SHAKESPEARE BALL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1204, 12 August 1911, Page 11

SHAKESPEARE BALL.

'AN UNFORGETTABLE SCENE, TUDOR GLORY. Tho Shakespeare Ball of King George's Coronation year will livo in history. It will ; rank with tho EglinOon Tournament and the most famous masques of earlier ages. If it could bo repeated like a theatrical performance or a pageant (which is, of course, impossible) it would certainly have a very long run. Thoso who were fortunato enough to see it. havo something to recollect' nil their lives (says a writer in an English paper). For splendour, for beauty, for perfection of harmonious colouring, for brilliance, of general effect, nothing to compare with it has been seen in our time, lor a few all-tco-brief hours tho magnificence of Tudor England was revived. Here were no tawdry stage costumes, no mero imitations of reality. Hero was the real thing. Real satins and ormines, real silks and brocades, real gold and silvor cmbroider-

ies,* reaf lace of ntho:'finest periods, jwero.,cunningly employed to set off the beauty of the fairest women in They mado tho Albert Hall glow with rich colour; they'lent the sceno a beauty which defies description. And among tho sheen of wonderful stuffs there was tho sparkle of jewels, real jewels, priceless heirlooms, glittering in' the hair of tho fair possessors, rising and falling on their bosoms, clasping them with glittering girdles, or flashing from ''Elizabethan "stomachers" of a value beyond belief. It'.would be impossible to reckon up the sum of money represented by the costumes collectively. Many single dresses cost upwards of a hundred pounds each, and many wearers wero adorned with thousands of pounds' worth of precious stones. ■'-Merer has any' entertainment brought together such value in dresses, nor'a more enchanting array of exquisito women; Never has the etfeot of a fancy dress ball, taken as a whole, been morn wonderful • or moro complete , Arrival of Royal Guests, .Shortly before eleven the corridors began to be filled with uniforms, military, diplomatic, and Ministerial. The guests from the state banquet at Buckingham Palace wero .arriving, (including the Duke of Norfolk, Mr. Asquith, and Mr. Harcourt. Gradually tho Royal boxes began to bo occupied. The dancing was by this time in full swing, 'and every fresh arrival exclaimed with delight at the full .and varied beauty of the throng which covered the floor. It was a kaleidoscope of vivid colour, changing all the while and assuming every instant fresh and more fascinating aspects. It was a picture on a vast scale—a picture crowded with figures, vibrating with gay movement—which had in it no jarring passage, It was a'delicious melody in which from first to last there was no false chord nor any uncertain note. The obligation upon ever" guest to appear either in Tudor or ' Shakespearean costume gave tho sceno a unity and a finish which wero entirely fascinating. .There is a wide rango of characters in the plays. They cover almost all tho periods of known history, and some of unknown periods which sprang from tho poet's imagination. Yet there is some•thing which runs through them all, something which blends ancient Britons and mediaeval Italians and Tudor English into a homogeneous group. That something is the genius of their creator, that genius which i 3 to be made more familiar to future generations by t'ho Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, in aid of which the ball was'.held. . ,

Iho prevailing note of colour in tho ever-moving mass of masquers, was naturally red. .Its tones ranged from the deep crimson of Wolsey's habit up through the robes of endless Portias to delicate shades and salmon pinks. But thore was not any undue predominance of reds They simplj gave liody to the colour, scheme, and against them the rich .blues and greens and violets and costumes of inany hues mado up a composition of shoer

..Some of the most striking dresses were naturally those of unrelieved black. A

lady in velvet, to which her rich red hair formed a perfect foil, .stood out vividly, and a headsman with n huge axo slung at his back (even while he danced) was shudderiaglv sinister in his somhro garb. The. two littlo Princes in black vol vet were much admired. Display of Diamonds. The displays of diamonds in some of tliu boxes were exceptional, even in this Coronation year. They were dazzling in their brilliance, as one saw tiaras on the heads and necklaces on the necks and pendants on tho breasts and bracelets on (lie anus of several ladies sitting in a row. A fine canvas needs a lilting frame to set it off. When one recalled last night tho fact that the Albert Hall wore its ordinary appearance so lately as Sunday afternoon, it was hard not to believe that sorao fairy's wand must havo been waved over it. No moro suitable, more attractive frame could have been found for this wonderful living picture. In forty-eight hours the Albert Kail was transformed from its habitual sombre Early Victorianism into nn Italian garden, such as Mr. Lutyens loves to plan.

His design for the decoration scheme was on broad lines; suggestive'"rather than imitative; simple and extremely effective.- Tho blue sky which hid tho roof was a positive inspiration;.' It struck tho note, at once of gaiety-and freedom from care. It mado everyone light-hearted and sunny-tempered. . They caught tho spirit of their surroundings, and were infected with a southern atmosphero of enjoyment. • On a level -with the floor came the first tier of boxes. These resembled bowers in a tall hedge, of clipped yen - , with quaintly fashioned birds topping them, after the manner of Old World gardens. Over the., next tier there appeared to be growing a noble vine. Above that the boxes wero made to look as if they formed part of a marblo terrace. Then came slopes of green turf and at the top of all the balcony where supper was laid. All round the hall at the height of tho balcony a very fine impression was made by tall, stately cypresses standing, dark and dignified, a most effective contrast to .the prevailing lighter greens.

Among the thousands not taking part in the procession • there were also a great many striking dresses and abundanco of good looks; Gracious Olivias, and gay Beatrices; pathetic Ophelias, and rustic Audreys, Falstaffs, Hamlets and Orlandos poured in quickly on one another's heels. The musicians -too were disguised as Elizabethans. Queen Elizabeth's Court. And when tho pageant of tho Court of Quean Elizabeth began! The signal for clearing the hall was given by buglers. Upon a platform in front of tho hidden organ the Tudor Queen and her courtiers took up their places. Applause greeted Mrs. Arthur James (Queen Elizabeth) as she- bowed with infinite dignity and condescension. Nearly all her Court wero either direct descendants or the wives of direct descendants of the historical characters they played. They mado a very splendid show as they ranged themselves round their Sovereign and settled down to watch tho quadrilles and the procession of all the dancers, each group taking parts from ono particular play, with additional companies of Amazons and Lovers and a special quadrille of the famous people o? Tudor times.

This was tho period of the ball that will linger longest in the memory. It was a dream of fair women. With graceful swayings and rliyiuical steps they went through the figures of their darico amidst, a hush of admiration and delight. Far too soon -was it over.

Ladies will bo interested to note, that Mr» Rolleston has just received from England a very large assortment of Hair Goods, made of the best quality English hair, including switches suitable for hairdressing in the newest styles, which each purchaser will be taught gratis. Goods sold at English prices, 2oG Lainbton yuay, opp. The Economic. Ladies' Costumes during tho month ot July, Black or Blue Serges, M 45.; Tweeds, in browns, greys, and navy, £3 17s. Gd. W. S. Bedford. 43a Willis Street.