THE INCOMPARABLE PAVLOVA.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18721, 18 June 1926, Page 16

THE INCOMPARABLE PAVLOVA.

RECORD BOOKING YESTERDAY. As was expected,, tho booking, which opened at The Bristol Piano Co. yesterday, for the approaching season of the world's greatest dancer, Anno Pavlova, who will make her first appearance here on Monday •. night next, was enormous, but it was so well distributed that there is BtiH an abundance of seats in central positions either for the opening or subsequent performances, which niay be selected from 9 o'clock this morning. Pavlova's stay here must necessarily be limited to sue nightß and one afternoon performance on Saturday, June 26th, but during that period no fewer than three different programmes will be presented. The first, which is to bo staged on Monday and Tuesday nights, will include "The Fairy Doll," "The Polish Wedding," "The Swan," "The Russian Dance," and other- big fear turo dances, and tho second, to -. be performed on Wednesday and Thursday, embraces "The Magic Flute," "Snowflakes," "Gavoto Pavlova," and "Christmaß." The final programme will be staged on Friday and Saturday of next week. Pavlova will be supported by her complete London and Paris organisation, including the clever young Russian dancer, Laurent Novikoff, and a full - operatic orchestra, under the direction of Lucien Wurmser. It is said, that Pavlova excels liorself in "The Fairy Doll," in which she is assisted by all the principals and the. other members of her company. "In 'Tho Fail? Doll,' " writes a critic, "tho eyo is first caught by the vigorous colour scheme of the interior of the toy shop, in which the action begins. Into this scene tho fussy shopkeeper brings hi 3 mechanical dolls for the inspection of customers, and in this way there is much graceful solo dancing by members of tho company before : the curtains of the alcove at the head of the short flight of stairs aro thrown aside, and there stands Pavlova, her dark ey»s.. beaming, a white figure poised in silver . tissue and floating tulle skirt, with a headdress of light red curia bound by a meshed cap of brilliants. After the curtains are momentarily drawn togetheragain, she comes forth, tip-toes down to the stage, and performs her first dance, a brilliant pas; aeul, in which she at once charms and - delights her audience. Then, with a change of scene, this exquisite fairy doll summons all her companions' by the wave of her wand, and against a huge-painted Christmas tree for the baokcloth, all the quaint dolls dance .in a mass of colour-figures—Spanish and Tyrolean, Sevres and Dresden ; courtiers and peasants, toy soldiers and vivandieres, white rabbits, great black cat, and the rest. ■Pavlova rises into the air, ie-caught by her partner, Laurent Novikoff,'and'descends with the ; poft beauty of '» snowfl&ke. Like 'flight..unon flieht of white .'wfrigß' these ascents are made; she skimß across the 'stage, sho poises statuesquely upon one toe, and then rcvolveß with incredible rapidity; aho' pirouettes, rising from . the sole of tho foot to tho toe in a series of backward steps—and all these movement* aro performed with tho utmost spontaneity, while, all the time the curves and lines of her hands play their part in the captivating ensemble." In "The Swan Dance" Pavlova created a big sensation in Auckland, as she also did in the Russian' Dance. While the booking was exceptionally heavy for the Auokland and Wellington seasons of Pavlova sCrangely'enough there was a quantity of vacant seats on the opening night in each city.m the back stalls. The rumour had got about that'tho theatre had been booked out aid playgoers thought_£i useless to try their luck at the doors. On subsequent evenings the back stalls wore filled up early and late. comers wero die-, appointed. The' booking for Monday night is not-quite' so heavy as it is for tho subsequent performances of Pavlova.