“SWITZERLAND”

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 188, 6 May 1940, Page 5

“SWITZERLAND”

Return Season Of Ice Ballet

The box plans for the return farewell season of J. C. AVilliamson's extravaganza on real ice, “Switzerland,” which will begin at the Opera House on Saturday afternoon and evening next, will be opened at the D.I.C. tomorrow morning. Applications for preferential bookings will be received till 12 o’clock today. Air. Charles Pugh, the refrigerating engineer, and Mr. Ray Stewart the chief electrician, together with the advance team of mechanists, are due to arrive in Wellington this morning, and they will begin immediately to prepare the ice rink, •which will be ready for the skaters on Friday morning next. Probably never before have New Zealanders seen a better theatre attraction than “Switzrland,” and it is not surprising that it has enjoyed a record tour. The amazing artistry- of Miss Alegan Taylor, who is still the world’s champion skater, has made her an outstasding popular figure throughout the Dominion, and the drollery of Eddie Marcel has greatly assisted to make the ice show the most successful attraction ever sent to New Zealand by J. C. AVilliamson. To many- the daring exploits of Phil Taylor are outstanding features of ".Switzerland,” but it is really the all-round excellence of the production that is, in the main, responsible for its remarkable success. Even if it were performed on a normal theatre stage the work of the ballet would be hailed as an outstanding success, and that success is doubled by the added charm and freedom of movement associated with its presentation on the ice. Variety is lent to the show by the comedy cabaret scene, which features Aliss Connie Graham and Hal Scott, also Tommy Russell and Ernie Alarconi, who will present new and novel turns.