"ELIZABETHAN BANQUET."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1496, 19 July 1912, Page 3

"ELIZABETHAN BANQUET."

AT SHAKESPEARE'S ENGLAND. . The already loner list of attractions at the wonderful "Shakespeare's Ivneland," which is now forming sa important a centre in London's life, was added to last week by the addition of "An Elizabethan Banquet," now portrayed twice each day in the Fortune Theatre. This scene is, perhaps, one of tho most historically interesting in the whole exhibition, as well as proving both an cntortaiuing and artistic feast of the first magnitude. ■ The theme chosen is the banquet given in 'Whitehall Palace by Good Queen Bess to the Due d'Ale'neon, when that gay French prince came n-vnoing. Considerable research went to the evolution of the whole ceremonial, which follows faithfully the precise form dictated by the. Court Chamberlain for the particular banquet, and isof the utmost elnboration. First is seen the banqueting hall, with its oentral canopy,■'. bare save for the table and antique.seats, into,which enters a servitor bearing a rod and another with tlie tablecloth, a plain piece of unpatfcerned damask bordered with handsome lace. Doing obeisance three times to the empty Royal, seat beneath tlifl canopy, they ,-ippronch the beard, and. spreading the cjoth, retire backwards, as though the stately presence of the Queen were already on the dais. . Again enters the Usher, with Hie Rod, followed by attendants, bearing'the Queen's plate, bread, and salt, and then appears n young girl dressed in white and crowned wilh roses, accompanied by the Matron of the Tasting Knife. After the triple obeisance, the maiden rubs, plate with silt and bread, and then Yeomen of the Guard appear, bearing in stately procession .the viands of ths feast, which are received by a Court Chamberlain and placed upon the. table. Here an illuminative ceremony takes place, tho Lady with tho Tasting Knife giving to each guard a mouthful to eat of the particular dish he has brought, in _ which way the ever-present fear of poisoning is safeguarded against. . Then, with a grand 'fanfare of trumpets appears the Koyal procession. on the right, the servitors forming n rank on the left. First comes Sir Francis Drake and Admiral Frobisher, followed closely by Lord Essex, a particularly fine figure in grey brocade and mauvish pink, with, fine silver embroidery; Lord Leicester, in blue and lemon, .with gold embroidery; Sir Philip Sidney, Sir ChristoDher Jlatton, and, last, but certainly not least, Kaleigh himself in exquisite wiiitc velvet embroidered in silver and nointed with black. Then follow the ladies-in-waiting, beautiful women in beautiful robes, exquisitely shaded, and distinguished by huge transparent lace collars, farthingales, and deep-pointed bodices, and, after a short pause, the Queen herself, a, stately figure in curious dull rp?e red shot and lined with green; and further accentuated by touches of d«p Royal purple, a mammoth lace collar bordered.and studded with jewels, and a small jewelled crown upon her elaborate high and curled coiffure, fjie elaborate affair being an exact copy of the picture in Trinity College. Cambridge. With dignified measure she approaches the dais in tho centre of the table, leading her Royal guest by the li'and, and. seating herself, begins the feast, while the stringed instruments "jnakye inusick," Mine sweet singin/j is given, and a stately court dance is performed, tho while Tarleton the jester makes merry and .raises hilarious laughter from his hearers. The banquet over, tho Due d'Alencon kneels to receive a ring, given with a jest, from t.h<* Queen, and to pay music tho court withdraws. Near by, in the courtyard of Warwick Castle, .1 novel departure was also taken last week, when tho exhibition of morris dancing and other old English '.revelry was given, for members of the audience were invited afterwards to come into the arena, wftich was soon filled with eager couples learning with much gaiety and many graceful movements the of their forbears when England was Merrie E'vland. the morris dancers minglin ,, with the others and teaching bv hint and example. It is inteiiH«d tha*- these practical examples of old Engli-h dancing should he given from lime lo time-, as well .as l"Sfons in-madrigal and folk singing, to all who care to. learn.