Great Success For Touring Ballet Company

Chronicle (Levin), 3 November 1949, Page 4

Great Success For Touring Ballet Company

Seeing is believing — an old saying but true, and one admirably suited to the ballet presented in Levin last night under ' the auspices of the Community Arts Service. To the larger portion of the au'dience which packed the theatre, ballet was something new and unusual, a type of entertainment that belonged to another world and therefore limited. However, as the curtain rose on the first scene of the "Nocturne" all thoughts of limitations were quickly dispelled from the minds of onlookers as they watched the dancers sway into a delightful interpretation of Chopin's music. A- country which develops national ballet is generally recognised as having Teached cultural maturity, and as far as New - Zealand is concerned that bright horizon is still far off. Neverthe- ' less, judging by the enthusiastic welcdme accorded the dancers last night, it is not beyond re.ich and . people are quickly realising that ballet can be one of the most fascinating-and exhilarating forms of entertainment even to the layman. A Varied Programme. The programme was divided into four parts and variation was the theme of each. "Nocturne," a classical interpretation of Chopin's music comprised the first- portion. To a person who found difflculty in understanding music, then here was the perfect solution. From the sheer beauty of the quietly sombre to the gay and exotic, it was all there, displayed by the dancers in grace and charm as • Chopin must have meant when he wrot'e the music. The choreography was by Bettina Edwards and Jonet . Wilkie, and the dancers were Gaye Henley, Joan Webb, Elva Meek, Carol Buckler, Rosina Gay, Daphne Denby and Naomi Lesnie. To follow were five dance studies entitled "Divertissements." The first of these was a group of dances inspired by some of the symphonic variations of Schumann, the choreography being arranged by Jonet Wilkie. The next was a solo dance, . "Hebridean .Story," by Joan Webb to the music of Hamish McCunn. The story in short was that of a fisher-woman who suffered the loss of her loved ones in a shipwreck. Miss Webb's . miming of grief and agony was particularly good. With the music hy Ansell and choreography by Jonet Wilkie, "Black Monday" was the highly entertaining story of a. housewife's troubles on wash day? as told by action and expression. The story was easy to follow, a fact that speaks well for the miming, or the acting of a story without words, of Carol Butler, Elva Meek, Sonia Stewart' and Daphne Denby. Next on the programme was "Bohemian Peasant," danced to the music of Dvorak, by Gaye Henley. In this dance Miss Henley gave a vivid. interpretation of a peasant tired of being the underdog and vainly endeavouring to rise to higher levels. She appeared to enjoy the dance as much ^ as did her au'dience. "Gypsies," to the music of SaintSaens, was a wild dance of fiery passions admirably portrayed by Rosina Gay, Naomi Lesnie, Joan Webb, Pamela Lyon and Sonia Stewart.

The Two Major Ballets. The second haif of the programme comprised the two major ballets of the evening, the first being "The Eve of Saint Mark," inspired by Keats' poem of the same name. The music was by Schubert, the decor by Raeburn Griffiths and the dance version by Jonet Wilkie. The story was one that gave definite scope for the dramatie. A young girl was 'dazed and confused by what she had 4 read and imagined about the legend of St. Mark's Eve, and in her imagination her love for a young man had a tragic ending. As the young man, Donald Brown showed himself as a competent dancer and mime. Others in the cast were ' Joan Webb, Gaye Henley, . Elva Meek, Daphne Denby, Rosina Gay, Naomi Lesnie, Carol Buckler, J.oan Lees an'd Pamela Lyon. The Resourceful Bootmaker. As a grand finale to an excellent production came the humorous ballet entitled "The Resourceful Bootmaker." This was the story of a New %ealand bootmaker who expected the support of his customers when he raised his charges in order to overcome the problems of a rising cost of living. The solution of his problem had disastrous results, but was not without its fun. Pat Dobbie, as the bootmaker, showed amazing versatility. As the urchin, Daphne Denby was worthy of special mention. Her miming was excellent. Taken as a whole the ballet was supreme entertainment and to the many who attended it was indeed wonderful to see a group of dancers portray as much by movement of limb and expression as does the poet with his pen. Without the superb assistance of the pianist, Layton Ring, the ballet would be lost. His amazing versatility in touch and tone gave,,r j him dominion over every mood that the ballet required. Dhring the intervals he was heard to advantage in several well known arrangements, and especially Bach's "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring."