Ballet Again Captivating

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31341, 11 April 1967, Page 18

Ballet Again Captivating

The audience at the Theatre Royal was again transported last evening to scenes of medieval splendour and pomp. The season of “Raymonda” by the Australian Ballet continued to thrill and entrance with its exciting music, rich settings, and gay and dramatic dancing. Dancing the title role was Kathleen Geldard. Her Raymonda was an unsophisticated girl lost in the rhapsodies of first love. Her veil dance in the first act and her solo variation in Act II were danced with enchanting style and grace. Her mood developed from pensive, to flirtatious, to victorious as she became

more certain of the affection of her suitor.

As the victorious lover, Jean de Brienne, Warren de Maria was most impressive in stature. He partnered Raymonda with confidence, and his solo variations were made exciting by his mastery of technique. Paul Wright danced Abderachman, the Saracen, with fiery grace and virility, making the duel scene again a dramatic highlight of the ballet.

Other soloists who are outstanding in this ballet are Robyn Croft and Barbara Chambers, whose Act II variations are so remarkably contrasted and yet both so evocative of the characters they portray. Heather Macrae is exciting

and brilliant in the Spanish dance, partnered last night by Alan Alder, who has already been seen as an impressive soloist; and her Hungarian dance with Kail Welander was also thrilling. Last night there was not the excited atmosphere of a first night, and the audience was slower to respond at first. Then the powerful magic began to work, and by the end of the first act everyone was spellbound. What followed was no disappointment: although the dramatic climax comes early, the dancing builds up to the final splendours of the Grand Pas Classique and the Finale of Act 11. “Raymonda" is a wonderful ballet presented in a grand and wonderful manner. —P.S.