“BALALAIKA”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1938, Page 5

“BALALAIKA”

t AT MASTERTON ON OCTOBER 21. “Balalaika,” J. C. Williamson’s spectacular stage production, which opened its New Zealand tour in Wellington yesterday, is to be presented at the Regent Theatre, Masterton, on Friday, October 21. Definitely the musical comedy stage has made its come-back in “Balalaika” for it is an outstanding production in every way. Excellent choruses, bright ballets, frequent and rapid changes of scene, catchy music, classical ballet and exuberant comedy dancing, rousing Russian songs, balalaika instrumental playing, radiant throngs in St. Petersburg—“ Balalaika” certainly eclipses, in its eleven scenes, any presentation of the kind seen in New Zea-' land for years. The cast is ideally suited to the de-

mands of the libretto and music. George Hancock, handsome young English musical comedy star, wears the uniform of Count Peter Karigan, Russian aristocrat, with distinction, and sings the lines in a robust baritone. Diana Ducane lifts her lovely soprano voice and dances divinely as Lydia Marakova, ballerina at the Marinsky Theatre whose love for the Count is the motif of the" piece. Violet Carlica. from New York, is an electrifying young person, who sings and dances with a delicious sense of burlesque; Don Nicol (remembered in “White Horse Inn”) is the perfect ■ team-mate for Miss Carlson—both are adepts in provoking merriment. In addition to the large cast, there is a full Russian ballet, which includes Thadee Slavinsky, notable solo dancer with the Monte Carlo Ballet, and Gwen Brown, a young Melbourne girl of amazing proficiency.