BALLET ON WHEELS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31096, 27 June 1966, Page 2

BALLET ON WHEELS

A non-skater has created a roller skate revue for 60 skaters aged from four to 40. The result is “Roll ’O Capers,” a ballet on wheels, to be presented in Canterbury Court on July 9 and 10.

The non-skater is Mrs Shirlye Rushton, who has appeared in cabaret, revue

and pantomime, both in Christchurch and on tour.

In spite of her versatility, Mrs Rushton has never learned to skate, so producing a show on roller skates has not been an easy task. She had to pace along the dance floor to keep up with her “cast on wheels” and call her instructions across more than 100 feet of floor space.

But she has been rewarded by the interest and enthusiasm of her cast. One young performer travels from Timaru every week-end to attend rehearsals and considers his time well spent. The programme includes a fire ballet, an Indian dance, and two dances for the children, “Alley Cat” and “The Birds.”

Two guest stars from Hamilton will provide a further attraction. They are Linda Butler and Wain Burrett, who travelled to the world championships in America where they were

placed fourth in the world gold skate classic earlier this year. Costumes for the show have been designed by Mrs J. Clarke and the scenery effects will be the task of Mrs Rushton’s husband. Perfomers have been rehearsing for six weeks and most seem to be effortless skaters. Yesterday, when “The Press” called at a rehearsal, one young man, aged about 12, was sweeping the floor in an extremely proficient manner on his roller skates.

Another held a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of soft drink in the other as he glided in and out between the seats. The rink itself was a mass of whirring skaters.