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FROCKING AT THEATRE.

Somerset Maugham's brilliant satire, “ Our Betters," was prodxiced for the first time in Christchurch by Miss Margaret Bannerman and her company last night. A large audience at the Theatre Royal thoroughly enjoyed the cynical humour of the play and its tilts at American heiresses and “ high society.” The acting was up to the highest standard of Miss Bannerman’s company, and the production waa excellent. The scenes were specially unusual and interesting, and the frocking gorgeous throughout. In the first scene Miss Margaret Bannerman as Lady George Grayston, the very successful hostess, makes her appearance wearing a distinctive gown of royal blue crepe de chine. The long close fitting corsage was embroidered in a conventional design high on the bodice, giving a yoke effect, and the fitting sleeves fell to a point over the hand. The skirt was cut with circular effect, the fullness falling in a shaped flared panel effect making a wide uneven hemline, while at the back the flares were caught, giving an unusual draped effect and a narrow band of silver bordered the skirt hem. Her brimless hat fitted closely to her head and was cut with a scalloped edge. Her brilliant gown in the next scene was of fine silver tissue, the skirt draped closely to the figure and finishing in a long pointed panel train at one side. The rounded neckline was outlined with blue shaded brilliants, the brilliants forming the narrow shoulder straps. Defining the waistline, the brilliants formed a wide girdle and were continued over the fullness of the draping. Her wide bracelets of blue and silver stones gave a distinctive finish to her toilette. In the final scene her wrap of white georgette bordered with white fox fur was closely embroidered at the hem and on the wide sleeves with fine gold tracery. Beneath the wrap she wore a slip frock of ivory satin, the skirt hem falling full and a swathed belt of the satin was caught in front with long ends of the material. A long tie of gold tissue was worn closely round her throat, with long strap panels over her wrap at the back, and her long string of jade beads she used most effectively and daintily. At the close of the performance she received a sheaf of pale pink roses. Dorothy Dunckley, as the Duchess De Surennes, wore a gown of deep orange crepe de chine, the skirt veiled with an overdress of gold embroidered lace, and a wide scarf of the material. Her hat of bronze straw was upturned in front and trimmed with velvet ribbon to tone. Her second change was an unusual gown of silver grey floral satin, draped to one side, falling over a tissue underskirt, with the corsage closely sequinned in silver. A beautiful fan in Shades of orange to deep flame added a colourful note which was most effective. In the final scene her ensemble frock was of beige georgette with a light stencilled pattern in black bordering the skirt and sleeves. The long open front revealed a long panel of black taffetas which showed beneath the hem and the wide open front. With this she wore a small brown hat, the narrow brim turned back across the front.

Cicely Jonas, as the Principessa Della Cercola, looked very attractive in her frock of brightly-patterned crepe de chine in shades of orange, green and red, the hem of which was of plain black georgette, the plain georgette being used as a swathed belt. A full cape was worn from the shoulders to below the waist. Her close-fitting hat with a full crown had a brilliant buckle at one side. In the second scene her evening gown of wistariamauve georgette was lightly embroidered with crystal and silver sequins, the full hem being bordered with fine selfcoloured lace. The sequins were clustered in a close design on the front of the corsage, and in narrow panel effect high on the skirt. The long shoulder drapings of the georgette were most graceful. Her next gown was of grey georgette fashioned with a double skirt, the underskirt embroidered with motifs in pastel shades, and the hem falling in uneven joints. The long panels from the shoulders, which gave the effect of angel sleeves, were caught at the wrist, and open from the shoulder.

Kerry Kelly, as Elizabeth Saunders, the attractive American sister of Lady George Grayson, wore several charming frocks. In her first appearance her frock of ivory georgette had a scalloped hem border of fine lace, the lace bordering the short coat, and inset on the sleeves. In the next scene her evening frock of japoniea-pink with a hem of silver lace, showed an underskirt of paler pink, the shoulder posy being carried out in the same shade, outlined with silver. Another frock was of hydrangea-blue crepe de chine, the skirt pleated across the front, and the jumper bodice having a scalloped collar and revers and cuffs in a deeper shade of blue.

The gowns worn throughout left nothing to be desired, and were the envy of every dress-lover who was fortunate enough to see them. The performance will be repeated this evening.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19281205.2.140

Bibliographic details

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18629, 5 December 1928, Page 13

Word Count
861

FROCKING AT THEATRE. Star (Christchurch), Issue 18629, 5 December 1928, Page 13

FROCKING AT THEATRE. Star (Christchurch), Issue 18629, 5 December 1928, Page 13

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