“CARNAVAL.”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 306, 25 November 1937, Page 2

“CARNAVAL.”

On Saturday next, Miss Gwen Gibbs, of the Broadway School of Dancing, will again present one of her popular dance recitals. The main item this year will be “Carnayal,” adapted from Schumann’s well-known pianoforte composition wittily expressing in dance form a series of musical ideas. Its history goes back to Russia where Fokine, called on to amuse a party, prepared this satire ballet. Fokine has taken the characters of Schumann’s imaginings, and the orchestration of this piano fantasy so beloved of pianists gives an added brilliance and flavour to the original. He has mingled characters of the immortal Commedia dell Arte—Harlequin, Columbine. Estrella, Ohiarina, Pierrot, Pantalon, Papillon, Florestan, and Eusebius, who merely flit across the stage in a succession of episodes which take place during a masked ball. 'the woebegone Pierrot, denied and suffering; the light, mischievous Harlequin, and the fickle Columbine; the romantic Eusebius: the duped Pantalon; the impetuous Florestan; the turbulent Estrella, the sentimental Chiarina. Pierrot is mocked for his grotesque attachment; Harlequin and Columbine make sport of poor P-mtalnn, until those spoil sports the Philistines appear upon the scene to bo infected by tlio gaiety and join in tho fun, while through the heartless crowd there over moves the grotesquely tragic Pierrot. Here is gentle satire in ballet, set to a romantic theme that evokes. Schumann’s spirit, states Irving Dcakin in his introduction to the liveliest of tho arts, “To the Ballet.” None can fail to ac\miro a ballet that is one of tho most perfect combinations conceivable of music, of choreography, sotting and story. This should give great delight to Saturday’s audiences