PROGRAMME.

THE PERSONS.

THE ATTENDant Spirit.

COMUS,' with his crew.

THE LADY.

FIRST BROTHER.

SECOND BROTHER.

THYRSIS,' a shepherd.

SABRINA, the nymph, with attendant nymphs.
COUNTRY DANCERS.

COURT DANCERS.

THE EARL ANd Countess of Bridgewater.

THE DRESSES.

ATTENDANT SPIRIT-A loose gauzy robe of rainbow colours; a long sky-blue veil covering the head and shoulders fastened to the wrists.

COMUS--White tunic, edged with vine leaves; purple overdrapery; sandals and buskined legs; wreath of grapes and leaves.

THE LADY-Primrose gown.
FIRST BROTHER

Costumes like Vandyck's "Children of SECOND BROTHER Charles I."-Deep gold and blue suits. THYRSIS-Shepherd's smock; round linen hat; white beard.

1 Of course the Attendant Spirit and Thyrsis can be played by the same person, but as the part is so long it will be as well to introduce another performer.

9

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PROGRAMME

SABRINA-White clinging dress over green ornamented with water-lilies and rushes; wreath of water-lilies (yellow and white); a bulrush in her hand.

NYMPHS Clinging art muslin dresses in mother-of-pearl colour; wreaths of water-lilies; bulrushes.

SATYRS Sandals; tunics in vivid colours, in orange, red, green, purple, saffron, like parrots or tulips. On their heads various heads of animals: goat, leopard, lion, bear, tiger, etc., etc.

COURT DANCERS-Flowing art muslin robes with hanging sleeves; half the dancers in rose, the other half in white, carrying garlands of leaves and flowers.

COUNTRY DANCERS-Shepherds and shepherdesses with smocks and coloured print frocks; girls' hats tied under chin; crooks.

EARL AND COUNTESS BRIDGEWATER-Costumes of Charles I.'s time.

HAND PROPERTIES.

ATTENDANT SPIRIT-Wand.

THYRSIS-Crook, wallet, shepherd's pipe, torch.
COMUS-Glass goblet, divining rod.

BROTHERS-Swords.

SATYRS-Torches.

NYMPHS-Bulrushes.

A decorative stage with raised platform and draped curtains is all that is necessary in the way of scenery.

DESCRIPTION OF DANCES

(Kindly arranged by Miss Edith Shotter)

1 COMUS enters with satyrs behind him, all doing three little wild running steps, and a leap into the air. They arrange themselves thus

At the given signal from Comus, the three satyrs on each side join hands and dance :

(a). Eight chassez steps to the right. Eight chassez steps to the left.

(6) Each three then, with right hands holding torches to the centre, moulinet, doing pas de quatre step.

(c) Centre person from each three run forward and join hands, also the two remaining on each side. All dance step hop with each foot, bringing other knee right up each time.

(d) Join hands in big ring with Comus in centre. forward and back and all round.

2. DANCE OF THE NYMPHS (six in number)

They stand thus

Dance

(a) The two outside figures of each set dance pointing step round the centre figure, who does the same step but stands in the same place for the first sixteen bars. Join hands in a straight line, run forward, glissade back, pirouette and position.

(b) All join hands in a big circle, doing chassez step. Eight steps to left and eight to right, leave hands, return to original position, centre person kneeling.

IO a

Io b

DESCRIPTION OF DANCES

(c) Person on the right of each centre figure dance forward giving right hands; the other two dance round the person kneeling. Repeat, the people on the left giving left hands, etc.

(a) Centre figures back to back thus. Outside | people go towards them with stately step,

and end the dance in a position.

3. MORRIS Dance

Bean Setting as per Esperance Morris Dancing Book (published by Curwen & Co.).

4. COURT DANCE (for eight people), standing thus

(Thick lines indicate gentlemen)

(a) Gentlemen stand still and lead ladies towards the front and right round to face them, bow and curtsy; lead back and all bow and curtsy to audience, and face each other. (b) All balance forward and pas marché into partner's place. Repeat.

(c) Form a circle, all right shoulders to centre. Step on to right foot and point left for gentleman and vice versa for lady, and so on round circle to original place.

(d) Step into figure thus

All pas marché forward and back; pirouette away from partner, bow and curtsy. Repeat with salutation to vis-a-vis.

(e) All pas de quatre forward, holding partner's right hand; change for left hand and end the dance by the lady taking a pirouette under the gentleman's arm and remaining for a finish in a low bow and curtsy.

PROGRAMME

MUSIC.

II

By the kind permission of the Christ's College, Cambridge, Magazine Committee, the music to Comus is as published in the Milton Tercentenary number of the College magazine (vol. xxiii., No. 68).