"THE MAGIC CARPET"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3192, 17 September 1917, Page 7

"THE MAGIC CARPET"

A DECORATIVE DANCE-PLAY "The Magio Carpet," a dance-play, in threo acts. Cast:— Dreamy Dick and Page Here, Beckway Copy Cat '. Foo Smyth. Alice ..: Joyce Julian March Hare Margery Lyon let Spinner Thelnia Harris Laura Hazel Hatdjjicke Princess Yvonne ..:: Hazel Fuller Red Queen Phyllis Nicholls Prince Hiordis Mabel GaUichan Queen Jlaeve Joyce Oonsenß Oarpeuter Hoslyn Atkinson Ist Kewpio Kelma CarrpU Ist Lobster Constance Monce White Rabbit <■.. Lorna Trengrovo Goblin King Elsie Dick Ist Goblin ...: ....'..... Nanoy Cook Prince Aucassin " Ellen Miller To thoroughly appreciate "The Magio Carpet," the fairy dance-play introduced by Mies Gladys Campbell at tho Grand Opera House as a medium for a display of her pupils' paces,' l and incidentally to raise money for patriotic purposes, one has to turn back. the wheels of time to childhood's happy days, for without being in a position to visualise the scenes with the eyes and imagination of childhood more than half the charm is lost. "The Magic Carpet"—the programme did not honour the author—is a happy combination of song, dance, and sot in series of scenes which form a vivid setting for the filmy story that runs throujfh the play, never too obtrusively. For the story the author has borrowed freelvfrom Lewis Carroll s "Alice in Wonderland," with a tcmch hero and thero of- the "Arabian Nights, and the effect is that the Eed Queen (Phvllis Nicholls) is determined that her daughter, the beautiful Princess Yyrano (Huzel Fuller), shalL marry Prince Hiordis (Mabel Gallichan), but the Princess yearns for Prince Aucassin (Ellen Alllier), and won't bo happy till she gets him. So the Bed Queen spirits away both the magio carpet and. Prince Aiicas-' sin, so that Yvonne will not get up to any nonsense. But the Princess has friends, who in tho end restore both tho carpet and the Prince, so that everyone lives happv for ever afterwards. Ihis discovery of the lost carpet of groat pneo is not, 'however, made without a great deal of hunting on tho part of Prmco Hiordis and his merry men in groen, but when on the track they fall in with a troop of quaint little goblins, led by an awfully cute King (Elsie Dick), who gives them magic food, which sends them to eleep. Then there is a power of dancing to bo done beforo the magic carpet can be restored, and hero Miss Campbell's pupils gave interesting evidence of amateur talent in tho bud, as thoy hopped and skipped round in ordored abandon.' One point that strikes tho.lover '. of 'dancing, as is often missed in such entertainments, is the full recognition of that rhythm, which is the life and soul of the dance. ■ Tho music, particu- | larly for children should bo tho simplest, with, well-marked rhythm, which their tiny feet and sharp instinct cannot misunderstand. . Most of the dancing attempted was of tho classic ballet music of tho old Italian school, with tip-100 work in, evidence. The modem frond was represented in tho Greek bare-legged dancing, with its free and flowing measures, and absence of those stiff formalities of. tho formal dances of the Victorian era. Thero is not room to. detail all the dances, some of which were pretty and otheirs favoured the grotesque. Ine "Spirit of the Loom" dance was quite happy idea, and the tiny carpet-bearers, who were little canary-coloured pnitballs, were a pretty' sight. Zelma Carroll executed a "Dance Joyeuse, and Frances Muter and Joyce Couzens essayed a delicate and airy tip-toe dance. The dnnco of the huntsmen and spinners.had its g-boa points, and the Flamo Spirit Ballet, in wTiich a double quartet) of girls frollicked madly in crimson attire, was a fine feature. In the second act there was an excursion to tho most delicious of Lewis Carroll wonderlands, with the oysters gavotting and flirting with the blushing- lobsters during the close season, and the frogs jumping with spring-timo eagerness round the flaming legs of the flamingoes.. Then enters upon this gay assemblage some of the cutest "kewpies,' dressed more decorously than the article of commerce, but just as sweet. Then off goes the music, the chorus sing's, and away they all go, in and .out, and round about, losing themselves in the giddy mazo. and finding themsolves unexpectedly in just the-plaoe where they should bo. In this act, Joyce Couzens appeared advantageously in'a Moth Dance, and tho goblins of the Haunted Ravine were evei so comical. In the final act Joyce Couzens aguin displayed her facility in the dance by symbolising ■■ "Spring-time," whilst. D. Eveuson, C. Smythson, S. Brown, M. Hayes, K. Boyle, and H. Davis posed as Arabesquo figures on tho platform .against a garden background. Nancy Cook should bo singled out for her clever butterfly dance, and Frances Muter for her dance "La Perle." Tho Orchids* Ballet, with the little mites swinging across the stage on wires (a featuro that was used on ■several occasions), was very happily arranged. The entertainment was enhanced by the singing of a female chorus, disposed in tho orchestral well,- and conducted, by Mr. Laur-. ence Watkins. The orchestra, under Miss Madelino Webb, would have been better in such a large theatre had brass instruments been included. Excellent scenery was provided by Mr. W. J. Beck, Rnd Mr. Paul Latham acted as 6tage manager. At the conclusion of the performance Miss Campbell was presented to the audience by Mr. Dick,, who congratulated her on tho success of tho entertainment. Heaps of boxes of chocolates, flowers, and life-size "kewpies" were handed up to the young performers by their admiring parents and friends before the curtain fell.

Those present included the GovernorGeneral and the Countess of Liverpool, General Sir Alfred Kobin and Miss Robin, Mrs. and Miss Massey, and Mrs. J. P. Luke. "The Magic Carpet" will be repeated this evening, and for tho last time to-morrow evening. His Excellency the Governor-General and tho Countess, of Liverpool will be present again this evening. On Saturday the theatre was packed in every quarter, and many people .had to bo refused admission.