SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 3

SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL

The Shakespearean Costume Festival, to be, held on May 3, i, and .5, in aid of the Bed Cross Fund and in' commemoration of the tercentenary of England's greatest poet, promises to be an unqualified success. The programme is one' which,.'apart from the worthy objects in view, should pack the Town Hall on each of the three nights. ' The programme opens with a musical prologue by a string • orchestra, under Mr. Robert Parker, followed by a grand : pageant. of Shakespearean characters, who will parade through the audience and up on to the stage. As eachgroup mounts the stage a few explanatory remarks will'he spoken by the "voice of the pagDßnt." For the trial scene' from the "Merchant of Venice" the cast is as follows;— Duke of Venice; Mr. L. W. HanIon; Antonio, Mr. W. Howell; Bassauio, Mr. J. E. Rutland; Gratiano, Mr. H. His-' kens; Shy lock, Mr. Culford Bell; Portia, Miss Ethel Churchill; Nerissa,. Miss Flo Gow- Comedy will be well represented by the Kitchen Scene "-from "Twelfth Night" by members of the Charley's Aunt Club. A particularly bright scene should be the quarrel scone from "The Midsummer Night's Dream." .This has been arranged by Mrs. J. A. Hannah, the costumes, also being made.from original designs by the same lady. The principal parts are being taken by Miss Betty Purdom, Oberon; Miss Vera Pegg, Titania; and little Hardwicke, Puck. Miss Pauline Brown will appear as Miranda in two scenes from "The Tempest." Miss Janie Pctrio, Ophelia, ; and Mr. J. M. Clark, Hamlet, will appear in a scene .from "Hamlet." Miss Mary Butler (late of Melbourne) a'nd Mr.. Byron Brown will act the wooing scene from "The Taming of tho Shaw." •The church 6cene from "Much Ado About Nothing" will be in the capable hands of Miss Hardinge-Maltby and Mr. W. Rowell. Other items will be Queen Catherine's defence, by Mrs. Phil Nathan, Mark Anthony's oration by Mr. Sidney' Tingey, and Prince Arthur by Miss Zita Chapman. The box plan is now open at the Bristol. •■'■' , . ' ■