Annotations of Annabel

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 30, 8 February 1929, Page 13

Annotations of Annabel

y DEAREST: The year’s at mid-summer and sales at their fell worst. All expansive, placid, pleasant ease of normality is exploded in a burst of cheapness, female friends are distrait, values vary with every wind that blows, and equilibrium of everyday goes up the spout. Bargains are to be had. Sure thing, in the parlance of our cousins once removed. Of that bustling fact there is no manner of doubt, unless warily the foolish virgin tarries too long. ‘Tis the unlit lamp and the ungirt oin, Though the end in sight be a vice, I say, that leave one in the lurch at the summer sales. So quit contemplative meanderings and be in with the milk-bottles, or thereabouts; emulating Elsie, that maiden fair to outward view, yet of an unparalleled acumen when she finds herself in the shopping area of Lambton Quay. Already she has achieved, various out-and-in garments of cut and weave calculated to arouse dormant felinity in those feminine detractors who, like the poor, are always with us; so accurately adapted are the water-colour tints selected to enhance the corn-colour of her hair and Titania-ish proportions. One small frock, from exelusive emporium that seldom opens its doors to vulgarity of bargain-hunting, is fashioned from our sartorial ally, the true and trusty crepe de chene. F pale and gleaming maize-colour, flared and pleated, its line emphasised by cunning criss-cross of stitchery, this good gown became the property of the wise maid, together with set of matching lingerie, at quite absurdly low out-of-pocket expenses, to use a legal term confronting us in those startling bills of costs that occasionally come our way, it being a rule of the great game that we pay high for our mistakes, as well as for our fun, in the valley of disillusion that is ife. WHY do people arrive late at the ‘". theatre, thereby making themselves unpopular with, and irritating the artistic susceptibilities of those to whom the play’s the thing? ’Tis an ancient and recurring problem, ex,emplified again and yet again. Par xemple, last week, as we-sat in the

stalls and composed our moods to a mood of gay good humour appropriate to appreciation of the approaches of Falstaff to the lovely ladies of his desire, people hurtled and bustled and hustled through the semi-darkness and the first act, treading with inhuman unconcern upon the toes and tempers of those who paid goo money for good seats. LJSEWISE there are Those Who Laugh and Chat at the wrong time. Two such gay and glib flappers sat in front of us, bobbing and wriggling and giggling, as they propounded possible matrimonial chances which, judging from vacuous profiles, will prove nebulous indeed. Evangeline’s patience is not that of the Biblical exemplar, and "Jabber, JABBER, JABBER!" she suddenly ejaculated, with extreme verve and audibility; which primitive method unexpectedly quelled the chatty flappers and reduced them to comparative inoffensiveness. O that at long last we found great enjoyment in Mr. Allan Wilkie’s admirable presentation of the fat and funny Falstaff. Gross and jolly was that amorous Bacchus, with his mighty laugh and leer, his rolling, reeling gait and carriage of too, too solid flesh. HE two charming objectives of his evil intent were delightful in alternatjng moods of cajolery, coquetry and eventual flouting; but, recalling the leading lady’s sinuous grace and unforgettable tragic power as Antony’s lovely and terrible Serpent of Old Nile, and her exquisite, heartsearching envisaging of that Hermione who was not "prone to tears," one reflects that perchance her aura does not ally itself with that of the frisky, fascinating Mistress Ford. A voice of melody and quite exquisite articulation :are the enviable attributes of Mr. Dennis Barry. He being the present moon of my delight, I will strain a depleted exchequer and see hjm in the great love story of the world; for this young treader of the boards possesses grace, charm and that deboniar youth which are, or should be, essentials in Shakespeare’s Romeo. Your

ANNABEL

LEE