"DUCHESS OF DANTZIC"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21912, 22 September 1934, Page 17

"DUCHESS OF DANTZIC"

SOME BRILLIANT FROCKING The atmosphere of old France, with its picturesque dressing and colourful uniforms, was cleverly portrayed in J-he romantic light opera, "The Duchess of Dantzic," performed by the Mareo Operatic Society in His ijajestv's Theatre last evening. The story centred round Madame Sans Gene, who rose from the laundrey in the Rue Royal to become the wife of one of Napoleon's generals. The carefree career of Madame Sans Gene from the time she washed the socks of the young artilleryman Napoleon Bonaparte until she lived among the ambassadors and marshals of France, was shown in a colourful setting of old-time frocks and braided uniforms. The part of the Duchess of Dantzic (Madame Sans Gene) was taken by Mrs. Eric Mareo, whose vivacious charm and sweet singing voice delighted those present. In her first appearance as a washerwoman, she wore a striped skirt and small black velvet coatee over a white voile blouse. In the same act she later wore a uniform which comprised a long white coat cut on military lines, edged with black fur, and heavily braided collar. Her tall hat also trimmed with silver braid and surmounted with a white ostrich feather. In the second act she wore a frock of champagne moire taffeta with inset panel of bine velvet banded in gold. Two gold tassels were worn at each shoulder and her high-crowned hat was trimmed with blue tipped feathers. A pastel pink negligee was also worn in the first scene of the third act trimmed with rows of lace to tone. The appearance of the Duchess in the Court scene was in striking contrast to the colourful background of the frocks worn by the chorus and men in uniform. Her trained frock was of ivory satin heavily embroidered with seed pearls and diamante trimming, the leaf design on the skirt being carried out also on the train over a lining of gold lame. A diamante tiara was worn on the head.

The only appearance of Miss Freda Evans, who took the part of the Empress Josephine, was in the final act, where she wore a striking frock of scarlet and gold embossed velvet with long white velvet train edged with ermine fur. Her pages were also in cream satin suits embroidered in gold.

Miss Winifred Hill as Renee de Saint Mezard, a ward of noble birth, wore a dainty frock of powder blue satin with long coat of the same material. Her poke bonnet of ruched satin in the same shade was caught under the brim with a cluster of pink roses. In the final scene she wore rose du Barri taffeta with a laca-trimmed yoke and silver embroideries. The frocking of the chorus and ballets were in keeping with the period and the combination of colours and effective old French costumes were much admired.