AN AESTHETIC TREAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 25 September 1907, Page 3

AN AESTHETIC TREAT.

KIRMESS AND LIVING WHIST,

For once the Fates endeavored to thwart the bestowal of the customary full measure of public favor on the enterprise of tho Recreation Sports Ground Committee, but with only partial success, and despite the uninviting state of the elements last night, a very good first night house greeted Professor Sheets' initial performance at the Theatre Royal. The "Kirmcss" is an English adaptation of old German fair festivities, and presents the leading national and old Court dances of Europe anil (ireat Britain, as well as those of the New World. The, outstanding feature of the performance was the splendidly executed movements of the performers, and notably the juvenilis. Not only in the" more graceful and stately of the

Court dances, Iml in the brisker stoppin? of tho sailors' hornpipe, Highland fling and sword dances, there was a precision and degree of vivacity seldom associated with other than touring combinations of such fame as "The Tin-can Band." The dressing throughout was superb, from the little coons to the kings and queens in the Living Whist, and the effects were greatly enhanced by a judicious use of limelight. The programme, opened with "Rose Drill," in which tliirtv-onc young ladies took pari. The terpsirhori.il movements and the actions were executed in splendid time, and served as a c;ood ■appetiser for tho events to follow. Twenty-two little Highland maids in costume then stepped lightly behind the footlights and immediately danced their way to appreciation. The item, probably more than any other, fle|monstrated the thorough training to which Professor Sheets had Subjected his charges. An encore was rapturously demanded. The Gipsies' dance, in an appropriate setting round the camp live, was capably portrayed by eighteen gipsies, including the Count and Gipsy Queen. Twenty-eight charming little

demoiselles in the quaint Japanese costume presented the pretty Court dance of Japan, with a grace and adroitness worthy of the Mikado's geisha gills. Anon the score of little Highland maids, to the strains of "Loch Lomond" commenced the more intricate steps of the Sword Dance, and keeping time and step with splendid exactitude, easily earned a weli-descrv-cd recall. "Living Whist" played with a full pack of living cards, pages and joker, followed, after an effective "full pack" tableau and some incidental "business" by the Court jester, This item was mainly a spectacular one, the dressing particularly being mlost elaborate. Forty little lasses and lads in sailor costume, then danced the ever popular Sailors' Hornpipe with the freedom and abandon characteristic of the "Jolly Tar," and had to re-submit their item to please the.audience. The Espanola Dance, embodying the lithe and • graceful, spirited movements of noted dances of Spain, was next submitted by twenty-our becomingly-dress-ed young ladies, and won instant favor, a re-appearance being demanded. A lively Tambourine Dance was then capitally executed by live young ladies, and called for repetition. Forty-two little black coons, singing ''Coon, coon, coon," immediately captured the hearts of the audience, their dressing and makeup being very good. They serenaded and cake-walked as to the plantations born, and theirs probably proved one of the most popular items of the evening, sending the audience home, to use a colloquialism, "with a good taste in their mouths.'

The entertainment is unique and worthy of all the commendation bestowed upon it. The decorations of festoons and Hags, and the stage settings generally, were a credit to those who were responsible for their arrangement. The stage management left little to be desired, but there were some rather long waits in the earlier part of the programme. It is, however, a defect easily remedied nfler last night's experience, and to-night and the two succeeding nights the performance should go off without hitch. A very efficient orchestra under Mr. I'erry supplied some good music, hut dispensed it somewhat sparingly, and it is suggested that the addition of a few stirring airs would fill in the intervals—which, however, will be brief to-night—pleasantly.

A number of new dances will be introduced to-night, and those initiated into the mazes of whist will follow the game the more easily when they know that this evening Diamonds will be trumps. None should miss the opportunity of witnessing what local talent can produce when in the hands of a master such as the popular Canadian professor.