COLOURFUL “BALALAIKA”

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20422, 12 February 1938, Page 15 (Supplement)

COLOURFUL “BALALAIKA”

RUBBIAN MUBICAL PLAY “Balalaika,” a spectacular musical play, is having a very successful season, and is expected to run until Easter, when It will go to New Zealand. Here is the cast:— Count Peter Karagln . Robert Halliday Lydia Margret Adams •y Masha Marjorie Gordon Nickl Don Nlcol Prince Karagln Gaston Mervale Alexey Vassilyevltch ... Hori Thomas Colonel Balakirev .... Douglas Herald Balalaika Player .... Michel Denlsoff Chestnut Vendor .... Michel Stephen Servant Girl Marie Fleming Cook’s Guide Sidney Wheeler Lady of Easy Virtue, Ralphine Sprague Postcard Seller Charles Zoii Englishman Tim Blackman Ist English Lady .... Olive Kingette 2nd English Lady .... Doris Westney Mrs Morrison Yvonne Banvard Randall P. Morrison .. Bert Matthews Taxi Driver Len Gotting Varvara Marie Doran Fedora Gwen Brown Fedya Fred Bermingham .Madame Petrova Leslie Crane Igor Seversky Arthur Clarke Manlev Sidney Wheeler cook Harry Dale Andre (Gipsy Dancer) % Thadee Slavlnsky Marakov Clifford Cowley orderly Pat Smltn Denikov Leslie Gordon Countess (In the Ballet), Gwen Brown Count (in the Ballet) .. Jan Kowskej Stage Director Harry Neill Sergei Mayne Lynton Revolutionary William Innes Gendarme lan Devereaux English Lady Marie Andora Her Husband George Leslie “Balalaika” is a romance of the Russian Ballet and the Imperial Court, and is full of life and colour, with some delightful music. Robert Halliday, as Count Peter, K the best romantic lead seen In Australia for years Two New Zealanders have prominent roles: Leslie Crane Is not very successful as the ballet mistress, but Hori Thomas is a dashing officer friend of . the hero. Features of the production are the Russian Ballet and the gay gipsy dancing, in which another New Zealander. William Bain, does very well. I think New Zealand will like “Balalaika.” It is one of the most spectacular productions seen for vears.