"FOOTLIGHTS AND FANTASIES”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 10

"FOOTLIGHTS AND FANTASIES”

“CAVALCADE” OF THE DANCE. “Footlights and Fantasies,” a Cavalcade of the Dance, is to be presented by the Wright School of Dancing at the Opera House on Thursday evening, when the public of Wanganui will witness the most ambitious dancing recital ever presented in this city. “Footlights and Fantasies” deals with tho dance from 1833 until the present day, and many original and ingenious effects have been arranged. Costumes and customs during tho past hundred years will be presented in a colourful manner by Miss Wright’s pupils, a great array of talent having been assembled for the production. Not only will the production have a quaint historical interest, for the pageant of dancing will went its wav from the days of the crinoline, through the Gay Nineties, right up to the present day with its fascinating modernism. Tho season of the year, one merging into tho other, will be the inspiration for another phase of the entertainment, this being followed by the transition from the old year to the new. Then this old world will bo left behind and the imagination of the audience will be taken for a Hight among tho planets, th© Planetary Ballet being one of tho most, ambitious dancing acts ever staged iu Wanganui. O cr 3000 mirrors will be used in this scene, in which the Suu, the Moon, the Stars, and Comets will all take part. Following this will be a number of solo dances, an Oriental scena, and the Living Bowl of Dresden, a most spectacular number, in which classicly draped figures will be seen reclining on mirrored steps, then slowly awakening to the dance- The lighting effects for this number are said to be par excellence. A flower barge fourteen feet long, and commanded by fourteen tiny angels, will bo featured in one of the ncvei-to-be-forgotten scenes. A mystic, touch of the East will be introduced with the portrayal of death and re-birth of the Eemple of Buddha. The soloists on the Angels’ Barge, Lola Boshier and Betty Price, will be strikingly beautiful. All the babes taking ' part, in this scene will be under six I years of age. Fifteen “jazz babies”' will bo turned out in cute costumes of the jazz age. Two items that will certainly make appeal will be the singing of Merle Spurdle and the saxophone playing of Tiro Dnrie. FTo.'king, scenery, and lighting will surpasse anything seen in Wanganui s'> f:. r.