"SUNSET LAND"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 2

"SUNSET LAND"

CHILDREN'S DELIGHTFUL DANCE-PLAY "Sunset Land." a nursery comedy, in five acts, by Miss Beaumont. Cast-.— . Freda Miss Hazel Hardwick Basil Miss Here Beckway Dame Fortune Miss Isobel Wilford Captain Drake Miss Mar.iorie Nicholls Neptuno Miss Mar.iorie Nicholls Jim Miss Nesta Cooke Tim Miss Chrissie 'Young Doctor Miss Marie Fix Man in the Moon Miss Marie Fix Chinaman Miss Evelyn O'Brien Seafoam ;... Miss Frances Muter Deep down in the heart of every properly constituted person there is - an abiding children, and at about the same depth there is that respect and sympathy for those dear old myths of childhood's, bookland that are for . ever being embodied in new editions, and for ever and ever entertaining the liftle ones' wide-eyed imagination. It was a happy thought that impelled Miss Gladys Campbell to use a little playlet tiiat embraces all the lieroes and heroines -of nureeryland, for there is. surely no more fitting medium for tho display of those infantile graces which she is encouraging, apparently quite successfully, ill her pupils. "Sunset- Land," by Miss Beaumont, formed a charming setting for the desired display, and gave a sustained interest to the entertainment that a dance recital lacks. "Sunset Land"' constitutes the adventures of Freda and Basil, two tiny children, in many. domains. They long for tho golden glory where the sun sets, beyond the sea, and Dame Fortune, always on tho iook-out to do someone a good turn, 1 appears, and orders Capt. Brake, a goose of a sea-dog, to talce them thither in liis fairy ship, giving tlieni a lucky horseshoe as a talisman net to be lost. Drake, with his crew of white mice, takes them aboard his ship (where the most human thing is a tired ship's doctor), and away they go, until in a "pet" Basil throws the horseshoe overboard, a storm arises, and tho ship sfifks. This lands the wen - adventurers in Neptune's cave, where is discovered the Man in the Moon, who has listened to the lure of Princess Seafoam's subtle song, and has jumped out of his sphere to two-the lady. That is unfortunate, for it appears that he it is who wakes tho sun up every morning, and it conies about that Drako's object in taking little Freda away was to use lior. as a substitute for tho Man ill the'-Moon, and so see that tho world has light and warmth. B.ut Neptune's cave is viisted by Daine Fortune, who orders him back to liis duty, and at the same time transforms Seafoam's glittering" tail into human tegs that she may accompany him. Together they. fly away, but en route sli.ow tfio children Sunset Land, where the seasons live and the rainbows are manufactured.

This very pratty conceit was most admirably staged, tho scenery being very handsome; and the groupings of the characters tasteful, and, in many. in r stances,- artistic. The young people employed were, on the whole, quite, equal fo theft" responsibilities. Freda and 3astl v were cleverly played ,by Hazel Hardwick and Rere Beckwav. The precocious aplomb of the former was Tery amusing, and her tip-toe dancing was as good as ever. Miss Marjorio Nicholls was properly robust and clear-spoken as Drake and Neptune, and she possesses in no ordinary measure, the grace of sincerity. Miss Marie Fix gave ii really clever comedy sketch as the tired ship's doctor, and cut an attractive figure as the sprightly Man in tho Moon. Her singing voice, sweet, if not strong, was heard in "My Moon" and "Awake," with a floral chorus of Grecian maidens. Miss Isobel Wilford was entrusted with the part of Dame Fortune, and looked very nuaint in her high-peaked hat, and cape; Fortune has many, faces, nnd later slib appeared in a pretty diaphanous purple dress in which she danced a graceful pas soul. Her songs were "Fairings" and "To a Wild. Rose." Miss Nesta Cooke was Jim; and Miss Frances Muter Seafoam, both agile and graceful dancers, wh'o were associated on several occasions. • Five little maidens executed a prettv T>all dance, in which there was. alknflon- and grace, but'of all the children's ensemble dances nothing.was'inoro .strikingly, quaint and amusing than tho Nursery-Rhyme..ballet, in. which ,all!'tlie characters of baby literature were charmingly reprinted. , Miss Frances Muter, the moit-naturally prrncofnl dancer of the evening, executed a "PiTouette" in a dainty early-Victorian dress, and her"Dance Estatique" was .also refreshing. Among the many other attractive items might be mentioned the-dnnce of the water babies, the "Pipe Dance" By a joyous little sprite nnnied Joyce Ccm'zens, the "Seasons," nimblv danced by Misses Platts-Mills, Nesta Cooke, Couzens. and Nancy Cooke, and the hornpipe of Nesta Cooke.

Capital music of a quality not common to such, entertainments, was supplied by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Johnstone, and Mr. Haydn Beck. The scenery was by Mr. Beck, ami the staije management was in the hands of- Mr. W. H-. Didsburv. Miss Ca:npbell is to bo oongratulateT" on the -performance, which is in fiid of the Red Cross Funds. A number of young ladies purveyed sweets in tb,e theatre as an additional means of raising funds. Tho Countess of Liverpool and a party (mm Government House were present. We are asked to say that an arrangement will be made to provide' for earlj doorl at the second performance .{his evening.