The Letters of Annabel Lee

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 43, 11 May 1928, Page 6

The Letters of Annabel Lee

My dear Elisabeth: | A gay and gladsome crowd gathered at the opening of the Rev Fielden Taylor’s Fair at the Town Hall, on behalf of the Mission so dear to his heart and ennobling to his name. Fruit and flowers, sugar and spice, and all that’s nice, much fine needlework, the latest diablerie in dolls, great courtesy on the part of willing helpers, combine to make this show of an attractiveness unique; and one carries away, along with smug satisfaction in spending many shekels in a good cause, an impression of blithe boys and merrie ‘maidens, mothers and fathers who brought chuckling babelets, and a general warm feeling of camaraderie and kindness. The Nursery Rhyme march past was deliehtful; each individual or group being announced with a clarity of articulation and a resonance of tone worthy of the British Broadcasting Association itself. We made wise purchases to the gay strains of a band, myself laying in a stock of household requisite sufficient to keep the wolf from the door for at least another week. "Little Boy Blue" was very sweet and gallant in velvet suit, his wide hat adorned with yellow-brown plumes; dear "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" sidled past; there were two altogether sweet Lavender Ladies; Josephine de Beauharnis was tall and stately for our delectation; ‘ne, Two, Buckle My Shoe" looks regal and handsome in draperi#s of green and necklace of jade! gd presided over by the well-loved yyAre, in ermine-trimmed robes, very boyish and happy amid his great Auck. Mrs. Frieda Shaw, clad in sylvan green, was a graceful exponent of physical culture, illustrating the contortions a_ highlytrained, youthful body ean achieve;

while a bevy of scantily-clad, dimpleKkneed Amazons gave lithe exercises of an interest intriguing. The Repertory Society would appear at last to have come into its own, and for the past week our slogan has been "The Play’s the thing." Charmingly gowned, mostly with male escort, feminine intelligentsia flocked to see "Hay Fever," that most diverting play, reminiscent of various odds and ends of Bohemian families and artistic temperament that we’ve all come across. This beguiling skit on modern men and manners was exceedingly capably put on, being entirely free from that raggedness which is apt to be a feature of non-professional performances. No Weak spot was there in the long cast, Mrs. J. Hannah’s conception and portrayal of Judith Bliss, that humbug incarnate, being very able and delightful, and a proof of an extreme versatility when her memorable "Maurya" is brought to mind, than which nothing could be further removed from the Noel Coward comedy. Mr. Pope was admirable as a nice young man; Mr. Wauchop, it goes without saying, gave effective rendering of the son of the amusing couple; while Miss Helen Thompson was attractively silly and particu- larly pretty as a flapper, wearing charming frocks with so appealing a grace that one didn’t at all wonder at Simon’s temporary infatuation. Miss Stocker’s worldling was cleverly conceived and beautifully dressed; and, in the opinion of many, Mr. Gillespie, as the irritable, untidy, very human novel-writing husband of Judith Bliss, gave the best performance in an exceedingly fine production. On the concluding night many beautiful flowers were received, Mr. W. M. Page made a short speech,

outlining the Society’s history during! its two years of existence, and the producer, Mr. Harrison Cook, received plaudits. Ornaments of silver and much fine gold are worn in London, so it behoves us to look out those ancient heirlooms, heavy chains and bracelets, linked in sweetness long drawn out, that have descended from Aunt Julia and Cousin Kate. Especially admirable are neckleces that closely clasp the lean throat of the mondaine, somewhat resembling the onee-upon-a-time dog-collar; and old and lavish pendants might fittingly be fashioned into a clasp to confine draperies on hip, or, still more of the moment, in front of some silken sartorial success. Enormous bouquets are replacing the demure, highly finished nosegays, of such infinite variety, in which we have rejoiced for so long. A cabbage-like choux is the last cry-the bigger the better; and so bedizened, with her velvet frock of the lightest and slightest variety, slit to the waist at the back, and well cut out around her pretty shoulder blades, the 1928 Venus eaptures her world. However valiant, none can stand against the march of the Mode; slavishly, coyly, or sheepishly, according to her fashion, woman follows the light. Success lies in adapting to one’s own style; and that is just where Evangeline scores, Her clothes float and cling to that graceful slimness as though they had grown there; and, with miraculous aptitude for colour values, she is inclined to make others look ordinary, a quality that, however endearing to mere man, makes her unpopular with the feline sex.|

Tovr,

ANNABEL

LEE