"THE NEW REVEILLE"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22068, 26 September 1933, Page 12

"THE NEW REVEILLE"

IN AID OF THE FUNDS OF THE PLUNKET SOCIETY. The pretty girls who dance so nimbly in the Reveille at His Majesty's Theatre this week, and whose bright smiles and shining eyes cause a line of admiring retainers to book the front seats of the orchestral stalls so that they may the better see and hear them, cannot fail but fill the audience with delight; first, because their dancing is in aid of a good cause, second becauses so finished a performance is the result of only a short time of rehearsal, and third because they are daughters of Dunedin. All are youthful, bonny, and charming, and, what is more, familiar by sight and name if not by acquaintance. They make the Reveille a very pleasureable entertainment.

The variety of costumes worn is astonishing. Most are of the romper type, leaving arms and le,gs bare; some are like pierrot suits; some have transparent gauze skirts. But all are characterised by unusual blending of colours and original cut. For instance, in the Belltopper Ballet the girls wear yellow ruffs, bodices of half blue and half yellow, one leg clothed with a long jazz trouser and the other bare, and jazz belltoppers —a very smart ensemble. The garb of the Harvest Moon chorus is one of the most becoming—white blouses, short red trousers and braces, and large hats. Those taking part are Misses Helen Abraham, Helen Feiiwick, Pat Abraham, Berta Harker, Dorothy Roberts, Joan M'Avoy, Barbara Williams, Honor Carswell, Nancy Garrett, Biddy Laihg, Mary Glendining, Cecily Ramsay, Molly Boyd, and Daphne Chrystall. These 14 constitute " the ballet" of the Reveille, and are very attractive indeed, two of their other numbers being " The Dance of the Flames" in red demon costumes, and "When Your Hair is Turned to Silver," in which they wear tight romper suits covered with transparent tinsel skirts, and bodices cut so as to leave one shoulder bare.

Another attractive chorus is "Home," the frocks being red rompers with high necks at the p front and no backs, and the red relieved with two black pockets and a black bow lined with red outlining the head at the back.

The Scarecrow ballet -is a delightfully grotesque piece of. work in which old clothes and hideous masks make'an amusing contrast to the youthful limbs of the " scarecrows" seen through their dilapidated rags. In the Mirror Ballet girls in black sleeveless romper costumes and black stockings move before a black curtain. Their clothes are seen with mirrors, and as they move, the theatre is filled with flashing lights. The Pyramid Chorus is charmingly trim and precise) dressed in short white costumes with bare legs and white shoes, and standing with the straightness of an army, before a blue curtain in readiness for its well-executed pyramid turns. Its soloists are two tots in yellow silk rompers—Joyce Smith and Irene Scott. A pretty number is "Lullaby Attraction," in which some of the children of the company take part. They wear jazz rompers and ruffles, their elders being in short striped trousers, bodices and hats. "Shuffle off to Buffalo" shows Miss Anita Winkel as soloist in a charming long-tailed suit and belltopper of silver ana rose brocade, before a chorus wearing white blouses and orange and black spotted skirts over tiny black trousers., Another costume of Miss Winkel's is white organdie worn with a grass green hat, muff, neck-frill, sash and shoes, before a chorus in short green trousers, white blouses, and green ties and hair bows. The Oriental ballet wears salmon pink Chinese trousers and apricot loose jumpers, the effect, when its members form a wheel on the floor, being very effective. The Specialty Chorus is always well dressed. In "Please " they wear long jazz trousers in smart colours and green cuffs, and on other occasions are in evening dress. " An Old Favourite " chorus wears jazz sleeveless tops over black short trousers and long transparent skirts, .and carries Chinese umbrellas. There are also, cabaret numbers with the girls and men in evening dress, and " The Blue Room" chorus, in which a pensive, dark-haired dancer in the front line draws all eyes by reason of her slimness and the beautiful simplicity of her chalk-white frock with sleeve treatment of lily of the valley green. Among the soloists are Miss Penny Marshall, in immaculate male attire for evening or yachting, the latter being a smart ensemble of white duck trousers, salmon pink pea jacket, and yachting cap; Miss Daphne Murdoch, first in pale pink frills divided down the front to show pretty legs and feet in silver shoes, and then in a bodice and short trousers of silver spangles with a flat little cap on her curls; and Misses Bain and Todd in rose red trousers, yellow blouses, and rosered pom-poms. There are 57 items on the programme each differently frocked, so the brilliance of the display can well be imagined.