STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 411, 20 July 1928, Page 14

STRAND

“ANNA KARENINA” ! A programme that no one should miss is being presented at the Strand Theatre. This is headed by “Anna Karenina,” from Tolstoy’s immortal novel of the same name —a novel which critics have declared to be his highest artistic achievement. “Anna Karenina” stars John Gilbert and Greta Garbo in a story of Russian court life before the war. Captain Vronsky and Anna Karenina met and immediately fell in love with one another, although they agreed to part. Some months later Vronsky rides in the army steeplechase before the Tsar and Tsarina, a£d the elite of Russian society. He is the central figure of a terrible accident, and Anna, to the cold rage of her husband, betrays her anxiety before a crowd of friends. Karenin forces her to return home, but, racked with anxiety, she slips out later and drives to Vronsky’s apartment for news of him. . . . Karenin sees her go and follows. Vronsky is badly but not seriously hurt. He has barely taken Anna into his arms when Karenin arrives, to inform Anna that she must never return to his home or her child. The lovers go to the Italian lakes together, but Vronsky is distressed to see that Anna is still grieving over the loss of her little one. A most colourful and beautiful Russian dance prologue is presented on the stage. This is “The Coppelia Ballet,” gorgeously yet exquisitely produced by Mile. Valeska. All the emotions human nature is capable of are expressed by the “poetry of dancing” in this ballet, to the accompaniment of beautiful music by the Strand Symphony Orchestra. Under the conductorship of Eve Bentley this talented combination plays an exceptionally beautiful programme in which Russian music is outstanding.