MAMMOTH WILLIAMSON ATTRACTION

Evening Star, Issue 22619, 10 April 1937, Page 12

MAMMOTH WILLIAMSON ATTRACTION

MONTE CARLO RUSSIAN BALLET Great interest has been aroused over the approaching visit to Dunedin of Colonel de Basil’s world-renowned Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, which is to be presented at His Majesty’s Theatre for a season of seven nights, under the direction of J. C. Williamson Ltd., beginning on Saturday, April 24. Applications for seats have been received from centres, some of them over a hundred miles away, which will give an _ idea of the widespread interest which is being taken in the advent of the ballet. The Monte Carlo Russian Ballet does not rely for its success upon several of the principal dancers, because

the organisation consists of a team of stars, every one of the 70 odd dancers being brilliant enough to be an outstanding attraction in any company. The ballets to be presented hero are those in which , the company has achieved outstanding triumphs in London, Paris, New York, Australia, while in Auckland and Wellington they thrilled and delighted record audiences. ‘ La Sylphides,’ which is traditionally an opening ballet, will fill this role here. To the strains of romantic Chopin nocturnes, waltzes, and mazurkas the sylphs dance in a wooden glade in the shimmering light of the moon. ‘ Les Sylphides ’ alone is a musical treat of a kind rarely seen in this part of the world. It is by tradition always given as an opening ballet in the seasons at Covent Garden Opera House and also in Continental theatres. The same procedure will be adopted at the gala performace at His Majesty’s. The second ballet will be RimskyKorsakoff’s ‘ Scheherazade,’ which for 50 years has been in the forefront of Russian musical literature. This suite is notable for the appearance of the star of the de Basil Company, Leon Woizikowsky, and other accomplished artists, including Valentin Froman and Nina, Ruievska* Ip, contrast to tfes

opening pieces, this suite strikes a keynote o'! splendour. Gorgeous scenes from India are reproduced. In order to render possible the staging of this lavish spectacle special alterations had to be made to the stage of His Majesty’s Theatre. Another fine ballet on the opening programme is ‘ Le Manage d’Aurore,’ representing dances at the wedding feast of the sleeping beauty. This is as colourful as the previous two, but has its own peculiar charm. Among guests at the marriage feast are the various fairies and nobles, including the Blue Bird, Red Riding Hood, and other fairly-tale celebrities. Aurora herself dances with her Prince. The wedding scene will surpass anything hitherto seen in New Zealand. Altogether 80 people will be on the stage, and will give a wonderful indication of the colour and drama in the growth of the ballet. Applications for preferential bookings are now being received at the D.I.C. box office, where full particulars regarding the programmes of ballets may be obtained. The box plans for the ordinary booking will be opened at the D.I.C. on Monday, April 19, at 9 o’clock. A queue will be formed from 8