CHARMING ERA REBUILT IN “ QUALITY STREET’’

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 238, 8 October 1936, Page 8

CHARMING ERA REBUILT IN “ QUALITY STREET ’’

Little Theatre Players Put the Clock Back

ARTISTIC SEASON LAUNCHED

With a richness of artistry which made tho title the nptest criticism of all, "Quality Street” was presented in the Opera House last evening by tho Palmerston North Littlo Theatre Society. The ambition of presenting a J. M. Barrio play was so far justified that tho audience —though of smaller proportions than the entertainment deserved —was at once captivated and delighted, applauding generously. Tho pleasure of tho evening was undoubtedly derived to a large extent from the ontire faithfulness with which a period was recreated. Every phaso of the production had been meticulously shaped to the pattern of Barrie’s beautiful conception, and the atmosphero of a forgotten ago and charmingly apparent. For a youthful team, including a number of inexperienced players, they scored a convincing success, enhancing tho imputation built upon the society’s first stago production, "Laburnum Grove.” The whole presentation was an eloquent tribute to the splendid and experienced production work of Mrs. Lorna Bristow. Of an excellent cast, Miss Patricia Lewer and Mr. It. Allison had tho most exacting parts, and both did admirably. Miss Lewer’s versatility as Phoebe Tkrossel carried her through her. role unerringly, and ihor swiftly-achieved metamorphoses were of a high order, demanding as they did unusual emotional command.

Mr. R. Allison, as Valentino Brown, was a stage quality himself; his picturesque mien and gestures might have been held over from Waterloo days. He directed an exacting dialogue with courteous gallantry, and delved neatly into humour. Miss Joan Maunder, portraying Susan Throssel, acted with fine accomplishment, and conveyed the dignity of her role with inimitable touches of grace. She was an ideal complement to the work of the obner principals. Miss D. Floyd had an enjoyable conception of Patty, who was presented as droll to a happy degree. Her resource was never in question. Miss L. D’Atli (as Miss Wiloughby), Miss E. Ashby (as Fanny Wiloughby) and Miss Joyce Ramsay (as Henrietta Turnbull) were a most capable trio who made a material contribution. Others who had their entrances and exits, all with an evident zeal for correctness, were Miss Rita Bull (as Charlotte Parratt), Miss Josephine Bristow (as Harriett), Mr. J. W. Davidson (as the recruiting sergeant), Mr. B. Louissou (as Ensign Blades), Mr. R. Stevenson (as Lieutenant Spicer), Mr. T. Bagnall (as a gallant), Mr. J. Garde Grimshaw (as an old soldier.)

Pupils at the school who made a charming contribution to tho second act were Suzane Lewer, Phyllis Petersen, Molley Penny, Jock Langley, John Hornblow, Dennis Priest, Basil Priest, and Bobbie Houston. Their gavotte, for which- they were trained by Miss Joan Maunder, made a most effective scene. Anno Langley and Christopher Small (two other pupils) play parts of Isabella and Arthur with delightful abandon. Triumph of Dressing and Stage Setting. The period provides ample scope for the iauies of tho cast to exploit thenprettiest airs and graces. The curtain rises to disclose the old maids of "Quality Street” in the uaiuty blue and white room of the Misses Throssel. Through a lovely bay window one catches a view of Quality Street and the life of this quaint little village. Coverlets and curtains are conventional blue and white design and blue bows, give an old-world impression and tho furnishing is all true to the period with some delightful pieces oi Chippendale and Hipplcwhite on a blue carpet. The wails are decorated in the period and at tho fireplace may be noticed the alphabet iu blue lettering. Miss Fanny (miss E. Ashley) is wearing a frocit of brown silk piped with fawn, a long fawn scarf fringed and embroidered, a fawn bonnet wreathed with an ostrich plume, on her arm her reticule. Miss Willoughy (Miss L. D’Ath) is a little severe m violet silk, with a short green spencer, uud a violet bonnet from under which peep the frills of her white lace cap. Over her frock she later dons a lavender coat trimmed with fur. Miss Susan (Miss Joan Maunder) wears prune silk with rose trimmings, her cap being of white muslin. Miss Henrietta (Miss Joyce Ramsay) has chosen grey silk with pipings of blue, a black bonnet tied with blue ribbons and a black silk coat.

Miss Phoebe, the sweet little heroine (Miss Pat Lower) patters in her pattens in a frock of the period of mushroom and rose silk and bonnet tied with pink ribbons. Patty, the maid (Miss D. Eloyd) makes her entrances in conventional sprigged prints with white muslin cap and apron. The scene is changed and ton years later we find our heroines in the blue and white room stripped of its frippenes for tho sterner equipment of a school. Miss Phoebe wears a demure little frock of Quaker grey alpaca with white irills at the neck and sleeves, her ringlets confined in a severe little mop cap tied with black ribbons. Miss Susan is subdued in sprigged muslin in various lonings and tho inevitable cap. Into this setting come the unruly young “Jadies and gentlemen,” the former in pretty Empire frocks of various colours and the latter in the modes for the young males of the period.

Miss Charlotte twitters in for a few moments in a blue sprigged muslin with rose pink ribbons and a pink bonnet with pink ties and white veil. Miss Wil lough by’s concession to summer is a red silk frock with which she wears a rose pink silk' coat and a black bonnet with pink feathers. Miss Eanny appears in sprigged poplin, ner white bonnet being trimmed with pink and her bag in tho same colour. With this she wears a wrap of white embroidered lawn which truly is of tho period. .With, the sounds of revelry by night

off-stage, the action of the third scene takes place in a pavilion off the ballroom at the barracks, and hero as might be expected, we had varying lands of tastes, with bunting and lanterns the chief ornamentation. A conspicuous piuco of furniture is a quaint little wine table and through the doorways can be seen the dancers strolling in the shrubbery. Eor the ball Miss Piioeue is ravishing in white silk, bordered with pinn flowers, tiny pink bows ornamenting the bodice. A wreath of pink roses adorns her hair and she wears long gloves and flutters a lace fan. A gay velvet cloak is a later accessory. Miss Susan's festive frock is of violet bombazine with silver embroideries and scarf. Miss Eanny’s dramatic entrance is mado m a ball gown of green brocade relieved with lavender, a lavender and green scarf and green band in her hair. Miss Henrietta is in rose pink silk frock with frills and scarf. Harriet (Miss Josephine Bristow) makes a. short appearance wearing a frock of turquoise blue silk embroidered with gold and mushroom. Miss Charlotte is iu goid taffeta with trimmings of blue, a goid band and gold feathers iu her hair. Among the guests at the ball appearing in Empire frocks are: Miss Coyia Cairns, in rose pink silk; Miss MolJy Thorburn, iu lavender taffeta with rose trimmings, rose plumes in her hair; Miss Jean Thomson, iu soft blue silk with pipings of purple and purple baud in her hair; Miss June Davidsou, in blue silk with frills of deeper blue net. Tho final act is played iu the blue and white room again with a return to previous dressing. Tho costumes of the malo members of the cast correct in every detail, with iho military splendour exploited to the last degree and the elegance of the “dashing Mr. Brown” complete a verysatisfying production. A feature of the presentation is the musical programme which includes numbers specially chosen and arranged by Miss Mona Dean to create the atmosphere of tho period and give the soft sweetness of the spinet. Entr’acte numbers are “Allegro” (Mozart), “Minuet” (Boccherini). Between the acts “Arie” (Mozart), “Minuet in Or” (Beethoven), “Schon Eosmarin” (Kriesler), “Gavotte” (Ernest Jamiesdn), another gavotte aud Old English dance, also “ Waiseniied” (Glinka) provide delightful interludes artistically rendered by Miss Mona Dean, Miss Cynthia Vickery and Mr. Ered Bull on two pianos. The gavotte contributed between Acts 11 aud 111 is a composition by Mr. Jamieson, of Napier, and the composer graciously gave permission to Misses Mona and Winifred Dean to arrange it for two pianos for tho performance of “Quality Street.” The season continues this evening and to-morrow will be the final presentation.