Lily Elsie’s Lovely Gowns in “The Blue Train”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 86, 2 July 1927, Page 18

Lily Elsie’s Lovely Gowns in “The Blue Train”

First Night Enthusiasm Lily Elsie, the beautiful and popular English musical comedy actress, made an exquisite picture, or series of pictures, when she returned to the stage in “The Blue Train.” Miss Elsie had retired from the stage for some time, but when she made her reappearance in London she was greeted just as enthusiastically as when she made herself famous in “The Merry Widow.” Here is a description

of Miss Elsie’s frocks in “The Blue Train”: Everyone and everything else was forgotten when, midway in the opening scene, the ranks of the chorus parted, the doers were fi,ung open, and, at the top of the steps, in a blaze of light, stood —Lily Elsie, exquisite as ever. It was. a wonderful moment! She made the loveliest picture in her wrap of softly shrimp pink chiffon velvet and dyed fox fur, and her gown of chiffon in the same subtle shade, with tiny star-like blossoms embroidered in diamante and silver, under long swaying strands of fringe. It was a positive poem of a gown, as was also, another for the Swiss chalet scene, in chiffon which seemed sometimes to be mist grey, then soft lavender, and eventually—in a more brilliant light—deep hyacinth blue. But always it was a joy to the eyes, with its graceful wing-shaped scarves hanging from the shoulders, and its handkerchief pointed draperies fluttering on the skirt. As to the “Blue Train” costume, it was of that absolute simplicity which is the height of smartness for travelling wear, the little felt hat, the furcollared crepella coaA, the tucked dress, and the shoes and stockings and bag being all in the same soft beige. For the last act in the sunshine of the Riviera —Lily Elsie wore an exqusite day-dress of softly pink lace with plain chiffon bordering all the points of the skirt and the long sleeves, her wide-brimmed hat being of exactly matching crinoline straw with narrow velvet ribbons drawn round the crown and tied in a many looped bow at the right side. And at the end, she stood lovely as a flower herself, among masses of flowers —while cheers and clapping even more wildly enthusiastic than those which had greeted her first entrance proclaimed the absolute and overwhelming triumph of the unforgettable “Merry Widow.” She came forward eventually and said just a few words of thanks, and even after that friends trooped round to her dressingroom to congratulate her, and her husband, Major lan Bullougli, and to make closer inspection of the exquisite flowers which were stacked up against the walls. The most wonderful trophy was his own basket of many-coloured blossoms tied up with ribbon in a blue that matched the dressing-room curtains. A BRIDGE PARTY IN FAREWELL TO MRS. ROSSITER Mrs. George Devore, of Remuera, was the hostess at a charming bridge party given in the Lyceum Club yesterday afternoon in farewell to Mrs. C. B. Rossiter, of Remuera, who leaves shortly for England. Mrs. Devore received her guests in the lounge, which was prettily decorated with bowls of bright tinted flowers and foliage. The guests were: Mrs. C. B. Rossiter, Mrs. Maguire, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Phillipson, Mrs. Moody, Mrs. A. E. Devore, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Dransfield, Airs. Williams. Mrs. Meredith, Airs. G. Dransfield, Airs. Cameron, Mrs. Atorroh, Airs. Casement Aickin, Airs. Griffin, Airs. J. Luxford, Airs. Yates, Airs. Alaben, Airs. Tiarks and Mrs. Alatthews.