Evening journal., 1912-05-23
II. M. s. PINAFORE
SAILS AWAY

SAILS AWAY
After delighting ten thousand peo-
pie, the Good Ship Pinafore" sailed
away last night from Wilmington In
the opinion of all who know the Will
mington public. the run of this we'll
known and often-played opera has
been literally a nine-days' wonder.
Almost everybody in Wilmington had
seen "Pinafore," and yet the audience
seemed to come over and over again
Too much praise cannot be given
to the double cast and for the tout
ensemble, but there is one point
which had also much to do with the
success of the production, and which
has never been seen before in any
production of "Pinafore,' either here
or elsewhere. The hornpipe dancers
and maids of the mist scored their ac-
customed success last evening, trl-
umph so great and apparently so easy
that the hard work and untiring ef-
fort that led up to It has probably
bsan overlooked by the play-going
public The getting together and
holding together OF so many young
people, the arranging for their dances,
their training, rehearsals, etc. was
begun in January, and since that
time Miss McClaiferty, Miss Bessie
DUPONT and Miss Janet jackson have
been untiring in shaping the dances
perfectly TO their last detail. over
and over again in the rehearsal the
early recruits have dropped out. and
their places have had to be filed with
new dancers with training to be done
over again. In no case did the dane
ers retire from choice but through
some necessity that absolutely pre-
vented them from going on, and the
mosS earnest cooperation and un-
firing effort has been given by the
dancers. Each dancer has thought
not of herself or himself, but OF the
whole dance, and this made the re-
suit perfect.
Miss McClafferty's Partisan train
ing showed itself in the beautiful fig
ures of the maids of the mist and the
varied steps of the hornpipe, and at
all times the dancers felt the inhu-
ence Of her abounding kindliness and
her profound knowledge OF the art
! OF the ballet. Last night, as ever,
the audience applauded almost con-
tinuously While the rollicking jack
tars aud the pretty sailor girls illus
trated by their different steps the va
rious occupations on board ship
rope curling, windlass winding, mast
climbing, etc. while the two leaders
Ralph Assheton and Miss dupont
were as usual. perfect in their tech
nique, and full of the irrestible spirit
OF the sailor dance. For assurance
and finish. professionals could do nc
more than they have done, and this
was the more wonderful as Mr.
! Assheton was somewhat Handicapped
by a recent injury. though no one
could notice IL from the strength and
| grace OF his movements.
Twice the audience recalled the
exquisite maids of the mist. This
dance is worthy of analysis. Miss
DUPONT and Miss Jackson danced the
opening prelude to that immortal
waltz. THE Blue Danube" Arrayed
In white crepe de chine. cut on
Grecian lines. with long shimmering
chiffon wells attached to their heads,
and caught slightly at their wrists
their nymphlike dancing introduced
the eight twilight-clad maids of the
mist, rising symbolically from the
undulating waves Of green which rose
and fell between them as they danced.
The misty blue Of their costumes and
the exquisite green of their moving
scarfs are noteworthy. for they were
, an entirely original creation Of Miss
duPonts, who had the materials dyed
TO these exquisite colors In her own
home and under her own supervision.
AS the soloists 1oated I'm and out.
above and under the green waves In
/ a beautiful ballet step. posing with
charming grace and ease, gliding and
swaying to the Danube's allurine
strains, under the colored lights, the
shadowy effect OF mist and moonlight
the flowing robes Of the dancers and
their floating hair. formed the mos'
artistic picture that can be imagined
II was these dances that gave the
crowning touch to "Pinafore," are.
audience after audience has sat viii
rapt faces. watching these lovely Wis
ions Of beauty and grace.
The cast of the hornpipe dance was.
Sailors-Marjorie Belts. Anna Hat.
ton, Janet Jackson. Mrs. Horace Lind
say, Jr.. Harcourt Burns. Barton Fox
Nelson Leach, Mercer Nalle. ALFRED
Warner. Jr.
Soloists-Bessie DUPONT and RALPH
Assheton
The cast Of the maidens OF the mis-
was: Bessie dupont and Jane
Jackson, assisted by Mrs. Horac,
Lindsay. Jr.. Marjorie Belts. Edni
MARTENS. Marjorie Simmons. Mrs. Al
fred Warner, Jr., Margaret Whitaker
Mary Johnson, Alice Belts
The management desires to thanl
J each and every one OF them for III,
b heartiness Of their good will and thl
true artistic value Of their perform
nnce.