RUSSIAN MUSICAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 254, 27 October 1938, Page 4

RUSSIAN MUSICAL.

POPULAR "BALALAIKA." It was expected there would be a large demand for seats for the approaching production of the picturesque musical romance "Balalaika," to be staged by J. C. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company for a brief season, beginning on Saturday next, but, although the booking recorded yesterday was excellent, it wa® so well distributed that seats in central positions for Saturday night's gala performances and for subsequent representations may still be chosen at the box office. "Balalaika" is an impressive production and provides maximum entertainment by reason of its comic interludes, its singing and dancing, and its amazingly beautiful scenes, which change with bewildering rapidity. Its natural background is ° ne of the lrost absorbing points of interest in a musical play, teeming with possibilities. J. C. Williamson's staff of techiu* cians is responsible for some colourful lighting effcs ts. and when the lighting is combined with glowing colour. Cossack uniforms, dainty ballet frocks, statuesque regal gowns, and the clamour of imperial Russia, it will lie realised that in "Bala* | laika" is the perfect comic opera. " 'Bala--1 laika.' " wrote a southern critic, "cannot fail to please the most fastidious and most exacting of theatregoers, and there is not- the slightest doubt about the rec-ention accorded the initial performance in Xew Zealand. 'Balalaika' proved itself all it had claimed to be and perhaps & J little more and those oresent soon I rep"! : =r>rl why-Tjondon. N"ew York and Aus--1 tralia have all accorded it a long r ' ,n ; . During a brief season the company 'wi" also -present a revival of "The Desert Song."