LOVELY FROCKING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 265, 9 November 1945, Page 2

LOVELY FROCKING

PLAYERS IN “OUR MISS GIBBS”

PICTURES OF COLOUR Just as brightness is the keynote of the music and dialogue of “Our Miss Gibbs ” so the gaiety and the loveliness of the frocking is a feature of the production. This musical play, as presented by the Wanganui Musical and Dramatic Society, should continue to play to full houses for the last three nights of the season. As to the frockirig we agree with the wardrobe mistress, Mrs. Armitage, when she remarked, “I have never opened such a beautiful wardrobe, for all the frock and costumes are of the best material and all so skilfully made in just the right styles.” It would be impossible to enumerate the host of lovely afternoon frocks and suits in the opening chorus. The pastel shades and floral designs, with hats to match, make a perfect picture of colour harmony, just as do the evening frocks worn in the second act. Miss Thelma Dandy who gives a loveable portrayal of “Mary Gibbs,” looks very demure when she makes her first appearance in a turquoise blue frock, with collar, cuffs and wide revers in a pretty shade of prunella. She later dons a frock in deep rose shade and in the second act wears a dainty white net and lace gown, finished at the waist with narrow pink and blue ribbons which also form Jong streamers. Miss Penrhyn Hutton, who played the part of “Lady Elizabeth,” daughter of “Lady Thar.et,” wears a pink frock with graduated frills on the skirt. After impersonating a small girl, she changes into a dainty confection of pink net over taffeta with tracery designs on the full skirt. As the “Duchess,” Mrs. Richardson looked and played her part in a smart grey outfit with equally smart hat, and in the following scene looks resplendent in a violet gown with black sequinned overdress, a toning velvet coatee and tiara. The part of “Mrs. Farquhar,” an imnecunious woman of fashion, is plaved by Mrs. Bracks, whose black and white outfit, in the first act, has an unusual shoulder scarf and cuff in flame shade, with diamante finish and smart black hat. The second act sees her in a gown of black velvet and gold lame, with sequin cape. Olive Holland, in the part of “Madame Jeannie,” wears several smart frocks, the first being a prunella with huge dots of n-reen on the bodice to match the lining of the shoulder cape. (This frock compliments the frocks of the department assistants, who wear prunella frocks trimmed in green). Next she dons a gold frock with black sleeveless jacket, and for the final scene a pink frock with sequinned overdress. She also wears a tiara with osprev and carries a pink ostrich feather fan.

A manrequin parade is one of the features of the production. A bevy of girls make a charming picture in lovely long frocks in dusky pink shade, n d"ed at the hems r green. Floral hats and posy-adorned muffs are added attractions. As bridesmaids they were lovely white morocain frocks, frilled with net from knee to hem, with green picture hats. Several attractive ballets, beautifully costumed, add to the production, including harlequin and Hungarian ballets. The costumes for the latter were especially lovely, the ong worn by the leader being hand-trimmed. There are mirth-provoking scenes when “Timothy Gibbs” (played by James Mack) appears in some strange outfits.