THE GEISHA”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 277, 27 November 1935, Page 2

THE GEISHA”

A JAPANESE AIUSICAL PLAY A CHARMING PRODUCTION Just as brightness is the keynote of the music and the dialogue of “The Geisha,” which commences a severalnight season at the Opera House this evening, so the gaiety and colourfulness of the Japanese costumes will l»e a, feature of the production. It would be impossible to enumerate the many beautiful costumes in the choruses, but the effect is one of brilliant colour. The result of many weeks’ practice and preparation by the members of the Wanganui Musical and Dramatic Society is a delightful production, judging by the full dress rehearsal held a day or so ago. The public will find it one of the prettiest plays to watch. The colourful kimonos, with their o’bi’s, the white uniforms of the officers, tho charming scenery, make a most satisfying ensemble. The effective scenery—the first a garden scene with tho flowers of Japan, and the second a palace with lighted lanterns and the sea beyond, with its twinkling lights at the port giving a sense of distance and space—is a particularly pleasing background for the colourful dressing. The production should attract large houses. In the opening scene, Airs. S. Rankin, who plays the part of O Alimosa San, appears in a handsome sky blue satin kimono with appliques of silver. She carries a silver fan and wears red flowers in her hair. In the second act her kimono is„ of old gold, also appliqued, while in her hair she wears gold flowers and her fan is to match. As the fortune teller in disguise a black kimono is worn. Aliss Merle Spurdie, as dainty Molly Seamore, wears in Act I. an effective frock, with cape, of cherry windswept crepe patterned in ivory ring and coin spot design, and worn with a large cream hat to match the collar, jabot and cuffs. Later she wears a bright green kimono embroidered with large flowers in mauve and cherry shades. The French tea-house girl, Juliette IDianiant (Joan Broad), chose a flowered black kimono with waist sash encrusted with diamante, and she wore cherry coloured flowers over either ear. Tn a later scene a kimono of white brocade was trimmed with a sequinned I o’bi. Lady Constance Wynne (Mrs. T. E. Lovegrove), who comes to Japan with a party of lady tour'.sts, is seen, in an 1 attractive frock of black and white figured American crepe with border. effect, and a wide-brimmed hat of st if- | fened open mesh chock linen. Her evening gown for a later scene is of black crepe romaine, beautifully modelled, and with double shoulder straps of diamante. The white ostrich feather fan she carries shows off to | advantage against the black gown. The English tourists. Alisses E. Bas-sett-Smith, Dorothy Drew and H. Bas-sett-Smith wore smart ensembles which are set off by the white uniforms of the naval officers and the midshipman. Miss H. Bassett-Smith’s costumes are j a day suit of natural coloured, linen with navy spot blouse and blue hat, and an evening dress of leaf patterned blue organdie with shoulder frills and black velvet girdle. Afiss Drew first appears in a blue and white pin-stripe silk frock with, white collar and hat, while her second frock is in tunic, style with black skirt and smartly-fashioned tunic of white satin girdled in gold. Aliss E. Bassett-Smith in the first act wears a beige suit with cape effect lined in brown patterned with white, dots, scarf and saucer-shaped hat, being of the same material. An evening frock of green repp cordoman with gold trimming was chosen for the second act. Nami (Nancy Hales) and the four Geishas (Thelma Bergen. Leslie Hall, Jean Harman and Norma Holmes) are also attractively costumed. Some of the kimonos have padded hems and others terminate at the feet with a wide border in the predominating colour of the chrysanthe mum design. The o’bi (Japanese sash) forms a mo*t attractive feature of each kimono. The members of tho ballet are also responsible for some effective costumes. Green and white with matching fans is the colour scheme for the first ballet. Then comes blue brocade and gold costumes with coolie hats in the same shades, and for the third ballot black and white kimonos, and umbrellas in place of fans. Handsome kimonos with gold dragons and other designs aa’e worn by the men principals of the production, the Alarquis Imari (W. J. Hastings), Wun Hi (F. O. Bridgman) and Takamine (J. Broad), who later change for the second act. The officers, Afessrs. J. Pawson, IlNelson, E. K. Cameron, F. Killeen and the midshipman (played by Afiss N Lewis) wear the white uniform and peaked caps of naval officers in the first act and mess dress for the second scene. As Captain Katana. L. Linaker wears a blue and white military outfit with silver braid on jacket. A red belt, white helmet and leggings complete the outfit. The rickshaw coolie (K. Takarangi) is also well costumed.