ARTS BALL

Evening Star, Issue 22460, 3 October 1936, Page 27

ARTS BALL

Under the direction of Mr Charlton Edgar, assisted by three_ of Dunedin s clever artists—Miss Doris Lusb, M ,ss Ann Hamblett, and Miss Elizabeth Begg—the decorations for the arts ball, to be held in the Town Hall next Thursday, will be on such a scale that the public in Dunedin have never before witnessed. On the gallery walls, in the recesses below the windows, frescoes in brilliant colours and attractive designs will be seen. The titles of some of these are: ‘The Can Can Dancers,’ the colour scheme being carried out in green, black, blues, and purple; ‘ The Wheel,’ a nautical frescoe full of movement and lavish, colour; ‘ Night Club ’ shows in the background niggers in eccentric attitudes playing musical instruments, and in the foreground the conventional ladies and gentlemen in evening attire; ‘ Ton Hat,’ which speaks lor itself is brightly coloured in green, orange, and black; ‘Pampas Moon,’ a 27ft freseqe, is one of the most striking with its rhythmic dancing figures and brilliant colour; ‘High Steps,’ in blues, greens, yellow, and orange, depicts two pert chorus girls in the foreground and four dancers in the background executing intricate steps; ‘ Rhythmania,’ ‘ Tulips,’ and * Nautical June ’ complete the upstairs frescoes, A frieze of fancy dress costumes will run round the gallery and downstairs; the frescoes are designed and painted on the same lines as those upstairs, although the subjects will be entirely different. The centrepiece on the floor takes the form of a large octagonal unit brightly painted with out-out dancing figures. On top is a glittering and revolving wine glass 7% in height, filled to overflowing with balloons to represent wine. The stage setting comprises a background arrangement of cut-out figures some 26ffc in height, with accessory panels depicting the subject of music and rhythm. Decorations on the floor and overhead will b© as unique as those on the walls, while special lighting and novelties will be introduced to complete a great spectacle.^ Ballets under the direction of Miss Barbara Williams and Miss Gwen Webster will appear at intervals, and M'Clatchy’s Orchestra of 11. including a crooner, will supply first-class music.