"VICTORIA REGINA"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22956, 7 February 1938, Page 3

"VICTORIA REGINA"

FROM YOUTH TO OLD AGE BEAUTIFUL PERIOD FROCKS MISS FAY COMPTON'S CHARM From the moment the curtain rose until the stirring climax of the last act when the aged Queen Victoria celebrated her jubilee the interest in "Victoria Regina," which was presented at. His Majesty's Theatre by Miss Fay Compton and her company on Saturday night, was very great. Sixty years, from girlhood to extreme old age, were embraced in Laurence Housman's study of England's great Queen, which is made in 10 brilliantly mounted cameos of the Victorian age. Some really enchanting dresses were worn in the play, and both decor and settings were in complete harmony with them. In the first scene the Queen Victoria played by Miss Compton was a sweet, unsophisticated girl. She was seen first in a white negligee, and in the next scene (that of the proposal), in a frock of self-spotted white tarletdn, the crino-

lined skirt showing scallops embroidered in blue and the close-fitting bodice finished at the neck with a plain fichu. A blue sash at the waist gave additional colour to the frock. Another delightfully fresh and becoming gown was of palest green and Avhite striped taffetas, with a turn-over green collar and cuffs, and a very Avide skirt falling over a pleated frill of soft green. Appliques of green and rose gave a delicate touch of additional colour to the frock.

No young matron could have wished for a goAvn more calculated to invest her youth with a quaint dignity and at the same time herself with great charm, than the crinolined frock of petunia coloured heaA-y silk, frogeed with deep rose horizontal piping in the front, ending in small tassels, a short velvet jacket in a deeper shade of violet and accompanying bonnet. This was Avorn by Miss Compton during the fateful drive Avhen someone attempts to shoot Queen Victoria. Magnificent Jewels

In the quarrel scene Miss Compton was very regal looking in a sweeping frock of heavy cream silk bombazine worn over very wide hoops and trimmed with cream satin and gold lace. Her jewels were magnificent and across the front of her frock was the broad blue ribbon of the Order of the Garter. On her head she wore a high croAvn glittering and scintillating with diamonds. It Avas a very different Queen who appeared in the folloAving vignette, one who looked worn and troubled with the Aveiglit of Empire. In this scene she wore a frock of deep burgundy silk, quilted and gathered in the skirt, and finished at the waist with a high pointed belt of A r elvet. Insets of cream lace and net in the sleeves and at the neck gave a soft finish. In this, as in most of the previous scenes, she wore a winged cap of lace and net set well at the back of the head. From this scene in which her widowhood took place to the final one AA'hen, in the serenity of old age, she celebrated her jubilee, the Queen Avas seen in nothing but her widow's black AA'orn with a white cap and long ends.

Court Ball Frocks

There could haA*e been no better medium for a young girl's beauty than the lovely blue frilled frock worn by Miss Hayley Bell as Lady Jane at the Court ball. And Avhat older Avoman could have resisted the beauty and dignity of the deep red goAvn of heaA r y brocade and velvet, with its SAveeping lines, worn by Miss Ann Codrington as the Duchess of Sutherland, to which the high ostrich plumes on the head gave so effective a finish.

Very quaint and charming also was the frock Avorn by Miss Bell in the scene ot the drive Avith its cream and red organza skirt, tight-fitting jacket of red silk and red bonnet to match with feathers at one Not the least of its charm was the absurd little parasol which she carried. With their flowing bow ties, slimAvaisted coats and plaid trousers the men in the play Avere in perfect accord Avith the period, and the settings in which they moved Avere extraordinarily effective.