FANCY DRESS BALL.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 147, 26 August 1926, Page 4

FANCY DRESS BALL.

CHILDREN’S NIGHT. Delightful Entertainment. A really joyous evening- was spent by the CO odd boys and girls in fancy dress who gathered at the Town Hall last Friday evening, presenting a gay and charming spectacle to the large crowd of onlookers, and the ladies of the Anglican Church who organised this ball are to be congratulated upon the unqualified success of the evening. The hall was gaily and appropriately decorated, lending a sympathetic background to the carnival spirit which permeated the whole gathering-. The long windows were hung with scarlet curtains, the intervening expanse of wall being covered in greenery. The stage and cinema platform were also decorated with greenery, enhanced with strings of bright flags. Suspended from the ceiling were a number of huge inverted Japanese sunshades, interspersed with strings of round lanterns and innumerable floating- streamers of brightest colouring. In this gay setting the changing groups of little figures in fancy dress presented a fascinating and festive scene, which was enjoyed to the full by the parents and other friends of the children who lined the hall and filled the stage. The dancing of the children was noticably improved since last year’s exhibition, and their behaviour, while characterised by the care-free abandon which belongs only to childhood, was remarkably orderly. A delightful effect was secured during the dancing of the lancers by shaking the lanterns suspended overhead, thus causing a soft deluge of confetti to decend upon the dancers below. The judging of the costumes for prize awards proved a very' difficult task, but after the most careful study the judges unanimously decided upon the winners in the various sections. After the children had had supper Rev. E. Ward presented the prizes. Mr. Ward also thanked all those who had helped so generously in organising the evening’s entertainment. The prize list was as follows: Girl’s fancy costume, first prize, Edna Pear?e, representing “ Night,” black net star spangled in silver; second prize, Zoe Barnett, “ Spanish Lady,” in picturesque costume complete in every- detail. Boy-’s —faney—--eostume, first prize (tied),, Neville Barnett, “Indian Pripce,” in .cream, and scarlet, -nd Terry Leggatt, in the. scarlet, garb of “ Mephistopheles ” ; second prize, Reggie Rolfe, “ Prince Charming,” in court costume of the King Charles period (scarlet). Most original costume, girls, first prize,.May ..Martin,. “.Afternoon Tea,” an effective costume with lace tray cloth and skirt and sleeves bordered in cups, and saucers; second prize, Mavis Howland, “ Spiderweb,” frock of filmy gauze effect with spider headI dress. Boys, first prize, Graham Alcorn, “ Nig’ht and Day,” one side pajama clad with slipper and candle and the other side in day attire; second prize, Jack Pringle, as a well planned “ Golliwog*.” The tiny tots section showed some really beautiful dressing, the costumes of the prize winners being quite perfect, Myra Smith as “ Carnival ” and Peter McDermott as “ Jingle Bells.” Both in the‘brightest colours, Myra “ iopped off ” with balloons and Peter jingling from head to foot, this little couple seemed the very embodiment of gaiety. . An amusing diversion was caused at this stage of thp prize giving when Mr. Ward announced that two other children in this section had been specially commended, namely, Brice Howland as “ Indian ” and Jack Rolfe as “ Old Time Gentleman.” On hearing their names these little fellows walked up the length of the hall for prizes, as they had seen the others do, and the deficiency in the prizes was quickly made up by coins thrown from the stage amidst roars of laughter. A special prize was awarded to Bobby Murphy, representing the “ force,” in a complete constabulary uniform. At ten o’clock the children vacated the floor to the grown-ups, who danced with only slightly less light-heartedness than the children till one or two o’clock. Financially, also, the undertaking was a solid success, something like £3O being raised for the church funds. The following are the children other than those previously mentioned who , attended the ball in fancy costume: — Vance Allen (Chinaman), Betty Telford (Cinderella), Laura Nicoll (Turkish Lady), Clarice Woodgate (Indian

I Ink), Una Telford (Window), Myrla Hudson (Rosebud), Zena Millar (Orange), Margaret Murphy (Slavegirl), Phyllis Hooper (Bluebell), Nome Bennett (Fairy), Daisy Drummond (Vanity Bag), Minnie Rossiter (Cupie), Vera Millar (Autumn), Carlie Scott (Folly), Heather Harwood (Rosebud), Myra Wilson (Irish Colleen), Jean Martin (Gypsy Fortune Teller), Chrissie Berg (Shepherdess), Emily Berg (England), L-ottie Wilson (Gypsy Fortune Teller), Joyce Hooper (Early Victorian Costume), Gay Allen (Sleeping Beauty), Betty Allen (La Poupee), Lillian Millar (Spanish Dancer), Ita Lopdell (Witch), Jean I Lopdell (Butterfly), Nora Lopdell (Night), Frances Lopdell (Spanish Dancer), Nancy Howland (Rambler Rose), Eileen Lopdell (Butterfly), I Mavis Beca (Rose), Betty Cliife (Carnation), Beryl Portas (Chicken). W. Sweeney (Pierrot), Fred Warren [(Nigger .Minstrel), Jack Martin (Pierrot), Alf Pringle (Jester), Edgar I Nicklin (Stars and Stripes), Ralph Benton (Town Crier), Charlie Coupe (Jester), Clarence Brown (Clown), Basil Scott (Shiek), Jack Plowland I (Pirate), Harvey Berg (Hawaiian), Ernest Snell (Pierrot), John Martin (Query). Groat credit is due to Mesdames Leggatt and Pearse and their helpers, for the success of the evening and the wonderful manner in which the child- | ren were trained.