N.Z. BALLET DANCER

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26605, 15 December 1951, Page 7

N.Z. BALLET DANCER

London Performance Praised (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 14. The New Zealand ballet dancer. Alexander Grant, was praised by a majority of critics for his performance in Leonide Massine’s new ballet “Donald of the Burthens” at Covent Garden.

“The Times” describes the ballet as “a Scottish piece with Scots music, Scots decor and choreography that derives its idiom from Scottish folk dances as much as Massine's own neoRussian ballet* vocabulary.’’ Donald is a wood carrier until death claims his services and makes him a doctor, "The Times” continues. “The ballet is comedy; its plot is spiced with wry humour and Massine’s execution is witty in itself. Donald is danced by Alexander Grant, for whom Massine created the whimsical barber in “Mamzelle Angot,” and in Donald, Mr Grant again has a whimsical role admirably suited to his athletic precision, vigorous limbs and his keen appreciation of the sort of character dancing which demands emphasis on the dance as well as characterisation. In his solo numbers, which a Sassenach would liken to Scottisches, his gifts shine, and elsewhere, the technique is as brilliantly employed as the good humour of the executant.”

The “Daily Telegraph” says: “The new spectacle is remarkable, thanks to Alexander Grant’s astonishing gifts as a grotesque dancer and to Beryl Grey’s impersonation of death in the form of a wonderful kind of scarlet snake. There is an attractive series of stylised Scottish dances.” Other critics also praise Grant but the “Daily Express” says that his role “is little more than an athletic stunt.’’

Ban on Japanese Wives.— Observers say that the Federal Government will not relax its ban on the entry into Australia of Japanese wives of Australian returned servicemen. Eight serving and former soldiers have asked the Government to allow their Japanese wives to enter the country. —Melbourne, December 10.