GAY AND CHARMING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 75, 26 September 1938, Page 4

GAY AND CHARMING

'STUDENT PRINCE' DRESSING

There is no doubt that bright and charming settings and frocks add much even to the pleasure of a musical comedy such as the "Student Prince," which was produced by the Wellington Operatic Society on Saturday night at the Opera House. The large audience showed its approval very plainly as each change of scene was shown. The peasant frocks were particularly well chosen as to colour, and with their short full skirts and velvet bodices, all being crowned with delightful becoming white caps the performers drew much applause as they danced in front of the inn with the students who were in grey trousers with dark coats crossed with the coloured bands of their fraternities. Some of the characters appeared in elaborate frock coats in tones of bluei mauve, or black, with floral waistcoats and lace jabots, sometimes with added long capes. The uniforms were very handsome with either scarlet or blue jackets and attached coats, gold cordings, and high black polished, boots. . The frocks of the leading women characters were gay in dolour and charming in design and were the subject of much admiration. As the heroine, Kathie,, Miss Alma Clegg wore at her first appearance a peasant frock of crimson, with black, bordering bands, white blouse, and , black bolero and starched cap of white frilled muslin. Her other two frocks were also peasant type; the first was a pale blue taffeta with dark blue bands at the hem and matching blue cap. Her final appearance was made in a very attractive full-skirted peasant frock, with blue bolero and shaded bands in the skirt. - The Grand Duchess Anastasia, played by Mrs. Kathleen Ainslie, had period ground-length frocks with hoop skirts. The first was a lime green taffeta coat, trimmed with musquash, worn over a matching frock, and wxth it was a gold poke bonnet trimmed with a curling green osprey. Her second appearance was made .in a particularly handsome deep blue court frock, with gold tissue lace and large red roses as trimmings. With it she wore a fur cape. In her last appearance she wore a mulberry georgette coat inset with gold-tinted lace over a dusky rose frock. Gretchen (Ina Small) was a charmpeasant lass whom good ,fc*tune turned to a "lady of fashion." She wore a peasant frock with checked skirt and black sombrero trimmed with gay colours, for her first appearance, and for her second she became a grand lady in an orange velvet ground-length frock trimmed with black lace. With it she wore a black Margaret (Norma de^Fincham) wore several beautiful hoopskirted frocks. A pink satin brocade with silver and black lace trimmings with a pink velvet coat and pink feathered hat, was her first choice and then she wore a frock of pale Hue velvet and silver, and lastf y a soft blue frock of blue, charminglycdounfen S fLeydon (Molly Cook) wore a charming full-skirted ballet Surt Sock in pink tulle with dainty rSS looping the skirt and' adorning thThe O?r Ce e S sing of both men and wo-' men players was most successful effort and well worth seeing.