THE SOCIAL SPHERE

Observer, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 4, 29 September 1917, Page 8

THE SOCIAL SPHERE

[By Myra.]

THE popularity of the Bohemian Orchestral concerts is mainly due to the very able conductor, Mr Colin Muston, L.R.A.M., who in his selection of pieces endeavours to please all tiastes; thus the huge audiences are treated to classical, operatic, and a good' sprinkling of light and gay music as in the Morris" and the "Nell Gwyn" Dances. "Shepherds' Hey" hit the popular taste and so did several other pieces, but I think the palm must be given to "Valse Triste," which is always a sure encore number, sad though it is. At Thursday night's concert, realism was effected by having all the lights extinguished, the only glimmer being that used by the orchestra. Mi? Ernest Drake's fine tenor voice gave very great pleasure and he was enthusiastically recalled each time he appeared. Miss Muriel Allen, a pleasing contralto of good stage presence, sang the "Last Call" and "Three Score and Ten. The latter song has lovely words and was sung with due solemnity. Encores were demanded' after- each •of Miss Allen's numbers and she received a beautiful crimson bouquet.

Among the audience I saw Mr and Mrs T. Mackv, Mr and Mrs Ferguson, Mr and Mrs Tapper, Misses Tapper (2), Mr and Mrs A. D. S'ayers, Mr and Mrs P. M. Mackay, Mrs James Boyd, Mr and Mrs W. "Neumegen, Mrs J. H. Bigelow, Mr and Mrs W. Boggs, Mr and Mrs C. Blom field, Mrs Famlder, Miss Faulder, Mrs H. J. Misses Lundon, Misses Rendell, Misses Connie and Sybil Jones, Misses Eileen and Mona Robinson, Mrs H. Ashton, Miss Sayers, Mrs MacFarlane, Mr Lionel Warner, Misses Wilson, Mrs A. Duder, Miss Doris Duder, Mrs Plummer, Miss Crowther, Mr and Mrs Aley, Mrs Fricker, Miss Drury, Mrs R. Quin, Miss A. Court, Mr and Mrs Vercoe, Mr and Mrs Fred Thorne, Mrs Pardington.

Miss Daphne Knight has a gemus not only for teaching dancing, but for inventing novelties and arranging stage effects. Her dance carnival this year quite surpassed all her former efforts. She has beaten her own record audi presented to the Auckland public an entertainment which was quite equal to anything professional which has been here. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings of 'last week His Majesty's Theatre was packed in every part. The limelight effects were well-man-aged by Mr and Mrs C. A. Crosher. Mr Rex Yates was stage manager and Mrs Pawson's orchestra was excellent.

The first part of the programme consisted of the pantomime, "Bluebell's Banishment from Fairyland/ There was a Demon (Ruby Shirnfs), a Demon King (Mr Rex Yates), a Forester (Lois Brierly), Jealousy (Undine Moeller). Woodbine (Adeline Scott), Bluebell (Rosa Sachs), with Miss Ethel Rae as the Fairy Queen, who sang delightfully. The scene was a-pretty woodland one and

troops of sweet children tripped in and' executed clever steps. .._■ They were dressed as tulips, snowdrops, sweet peas, daffodils, dahlias, Kewpies and fairies. The solo dancers were Beryl Taylor, Thelma Harrison, Molly Hutching**, Zoe Moore, Nikau Kaihau, Betty Atkinson, L. Munro-Wilson, Titoker Jackson, Jack Gavigan, Shaun Higgins, Peggy Keyes, Thelma Jamieson, and Gwen Brierly, Ruby Phillips and Adeline Scott. Miss Anita Webster danced a "Moonlight Idyll gracefully and Marion Webb, the "Dance of Death" in a very realistic manner. In the grand finale the whole of the children went through clever evolutions and the scene was simply gorgeous.

For the second part, the stage was arranged as a Cabaret; at small tables at the back of the stage, beautifully dressed ladies and gentlemen in evening dress sat. Festoons of coloured electric bulbs made a most entrancing scene and the dancers came in in; turn and went through their steps. Two tiny tots, Mollie Hutchings and Allie Deacon, caused great amusement with their vocal duet, "There's a Girl that I'm in Love With." The singing and acting being very good. Two other small children, Dorothy Steele and Peggy Keves gave a clever impersonation of "The Quarrel." Dorothy Steele danced "Twilight" in which she wore a sweet little grey and silver frock. Mollie Hutchings, Betty Atkinson, Shaun Higgins, and Jack Gavegan, gained much admiration for the way they danced an oldfashioned minuet. A ragtime scene was admirable. Miss Madeline Knight sang "Are You From Dixie?" and with Miss Adeline Scott gave an exhibition of the "Fox Trot." Children who danced solos in this part were: Ruie Harrison, Rona Anderson, Betty Atkinson, Kathleen Touner, Iris Lundon, Jean Colgan, Lois Brierly, Bernice Mollov, Rosa Sachs, Undine Moeller, Ruby Sherriffs, Ruby Phillips, Louie Gaudin, Nikau Kaihau, Dorothy Richardson, Gwen Brierly, Tucker Jackson, and Thelmla Jamieson. All the little ones were heartily applauded and at the close of each evening, floral tributes and boxes of chocolates were handed up. On Saturday evening, Miss Daphne Knight was called on to the stage and was the recipient of many handsome presents including a silver candlestick from her pupils and valuable. Maori mat from Henare Kaihau. Mrs Pawson, leader of the orchestra received a silver sweets dish from Miss Knight's pupils.

Mrs Yon Stunner, hon. sec. of the Women's Mutual Aid Society, was business manager,, and' the proceeds are to go to the Soldiers' Comfort Fund. Those responsible for the lovely boxes of sweets were Mesdames E! C. Brown, W. H. Heminway, G. Hutchison, Miss Lillis Walker. A bevy of young girls including Misses Bailey, Wagstarre, Craig (2), J. Russell, McCullagh, McDonald, Brett, Clayton, Isles, Thomas, Jaggs, Ryan, Martin, Ziman, Niccol, and Pearson made £25 by selling, them. £28 was made by Mrs Newntan, Mrs Waite, Misses Ella Walker, Broughton (2), Tucker, Olesen, Fraser, Yon Stunner, Maxwell, Colebrook. Grigsby and Moritzson, by the sale of programmes. These lodi-s are all members of the Mutual Aid Society. As so many people could' not gain admission* on Saturday evening, another perlormance was given on Wednesday evening which was quite as successful as the others . • * * X J A very pretty bridal group stood at the altar of' St. Patrick's Cathedral on Monday morning, 24th Sept., at 8.30, when Miss Ethel Casey, 3rd daughter of Mr and Mrs Maurice Casey, of "L'Anse Vata," Hamilton Road, Ponsonby, was united to Mr Peter Liddell, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Stephen Liddell, of Hexton Estate, Gisborne. The ceremony was performed by the Very Rev. Father Murphy, assisted by Father O'Malley. Miss N. Ormond officiated at the organ, and solos were sung by Miss L. Lowry and Mr Pringle. Mr Casey gave away his

daughter, who wore a lovely dress of white Georgette crepe over pale pink ,a becoming hat of white crepe de "hine with white ospreys and carried a beautiful bridal bouquet. There were two bridesmaids, viz:— Miss Alice Casey, sister of the bride and Miss Flo. Liddell, sister of the bridegroom. The former wore a dress, of crepe de chine in a pretty shade of lilac and a stylish hat of purple straw with crown of dark crimson roses. Her bouquet was of purple anemones. Miss Liddell s smart little frock was of crepe de chine in sulphur shade, with straw hat to match having a black crown and streamers of black velvet. She carried a pale pink bouquet. The best man was Mr Bert Liddell and the groomsman, Mr Henry McCoy.

On the conclusion of the marriage ceremony, a large number of relatives and a few close friends of the bride were entertained at a sumptuous wedding breakfast at the bride's former home. The whole house was giay with flowers, the table looked lovely decorated with pink stock and when a cord attached to the wedding bell was pulled, a shower of confetti fell giving a pretty effect. The usual toasts were proposed and honoured and afterwards the splendid array of handsome presents duly admired, prominent amongst ' them being the bridegroom's gift to the bride, a canteen of cutlery. The bridesmaids received gold wristlet watches. Adeane's orchestra, stationed in the drawing-room, played enjoyable music. Early in. the afternoon the newly-married couple left on, their honeymoon tour to Rotorua, the bride looking well in a smart saxeblue suit and a mole hat with tarigerine trimming. ** * ■

at,.* Maurice Casey (bride's mother) was handsomely gowned in black silk with lace sleeves and a black bonnet with black feather and white ospreys. She carried a lovely bouquet of violets. Mrs ,Vie. Casey wore a tailored coat dress of grey gabardine and a black tulle hat with ospreys. Mrs W. Casey's pretty dress was of blue crepe de chine with gold stitching and her blue and gold hat was very becoming. Mrs McCoy was in a smart dress of brown chiffon taffeta having a bodice of paisley ninon. With this she wore a pink ninon hat. Miss Marie Casey's frock was lovely. It was of blue silk poplin with oriental trimming and her hat was of white crepe de chine. Mrs Ron. Paul (New Plymouth) wore a smart frock of nigger brown chiffon' taffeta; her hat being brown and blue. Mrs Gilbert "Casey wore. « smart cream cloth suit and a pink velour hat. Miss Marie Casey, jun. looked nice in a coat dress of biscuit cloth and. one off the new sulphur straw hats with a coloured band. Misses Ima and Margaret Casey were daintily frocked—the former in white embroidered muslin and the latter in tussore silk, and both wore pink straw and silk hats. Mrs Dennerley and Mrs Johns (aunts of the bride) wore black silk dresses and black bonnets. Mrs Alf. Jones was in a pretty dress of grey chiffon taffeta and a pink hat. * Miss McQuade wore grey crepe de chine and a blue arid gold hat. Miss S. McCoy wore a costume of blue-grey summer tweed and' a pink straw hat. Miss L. McCoy was in a cream cloth coat dress and a white silk hat. Mrs Drysdale was in navy.silk and a white hat". Mrs Thorbura wore black silk and a black hat with pink roses. Mrs Thorburn, jun. wore a navy blue suit and hat to match. Mrs Lees was in grey silk and a grey hat. Mrs Paul, sen". (New Plymouth) was handsomely dressed in 'blue crepe de chine and a black hat with ostrich feathers. Mrs Brown wore blue chiffon taffeta and a hat with blue flowers. Miss Ella Brown wore a blue dress and: blue hat with rose -trimming. Mrs J. J. O'Brien wore a handsome grey silk dress and'hat en: suite. ® • ® ■ « • We hear that there is a great treat in store for music lovers at bt. James' Hall, on Wednesday., Oct. 3rd. The cantata, "Rolling Seasons" is to be rendered by a large choir and 1 orchestra under the baton

of Mr E. G. Parker. The cantata will .be proceeded by a grand programme of leading artists, "namely Madame Charles, Mr Arthur Ripley, Mr J. C. Little and numerous other artists. ® Q) ' <® Mrs Goodson, of Wellington, is in Auckland on a holiday and is staying with Mrs A. P. Friend, St, Stephen's Avenue, Parnell. @ @> ® The Misses Jerram, of Gisborne, are staying with their aunt, Mrs Devore, St. Stephen's Avenue, Parnell. m> f» $• On account of recent family bereavement, only immediate relatives were present at the wedding of Miss Essie Holland, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs J. J. Holland, of this city, with Mr G. W. O'Connell, only son of the late Captain O'Ccornell, of Limerick, Ireland. The marriage, which is of interest to a large circle 'of friends was solemnised by the Rev. W. E. Gillam, at St. Matthew's Church, on Monday, September 24th. The bride, who was given; away by her father, looked graceful and pretty in an ivory white crepe de chine coat embroidered in gold, a picture hat of pale pink aerophane and mole-coloured strlaw, having a large true lover's knot of pale pink forget-me-nots in front. Her bouquet wfas of white and pale pink tulips. Miss Amy Holland attended her sister as bridesmaids, wearing a pretty dress of marine blue crepe de chine with touches of gold and hat of blue crepe de chine to match. She carried a bouquet of primroses. Mr. W. J. Wall, of the Native L<vnd ! Court, performed the duties of best man efficiently. The bride's going-away dress was a smart navy costume, and navy hat with coral quills.

Mr and Mrs Holland presented the bride with substantial cheques, and handsome presents were received from Mr and Mrs Fergus Dunlop, Mr and Mrs E. P. Earle, Lady Whitmore. Judge and 1 Mrs Holland, Mr and Mrs Ronald Gardner, Mrs J. Keith, Mrs NY Randrup, Mr Wall, Mrs Oliphant, Mrs R. Lusher, Miss J. Lusher, Mrs and Miss Lusher, Mr and Mrs Ponsford, Mr and Mrs J. W. Holland, Mr and Miss McKenzie, Mrs J. W. Lusher, Patricia Jocelyn Woodward, Mr and Mrs Dawson, Miss Dawson l , Mrs J. L. Holland. Mr, Mrs and Miss Sniaith, Mr and Mrs A. Snaith, Mrs H. Cooke, Mr and Mrs Chambers, Miss J. Bartlett. Private Holland, LanceCorporal Holland, Misses Masom, Mrs W. S. Jones, Mrs Oxley, Miss Manning, Mrs Coe, Mrs F. Turner, Miss R. Mahon. Mr and Mrs H. G. Dutton, Mr and' Mrs Myring. Miss I. Carr, Misses Cousins. Miss Blades, Mrs Binns, Miss M. Hough. Miss J. Cardno, Mrs M. and W. Baker, members of the Grafton and Mt. Eden Shakespeare Societies and many pupils.