hall, and "curiouser and curiouser" in the evening the same characters again filled the hall; but it was as if they had partaken of the cakes labelled "Eat me," as they were so "much larger, and taller. The fact was that in the afternoon the King and Queen of Hearts held a Wonderland Children's Party, organised by the Wellington Competition Society, and in the evening the grown-ups had their ,turn,-. being entertained at a Wonderland Ball. There was no rabbit hole,, unfortunately, whereby to enter Wonderland, but the entrance foyer of the Town Hall whh large replicas of Wonderland's fantastic characters (Standing about made a good substitute,' and it was not • hard to imagine the hall itself as being a banqueting hall in the palace of the King and Queen of Hearts filled as: it was with suchjollity and merriment Huge square orange shades showing appropriate silhouettes covered all the central chandeliers and rows of, coloured fairy lights formed a canopy over the dance floor. Chairs were grouped about gaily, coloured cabaret tables under the balcony to accommodate the various parties, CHILDREN'S ADVENTURES. The children's adventures In "Wonderland" began with the grand parade, led by "Alice" and "The White Rabbit," after which games of all kinds were played, and a number of children' who had taken part in the Competitions festival gave a varied and niucb.. appreciated entertainment which included four ballets;" Alice in Wonderland"1 and a Hungarian ballet by the Newport . School of. Dancing, "Lovely Lady," and a tap ballet. Others taking part were Brian Hasler, Valeric Holder, Joyce '.s, Smith, Vernice" Aston, Doreen Dickenson, Dawn ■ Sargent, Natalie Wallace, Patrerfe Full, Lloma.V Larson, Judy Cooper, Beryl Richardson, Betty Painter, Athalie Ninkie, Pam Trimmer, Audrey Allardyce. „ Judging by the way the children's clear young voices were raised in response to Mr. WiU Mason's bidding, the community singing, which he conducted, was one of the most popular features of the afternoon, and helped to raise healthy appetites for the "Mad Hatter's1' tea party which followed. .-..■'■ , With so many beautiful and original costumes, it/was very difficult for Mrs. E. R. Myers, wife of the president of the Competitions Society, who judged, to ■ select the winners. These were, Vernice Aston and Keith Major, "bride and groom,". "' "first; Shirley -Montgomery, "bunch of violets," second; and Ralph Wilkins, "Toreador," third. The "Mad Hatter" and the "March Hare" had a busy time last night with a great.many sleepy "dormice," for some of the children were very small. -The party was.attended by the.Ron Simon ; Mbnckton-Airuniiell, the Honi Mary Moncktbni the Hon. Celia Morickton, and the Hon,- Isobel Monckton, the children of their Excellencies the Governor-General and Lady Galway, PAGEANTRY AT THE BALL, For some time past the executive of the Wellington Competitions Society felt the need of providing a function at which' everyone' connected with the work of the Competitions could meet socially and the "Wonderland Ball"'filled the need very successfully. Many leading teachers of dancing, music, etc, made up large fancy dress parties, one of the. largest being the "Alice in Wonderland" set organised by Miss Marjorie Newport, «vho took the.part of "Alice.". Other organisers of parties included Miss Wyn Chpwn, Mr. Joe Knowsley, Miss Joan Raine; Sigribra Comparini, and Miss Vivienne Platts.. The members of the Frank Neil company attended after their performance at the Opera House andr gave surprise items. Members of the "Quaker Girl" cast, the "Circassians," and the "Aeolians" formed colourful parties. , ~ . t Mr E.1 Ransom Myers (president of the society) and Mrs, Myers were the host, and hostegsi Miss Gwen Gibbs was mistress of the ballroom, and the ball committee included Mr. WiU £ Mason (past president), Mr. W. nStevens, and Mr. D. McDonald. After the arrival of th? official party, which included the members of the executive, the "grand march" took place, providing a splendid pageant. ■-.- ' In the moving throng, there were, besides the "Wonderland" representatives, "sheiks,"■-. "plerrots," "Hula girls and their "braves;" "Quakers, peasants," "clowns," "harlequins," "Mephistopheleg," 'Joan of Arc," and others too numerous to name, The prizes for the best costumes were awarded as follows:—Best dressed couple, Miss Joan Harris and Mr. Noel Salmon as "Bedouins": best dressed woman, Miss J. Mercer, as a "Russian peasant"; and best dressed man, Mr. Finlayson, as ''Henry VIII. Enlivening dance music was supplied by a band dressed in gipsy costumes, and entertaining items were interspersed throughout the programme. Miss Newport and her party presented an "Alice In Wonderland" fantasy on the stage, and Miss Newport as •Alice" and Mr. Jack Blake as the "Mad Hatter" performed an eccentric dance. A toe dance was given by Miss Phyllis O'Shea. Miss Phyllis Bates and Mr. R. Bradley gave exhibitions of ballroom dancing. A tap dance trio included Miss Elaine Montgomery and Messrs. Stan Wineera and Jack Glennie. A ballet of Miss Joan Raine's, pupils performed a dance entitled "Waltz Blue." The Artistos, members of the Frank Nell Revue Company, gave an exhibition of their adagio' act, and Miss Wyn Chown's "Hula Ballet" performed a Hawaiian number. There was also an attractive "Alice in Wondertland" ballet. All the performers wore fancy dress for-their items: The ball and the children's party undoubtedly provided in every way a very fitting celebration of the termination of the Competitions classes.