The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-24
SHAKESPEAREAN
EVENT is PLANNED

| OF the time; yet only one ball has ever
! achieved worldwide fame; only one ball
has ever attained the importance Of q
historic event-the famous ball given by
the Duchess Of Richmond on the eve of
the battle. of Waterloo. A second historic
ball, however, would appear to be in
preparation. ball that, We may hope,
will be remembered not only for its
oharm and beauty and novelty. but for
the fact that It was given not on the
eve OF a destructive battle. but on that
OF the formal opening Of a new reign.
fuli Of the highest promise for the well
fare Of the country and for peace and
good will among the nations.
There can be no doubt that the Shake
speare ball, which has been fixed for the
2Oth of June in Albert Hall, will be one
or the most memorable and striking
social events of the season. The honor
OF having originated the idea belongs to
Mrs. George CORVALLIS West, who sug-
gested the proposal as an excellent
method of furthering the scheme for a
shakespeare National Memorial Theater
The proposal found instant acceptance
and Mrs. CORVALLIS West is now acting
as chairman of a committee of some 200
ganizing the affair.
All the dancers must be in costume
preferably in that of one Of the charac-
tiers OF Shakespeare's plays; and this Of
iers very wide field of choice, as these
contain some 1000 characters in all
Elizabethan dresses generally will be ac-
cepted, however; but no one will be all
lowed to commit the anachronism Of ap-
pearing in any costume belonging to a
q IaNA
own time. In a sense, the ordinary EIiz-
abethan costume will be, strictly speak
ing. more truly Shakespearean, as this
must have been worn by the original &C
tors when the plays first were per-
formed.
In this respect, however, the organ
izers have decided TO improve on the
Elizabethan tradition, and the effect is
certain to be excellent. For II will be
possible to introduce almost every kind
of costume from the classical to the If
teenth century, and every care will be
taken to make the dresses as historically
accurate as possible.
One of the happiest ideas in connection
with the ball is for series of quadrilles
Of the different dramas. All the princi-
pal characters in the play will take part
in its particular quadrille, dressed in ap-
propriate costumes, and the effect IS GER
tain to be extremely beautiful and inter-
esting. In order to insure the success OF
this scheme, different ladies have under
taken the charge of each play and will
make themselves responsible for gather
ing the needful characters from among
their friends.
Mrs. CORVALLIS West has undertaken
the charming comedy of Twelfth Night"
the parts OF the heroes and Of the hero
ines will probably not be difficult to fill.
but for the humorous characters Mrs.
West may have some trouble; with her
dramatic instinct she will doubtless feel
that whoever takes say. the part OF NAL
volio. must not only appear in the famous
yellow stockings and cross-gartered, but
must be able to set forth the amusing
faulty and conceit OF the deluded stew
ard
Much Ado About Nothing" has been
taken in charge by Lady Salisbury and
the Hon. Mrs. A. Lyttelton. and they will
have the responsible task Of providing a
Beatrice who certainly ought to be witty
as well as beautiful. Lady Maud War
render has been allotted The Winters
Tale" No play Of Shakespeare lends IT.
self better to artistic costume treatment,
and no doubt full Justice will be done it
at the Shakespeare BALL Lady Maud
Warrender is noted for her musical tall
ents; she has a beautiful contralto voice,
which she often employs for the benefit
of good causes in which she is interested.
Lady Speyer is another remarkable
amateur musician, an excellent violinist,
and she will organize the quadrille, THE
Merry Wives Of Windsor Who will
take the part of the fat knight Is still
secret One of the prettiest of the quad
rifles will be that representing "a Mid
summer Nights Dream" Titania and
her court of fairies are just what dancers
can best interpret, and in arranging this
quadrille the Duchess of Wellington and
Mrs. Williams will have a delightful task.
It is not surprising to find that the
have found organizers sooner
than the tragedies. Lady Jekyll has
taken charge of The Tempest" and
Lady Lyttelton of LAS You Like It."
but Romeo and Juliet" has been aIlot-
ted to Lady Meyer. and Lady Abingdon
has accepted responsibility for Antony |
and Cleopatra" OF course, the historical |
plays lend themselves with peculiarly |
good effect to a costume ball.
Already Henry VIII" has been !
"
and Muriel. Countess de la War;, while |
Henry W. has been allotted to |
Lady Paget. Then Lady Tree is plan
ming a charming quadrille of Shakespeare |
lovers, in which Romeo and Juliet, |
Beatrice and Benedict. Lorenzo and Jes- |
sica, and the many other charming char |
acters whose course of true love has been |
shown by the great dramatist will ap-
pear.
The list is, Of course, by no means COM
olete as yet. Much remains to be ar
-anged, but the energetic organizers are |
quite resolved that the ball shall be the |
most beautiful and complete function of |
is kind. The patronage of the King
md Queen has been granted, and 1t is
hoped that many of the distinguished |
guests who will be gathered in London
or the coronation will be present They
Will certainly be privileged to see a won
ierful sight. All the beauty and rank
If London society will be present at the
)all. In the list of those who already
lave promised their active assistance are
he Duchess of Westminster and her
beautiful sister, the Princess of Pless;
he Duchess of Devonshire and the
Duchess of Marlborough, and Lady Des-
borough and Lady Ashby st. Legers.
Albert Hall will be entirely transformed
or the occasion. In accordance with
he practice at the well-known Chelsea
Arts bail, the dancing floor will be
aised to the level OF the boxes, and will
hus provide a magnificent arena, on
which more than sixty sets of quadrilles
an be danced at the same time. The
will ha aIa horata and will |