"THE THREE DOORS"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10293, 30 May 1919, Page 6

"THE THREE DOORS"

A PLEASING PERFORMANCE. Last night "The Three Doors," « n original phantasy arranged by Mrs James Hannah and Miss Gladys Campbell, was staged at the Opera House in aid. of the free Kindergartens of Wellington. As was to be expected lroui a collaboration of these two ladies, great originality was displayed in tne I ineoe, as weii as tnorougnueis in tflo hinging and acting. Tliere was also some ueautiiul hunting. '.taking lor thtiir memo the child made nappy and clean by the influence of tue kindergarten, the ' producers led the tame cjiud to the doors or Happiness, .ueauty, and, lastly, iuirylund. In an effective setting 01 Jugii wliito pillars against dark draperies the lloor of Happiness is seen, through which, comes uie spirit of tne Jvindei-gaten introducing to the child the ]oys 01 clean clothes, rood, fresh water, anil then the run oi Kindergarten games. Elsie Dick, as the poor child wjio is fed, waslieu, and dressed, proved herself a wonderful little mime in her tantrums, and Miss Pegs, as the Spirit of tne Kindergarten, was a charming and graceful figure. The scene between the several children, impersonated by E:Aa Chapman, Lovoni aud teggy Cook, and Mavis King, was quite pretty. Very quaint were the ballets of bread and niMik, especially as tne oiliku-e-n. hud difficulty in seeing out of their strange attire as jugs and rusks, tiponges and tomels, .and soap and Xvator, was a dance in classic stylo, and clean clothes represented by the clotnes-horses carried, was a smartly done step dance by M. Phipson, J. Julian, and H. Hardwicke. Part two snowed the ragged child in her new glorified blue dress, and Elsie Dick proved herself a clever little dancer in a solo. . Then came glorified Kindergarten games, which were quite delightful. "1 had a little Nut Tree," with tiniest children, and -The King of Spain's Daughter, resplendent in a Queen Elizabeth _ costume; "Lavender Blue," '-The Knights and the Kussian Teapot, were all charmingly done in pretty costumes. As the last, little Zelma Carroll danced wonderfully in her unwieldy costume. It was all a delightful fancy, and made the audience realise the joy of the Kindergarten game. rue second act, which, was to represent tho "Boor of Beauty," opened with ilie recital of Keats' "Ode to a Grecian Urn," bv Mr J. M. Clark, which was rhen staged by a pageant arranged by Mrs Hannah- It was a beautiful and graceful rendering by- all the girls, the movement of Miss Vera Pegs as the maiden loath being especially in the picture. Tne oageant was divided iiito four episodes, leading up to the procession of the lico, wherein Greek-clad youths and maidens walked to the music of a chant (of which the words were specially written by Mr Johannes Andersen), and sung by the chorus, led 'by the priest in long white robes, followed by « child bearing a huge Greek symbol, and followed also by a large number of performers. This made one of the most imposing scenes in the; whole phantasy, throughout the pageant Miss Mabel Gallichan, as the Piper, gave a finely sustained performance. In this act the child, grown older, sees the beauty of moving things (Miss Hazel Jeffrey reciting the verses written for the part l>y Mr. Andersen), and the representation is then given of eurythmic. dancing by Miss Campbell's pupils. The scene was intended ns a study of the values o. euryttimic, calisthenic, and dramatic dancing:. The smaller children showed ■ n movement the beat of time aim cm. •• vation of rhythm, and the older ones gave more advanced studies in the form of : graceful dance. A.pretty scarf dance was done "by them, and Miss Frances Muter gave a graceful solo. Skipping exercises (much enjoyed by the audience) were given by J. Julian, E. Dick, M. Young, and G. Carroll. Joyco Julian gave » skipping dance very cleverly, and Miss iC. Boyle was seen in a calisthenic coon dance. This was followed by a dramatic representation arranged by Miss Campbell, in which tho spirits of the flowers were visited by wind, nearly killed by frost, and revived by -the sun. It gave scope for some good dramatic; dancing-, especially by Ngairo Phipson, as the wind. K. Boyle as frost, and Frances Muter as the sun. The last showed some very graceful dancing. The whole effect was very oretty. with quaint 'rookine of shape, colour and perfume, and was only nlarred by the persistent lowering of the lights which was rather a blot on the whole perform anc». The last act was' devoted to the quarrel sceno of the Fairies from "A Midsummer Night's Dream." After EHe Dick had introduced the land of fairv bv -r.-Hinor t>'- ■■'- -. •■>'■-.. !>",.; Millar) and Titania (Miss Zita Chapman) resplendent in their may ronc=, qiuurelled finely, and Hazel " Hardwick. as Puclc, seconded their efforts well. Whole battalions of attendant fairies marie an effective bne.'cirrnund ies and gorgeous scintillating wings. rh * i ■ - a ballet, "The fall of the first red leaf," ■.vne.oin Irene Muesli appeared as i i.e Joyce Julian as Cobweb, and Ngafre Phipson as Moonlight, and moths aid Jireflies were also seen. Puck makes an effective exit at the end through tlie original door, through which he- shows ».cheeky- face, while tho ranged children of the first act- stare after him. in wonder ■md awe. It was a fitting ending, .K/ual to the beginning of the performance, and if-only the. producers will give their performers more light the next two nights, audiences will have an even' more enjoyable treat than, last night's did. The performance was attended by the Governor-General 1 and Countess of Liverpool with a party, and the Opera House was filled in all parts. There will bo twtf more performances (to-night and to-morrow) of the phantasy.