SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2760, 2 May 1916, Page 7

SHAKESPEAREAN FESTIVAL

i 1 Considerable interest is being evinced in the : Shakespearean Costume Festival, ■which is to be held in the large Town Hall, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week, in aid of tho Ecd Cross Fund. The grand pageant of Shakes, pearean charaoters, in whioh some sixty, performers take part, will be a mostspectacular item as thoy parade through the aisles, and up on to the stage, which is being specially draped. l Another beautiful' scene will be the quarrel 6cene between Titania (Miss .Vera Pegg) and Oberon (Miss Betty Purdom). In this a large number ot children are assisting, headed by that clever little dancer, Hazel Hard- • vieke, who takes the part of Puok, The whole scene has been arranged and the iostumes made' from original designs by Mrs. James Hannah. • The post's delightful broad comedy will be well represented by the kitchen scone from "Twelfth Jiight/' the cast being: Sir Toby Belch,. Mr. Norman Aitkon; Kir Andrew Aguochic, Mr. M 7. W. Crawford; Malvolio, Mr. Phipps Williams; The Jester, Mr. S. Laslett Exton; Maria, Miss Marie Fix, As a contrast to this scene, there will be fbe famous trial scene from "The Mer. rhant of Venice," with Mr. J. Culford Bell as Shylock, and Miss Ethel Churchill as Portia. All the other parts are in capable hands. The dialogues will bei Scene from "Hamlet," Miss Janie Petrio and Mr. J". M. Clark; church scene from "Mnch Ado About Nothing," Miss Har-dinge-Maltby and iir. ; W. Eowell; wooing scene from "'Taming o'f tho Shrew. Ot?ier items oil the programme are Marl Antony's, oration, Mr..-Sidney Tingoy; Queen Catherine's defence, Mrs. 1\ J. Vnthan; two scenes from "The Tempest,'' Uivs Pauline Brown; Prince Arthur, Miss Xita Chapmiui. A strong orchestra, under Mr. Robert Parker, will provide the neces' nary musio. Sir John Findlay has con rented to give a eulogy on- Shakespeare. The box plan is open at the Bristol. Tho performances each evening are to conr Inence at 7.45 o'clock.