HELPS IN ENTERTAINING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 51, 23 December 1893, Page 550

HELPS IN ENTERTAINING.

W hen there are so many societies, leagues, erganisauons, dabs and the like, it is an exrellent idea to have in reserve a number of suggestions for entertainments, as these are very frequently required. Those suitable for schoolrooms or private houses, wnere church organisations of various sorts meet for social entertaiment, are much in demand. Costume pictures, tableanx, stere-opriron views, either with or without lectures, character choruses, old folk concerts and plays are very amusing. A novel featore of an evening, not long since, was a costume chorus. The perlormers were arranged behind a canvas or curtain which bad openings just large enough to show the bead and shoulders. Some of the people were seated on chairs : the others were mounted on high stools or boxes. Tnese made the figures of marvellously contrasting height, some appearing to be bat two or three feet tall - , others seven or eight feet, the canvas concealing the ehairs or pedestals ou which they were perched. In another ease, frames were set a: irregular heights. Around the frames were draperies which also filled in the intervening sp«ce. In a large frame near the ceiling, at one comer of the room, ar peare: a stout woman, while in a small one, away down near the floor, was a tiny, wizen-faced individual, while other performers were grouped about in a similar way. an d each sang with his or her might. A dialogue was indulged in by similarly grouped participants, very stout persons making every effort to t>me down their voices to the thinnest piping note, while tbe tiny figures tried to give forth as great a volume of sound as possible. Extremely interesting and amusing results may be achieved if ooe can select performers who are good in dialect. Bits of eon versatioc, songs and the Like, of old date with rostumes to match, are taking. I: is well to fvllow not only the dress and manner but the habit of speaking, the modulation of the voice, as far as can he ascertained. In many instances, colonial and foreign personages of note indulce in highly stilted conversation and in try mannerisms. These add greatly to the interest of sueh an affair.