RIOT OF COLOUR

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 159, 2 April 1937, Page 4

RIOT OF COLOUR

Russian Ballet Costumes Playing to another large audience, Colonel de Basil’s Monte Carlo Russian Ballet presented its second programme at. the Grand Opera House last night, when the kaleidoscopic arrangement'of colour in the dressing made a deep impression on all present. Three ballets were presented—“Carnaval,” “Les Presages” (Destiny) and “La Boutique Fantastique.” In “Carnaval,” one sees Columbine. Butterfly, Harlequin, Pantalon and other well-known characters, all dressed in traditional style, a rainbow-like effect being achieved in the colourings of the dresses. “Les Presages,” which depicts man’s struggle with his destiny, is weird and almost futuristic in its dressing. In the first scene the men are all in fantastic warriors’ costumes, the colours being green aud rust, and all wear helmets of rust felt. Later they are in green, and in the last part of the ballet their colour scheme is brown and burgundy, the costumes being embellished with futuristic designs. Particularly striking is one costume of yellow and brown, on which is appliqued a vivid firebird. The women’s dresses are also most striking, niauves, reds and cyclamens being the predominating tones. For “La Boutique Fantastique,” the colours are rlotiously beautiful—all the colours of the spectrum being intermingled with artistic care and an eye to the most effective method of presentation. Vivid costumes in bright blue, red and gold—those of the kings and queens of hearts, spades, clubs and diamonds —vie with reds, whites, burgundies, yellows and violets of the dresses of other characters to be found in toy shops. One particularly beautiful costume is of rose pink, shiny and glistening, which stands out boldly against its brother and sister tints. Tarantella dancers, cabaret dancers, Russians and others all combine to complete the colour scheme. It is difficult to say which of the three ballets is ' the most striking so far as the dressing is concerned—each has its own particular beauty and appeal.

The audience was again well-dressed, many striking whims of fashion being noticeable among the women present, and once again there was a considerable smattering of those very attractive evening wraps and coats that are becoming so popular this season.