A FAIRY PLAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 25, 24 October 1918, Page 10

A FAIRY PLAY

"D'MAHANAH OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY" "D'jUalianah of the Golden Valley," a. Sfalnyon fairy musical play in three acts. Cast:Ahfiul if Thclma Harris Prince Barl <« Haze! Hardwicke Barltar B«yl Hunter Tho Knjah Ellen Miller Lao Bin-Dala JJRairc Plunson High Priest Mabel Gal ichan Chief Gnome •■ *«<>• (bmylh P a j ry Zolma Carroll First Vestal Coralie Smythson' First Nymph A. Montgomery Second Jfyinnli £■ Boyle Yashmi i, Elsle j? lo . k Pj rß 4. ]?if Nancy Cook First Waiting Maid Beryl Earlo D'Jiahanah Hazel Fuller Second WaitinpTSlaid D. Montgomery "D'Mahanah of the Golden Vallev," the medium selected by Miss , Gladys Campbell last evening for the display on the pnrt of her dancing pupikMt the arts and graces imparted during fOβ past season, is an entrancing TO',<•*■ fancy, which, with the aid of highly ornate dressing and skilful stage man-, eminent, was given vivid expression' to. Iu this instance a fairy play of simple argument is merely the web on wbich is, woven ft brilliant moving pageant ot Oriental lifo and colour, which glittered, and glowed and pulsated with tho joy , of youth as represented in tlie_ eternal dances. The programme was silent as' to the authorship, but as it was perhaps the essence of many brains—lß wa«tho case with the music—tho omission is not a serious one, still to the conceiving mind is due credit for tlie groundwork on which Miss Gladys Campbell and Mrs. Maud Bnckeridge built their iridescent spectacle of last evening. • r hough (ho dance was the thing, the play boasts a slWit libretto, and a musical aac vocal score, which was in nioe accord with the subject. For the most part the ensemble eiuging was provided by a <Toup of choristers located in the orchestral well, but occasionally a soloist broke loose upon the etago to lend that variety which is always ckanninsr. D'Mahannh is the wayward wife of the Rajah who, like lolanthe, is halt-mortal nnd half-fairy, so that when.Mr. Rajah Tjehaved as ho shouldn't, Mrs. Bajah decamped to fairyland in tho Golnen \ alley, where for some reason she was made Queen of the Fairies, and lolled luxuriously on fat cushions to show how easily she took things when teaehuiß her'tempestuous spouse a lesson. JJut D'Jlalmiwh lias a daughter, tho lovely Lao Bindala, who yearns for her eolfbanished mother, and says so. lhu> raises the ire of the Itajali (who is plainly sick of the fljte between two worlds that his freakish wife makes), and when the Princess, with the backing of the bold Pruice Ban, declares her intention of seeking her mother in the Golden Valley, papa gets really angry, and says things; but the Princess, evidently with something of her mother's dual personality in her, seeks the aid of the fairies, who cast a blight on the Eajah and his coloured court. The next act sees, the Prince slay a monster dragon belore the admiring eyes of the Princess, en route to tho valley. The .pursuing Eajaii comes on the scene, and when he persists iii exerting his Kaiser-like will, he, liko YT. Hohenzollern, is overcome by the forces of the righteous, and is made a slavo for the rest of tho journey. Ihe last act.sees the party arrive in the Golden Valley, and there in a haremlike apartment, surrounded with beautiful girls, who looked anything but fairies, w<lß discovered D'Mahanah, very comfortable among her cushions, a veritable fairy Sultana. She reluctantly admits that she is not quite hapft—after singing a song that says she is—the missing clement being the Eajah, who is produced in duo course by the Princess, to the-delight of everyone. . Tho setting of the play is quite impressive in its theatrical splendour. 1 lie onenin" set, with Buddha, as calm and impassive ai ever as a background, and the misty smoke and aromatic smell ct burning "incense, lent an -atmosphere quite "'Oscar Asehish" to the scene. A group of small slaves do on .Lgyptum dunce cleverly in the fames, with Hazel Hardwicko as soloist. Following tnis como a pretty censer ballet, a double octet, of graceful girls executing a graceful measure, in which the swing ot the illuminated censers plays an effective part. The cotton-pickers' ballet was also very attractive in its rhythmic swav. The dancers in this number, all of whom bore baskets, of cotton on high, wero Misses MTaren, K M Corinick, Schumaka, H. Fuller, A. Montgomery, K. Galliclian, Beryl Enrle and I Wa'ddell. Then, in merrier mood, the court ballet (Misses T. Harris, J. rearson, L. Harding, A. Nichol, and K. Men) fluttered round on tip-toe. A feature ot tho first act was a fancy march, i.y priests, acolytes, men-at-arms, and dancers A quaint gnomes ballet was danced by dots B. Dick. J. Jnlinn, N. Cook, anil F Smyth. Tho dancing hit ot tho act was, liowever, the 'cute fairy dance by a chubbv little darling programmed as % Carrol. Her steps woro always clearly defined, and she was quite a stickler for lime, and the audience took tho little cherub to their aggregate heart. In the- second act a pretty ballet, is ' danced by the vestals before the dragon eaters. 'When, he does, lie vomits all the evils, who dance a gay fandango to mark their liberation. These wero:Misses J. Frost, H. Wells, SI. Boyle, JL Brown, 11. Young, J. Julian, B. Smith, M Eeid, P. Clunies-Boss. F. Smyth, •/,. Carrol, B. Hunter, H. KhodasWilliams, T. Harris, N. Blair, and E. Waddell. Then thero were the Water Nvmphs' ballet (soloist, K. Boyle), ,the Puff Ball ballet (soloist, E. Dick), a clever Bird ballet, with Hazel Hardwicko prancing smartly as a bird of Paradise, whilst others swung more or less, gracefully overhead on wires. The Sacrificial ballet was brightly conceived (though the High Priest faltered in his'allegiance botween Allah and Buddha), and a very clever child, J. Julian, pirouetted nimbly on her toe-tips. The chief ballets in the last act were the Waiting Maids ballet, the brilliant Jewels ballet (to which a lovely Chamisade nioiody lent charming effect). In this ballet, Feo. Smyth was encored for her solo danco as the pearl, and Miss J. Oouzens was also recalled for ■' shimmering as the Topaz. The emeralds and the sapphires were also good, but the amethysts wero missing altogether. Finally Miss F. Muter figured gaily as the Spirit of Happiness; tho assembled dancers and charactors formed themselves into a living kaleidescope ns a finale. Miss Hazel Fuller was D'italiaiuih (\rifii vocal solo), the clear enunciation and vigorous action of Miss Ellen Miller ns the Eajah wero attributes-in a good performance, Miss Kazel Baxdwicke was the Prince, Miss Ngaire Phipson the Princess, and Miss Mabel Galhchsui figured as the Hieh Priest. The lighting was an especially fine feature. It is creditable 1o the stage management to note that, although the curtain did not ascend until 8.15 p.m., it fell finally at 10.15 p.m., nfter a profusion of flowers had been handed up to tho performers f-nd Mien Campbell.

The Countess of Liverpool ami a partv (from Government House and Sir ,To?eph mid Lady Ward were among those present.

"D'Jfahannh" will be performed until the end of the week, 'flip proceeds of to-niijhr,'* n.nd to-morrow nijrht's performRiices will be 'devoted to the Trend Comforts Fund.

The bouquets handed to the Countess of Liverpool, and to .Hiss Campbell were made by Miss Cruickshank, of Masterton, who was dnnoiiiK in the ballets. .