Act 1 — THE MASQUE OF THE TWO STRANGERS[50] By LADY ALIX EGERTON

THE MASQUE OF THE TWO STRANGERS[50] By LADY ALIX EGERTON

Costumes for The Masque of the Two Strangers designed at the Washington Irving High School.

Between the Lady Alice Egerton, who acted in the masque of Comus, which Milton composed for presentation before John, earl of Bridgewater, then President of Wales, and the Lady Alix Egerton, author of The Masque of the Two Strangers, lie three hundred years; but throughout these centuries the descendants of the first earl of Bridgewater have cherished consistently the great traditions of English literature. The family has owned for many generations the Ellesmere Chaucer and the Bridgewater manuscript of Comus, both of which have recently been edited by the twentieth century Lady Alix Egerton.

Her The Masque of the Two Strangers here reprinted was given at the Washington Irving High School in March, 1921. The designs for the costumes used in this production are here illustrated. The following notes will help the reader to reconstruct the costumes from the pictures:

I. The Princess

White soft material.

Spangled trimming.

Mantle of blue.

Veil of blue net.

Hennin (head dress) in silver.

II. Hope

Glass ball.

Lavender under slip.

Veil of rose pink.

III. Joy

Draping of orange yellow.

Flowers of various colors.

Vermilion scarf.

IV. Love

Long, full cape of deep purple; cowl falling back.

Cerise costume.

Silver surcoat and helmet.

V. Laughter

Yellow and black.

Trimming of bells.

VI. Poetry

Light green with silver; paper design on border.

VII. Song

Robe dyed in rainbow hues.

Silver wings.

VIII. Dance

Vermilion.

IX. Power

Bright blue.

Gems.

Gilt headpiece jeweled.

Mantle and sash of purple.

X. Fame

Robe of deep green.

Gold border.

Laurel leaves on gold crown.

XI. Riches

Knight's close-fitting short coat of henna.

(Flannel dyed to represent felt or leather.)

Gold lacings; gold paper design on coat; gold and henna helmet.

XII. Service

Soft yellow shaded to brown at bottom of skirt and sleeves.

Front panel of dark green forming part of head drapery.

XIII. Sorrow

Gray.

XIV. Herald

Dark red and gold.