SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Antony and Cleopatra. The barbaric splendour and oriental magnificenco of Mr. OscnT Asciie's repri*sentatiou of "Antony and Cleopatra" caused quite a sensation: on Saturday evening, April 19, when this actor and Miss Lily Brayton reopened at thoTheaftro Royal, playing tho Shakespearean tragedy- in Sydney for tho first time, writes a correspondent in the "Australasian." The entrance of the pair, seated iu a gold-wrought couch, borno down the long flight of, sphinx-bordered steps, upon the shoulders of tawny, sldn-clad men, was witnessed with awe, and the various stage-pictures—Caesar's house (most artistic in colouring and in background), Cleopatra's palace, the. cainp, the palm-grove, etc.—constituted a be-witderingly-gorgetms series. The dark brown pillars in the banqueting-hall scene were too reminiscent of the forest giants of California to be altogether realistic, though strange hieroglyphics nnd paint.ed Egyptian figures, emerging at length from their surrounding gloom, showed what they stood forJ The lily-pond, tho courtyard, and accessories of Cleopatra's house, scene 2, were a positive delight, and in her garb of bluish-green and gold .Miss Lily Brayton, as Cleopatra, looked bewitching. Her handsome robe of gold tissue, with dull turquoise ornaments, a Inarvellous, gleaming head-dress overtopping all, was magnificent and picturesque. Mr. Asche, as Antony, acted with, considerable spirit, and was specially impressive in the "dying" scene. Miss Lily Brayton, in robes and regal' crown, remained in her chair, after death, sitting bolt upright—a surprising feat, -even for the wily "serpent of Old Nile," it was thought.

On May 8 Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Myers give a dance in Auckland for the officers of H.M.S. New Zealand. Miss Sliand (Dunedin) and Miss Turton left for England yesterday by the Ilotorua. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Clark (Auckland) left Wellington by the Rotorua for England. A Dunedin engagement, which has recently been announced is that of Miss Thompson to Dr. Linden, of South Dunedin. Our Feilding, correspondent, writes that in St. Andrew s Church, Colyton, the marriage took placo on Wednesday- of Mr. James Whelan, third son of tho late Mr. W. D. Whelan, of Tiillamore, Ireland, and Miss Meta Claphaon,. third daughter of Mr. L. Clapham, of Midland Hoad, Colyton; The Rev. Mr. Innes Jones performed the ceremony. Tho Rev. J. Edwin Jones, of Paraparauniu, and Mrs. Jones, intend spending some weeks at Day's Bay. News has been received of ( tlie serious illness at Christchurch of Mrs. H. Cole, New Zealand president of tho W.C.T.U. Tho death occurred on Tuesday, at her residence, Whataupoko, of Mrs. Sarah* Williams, relict of tho late Mr. John W. Williams, and mother of Dr. J. W. Williams, of Gisborne.