THE BRONTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22481, 27 July 1936, Page 3

THE BRONTES

CATHOLIC REPERTORY PLAY SOME NOTABLE FROCKING All the femininity and demure charm of the women of Early Victorian days was to be seen in "The Brontes" presented by the Catholic Repertory Society in the Concert Chamber on Saturday night. Close fitting bodices, and hooped or crinolined skirts, Paisley shawls and provocative little bonnets that made so fascinating a setting to the faces, elastic-sided boots and ridhly brocaded silks brought to life a period that in its formalism and leisure made a sharp contrast to the present time. J n this play the clothes worn by the men, with their cut-away coats in dark brown, bottle green or blue cloth, their immaculately fitting trousers, and their gay flowered waistcoats were every bit as interesting as those worn by tho women. Their frilled vests, imposing cravats and velvet collars showed how great was the attention paid to their clothes by the men of tho time. As well as the dressing, period furniture true to the time aided in creating the appropriate atmosphere to the play. Miss Gwen McNaughton, who played the part of Charlotte Bronte,, made her first appearance in a crinolined frock of rich wine-coloured broche made with a close fitting bodice buttoning down the front and skirt banded above the hem with black velvet. Cream lace Collar and cuffs gave a dainty finish to the frock. Later she wore a hooped frock of plum coloured silk made in a similar fashion and trimmed with velvet bands on the skirt. On her visit to her publishers in London, Charlotte appeared in a frock of navy blue taffetas, a Paisley shawl, and a navy blue bonnet trimmed with a cluster of cerise flowers under the brim. Most attractive was another frock of cerise silk, the very full skirt ending with two rows of frills above which were bands of black velvet. The bodice also was trimmed with velvet bands and daintily finished with lace collar and cuffs. Somewhat more elaborate, in keeping with her success in the literary world, was the very charming frock of mist grey muslin worn by Charlotte in a later scene. The close fitting bodice, cut slightly off the shoulders, was finished with a cream lace berthe and the very full crinolined skirt showed a soft cream lace frill at the hem. Her wedding frock, worn in the last act, was of fine white embroidered muslin with which was worn a lace mantle or cape and a little white bonnet trimmed with green leaves. As Anne Bronte, Cynthia Stone also appeared in some verv attractive frocks, one being of flowered muslin worn over a small hoop with a lace ruffle at the neck and small lace cuffs. Another frock worn after her return from Brussels was of ciel blue broche trimmed with bands of grey velvet. When going to London, Anne wore a frock of fawn figured silk trimmed with bands of fawn velvet and a fawn bonnet trimmed beneath the brim with a curled blue ostrich feather.

Burgundy satin was chosen by Winifred Cooke on her first appearance as Emily Bronte. Worn over a hoop, it was trimmed with black velvet bands and with cream lace at the neck and cuffs. Black and purple figured silk was chosen for her journey to Brussels and in a later scene she appeared in a most attractive frock of hunter's green taffetas trimmed with velvet buttons

and velvet bands. A deep muslin collar was worn at the neck and muslin culls to match.

Judith McGinley, who played the part of Madam Heger, made her appearance in an elaborately trimmed crinolined frock of purple taffetas, the skirt trimmed with scallops of fringed braid and the tight-fitting bodice, peaked at the back, finished with frilled epaulettes over the shoulders. The high neck was relieved with a cream lace jabot.

A frock of black and white broche was chosen by Kathleen Kennedy, who played the part of the schoolmistress, Miss Wooler. With it was worn a Paisley shawl and Leghorn bonnet trimmed with flowers and ribbon. As Miss Branwell, aunt of the Bronte sisters, Zeala Pegler was in a frock of black muslin with beaded panel in the front and cream lace vest and high tucked collar. Old Tabitha, the servant in the Bronte household, wore at the wedding a smart black and white striped frock of taffetas trimmed with cream lace and a cashmere shawl.

Miss Ysolinde McVeagh, hon. producer for the society, who appeared at the close of the play, wore a frock of jade green ring velvet.