The New York herald., 1921-09-05
Fokne and Fokina and Charlotte, Three Of Many
Stars in Spectacular Show Which
Reopens Great House.

stage. Mr.. Levy is Hippodrome in
stitution.
These were the acts that made up the
so-called olio. But the weightier Offer
ings were as OF old. much more elabo-
rate. Michel Fokine had arranged an
act of ballet to which he had given the
title of THE Thunder Bird the see
mario of which is gallantly attributed to
Mime. FoSina. 1t Is said moreover to
be founded upon IAN ancient Aztec folk
legend" although 1t is probable that the
simple story might be found in many
other folk legends. The action passes
In an ancient Peruvian forest. The beau
tiful thunderbird, which flies with her
companions to take rufuge from the
storm In grove, is a Princess whom
wicked magician has transformed. 1t is
the love of a chieftain which after all
wins her restoration back to her real
shape.
Fokine is a past master in the art
of choreography His arrangement OF
dances as well as his posing Of the
ballet have all the authentic Russian
touch. The silhouette is always there.
graceful. expressive and exotic. His own
dancing revealed some highly difficult
steps as well as eloquent pantonime.
Nine Folsina. who was an exquisite
object to contemplate in her costume of
silver and long white ostrich plumes.
had an opportunity to reveal again to
the music of Rimsky- -Korsakoff the
fiutter:ng. birdlike movements OF her
dance of "The Dying Swan" The flock
of birds that swarmed about her were
clothed in lovely dresses of blue and
silver. Their costumes, which were as
striking and tasteful in their color
scheme as the dresses Of the Aztec war
ae5r hN.
He had performed his part of the ballet
most art.stically.
Borodine Glinka and Rimsky-K
koff were the composers drawn on for
the music. Ansem Goetzl conducted in
musicianly fashion "The Thunder Bird"
which can be improved in only one way.
1t is at present too diffuse. Its charm. as
well as its dramatic eloquence, would be
enhanced by condensation.
The Return of Charlotte.
The Charlotte whose silhouette with
her left foot In the air was for a while
the mascot OF the Hippodrome Is again
skating with her old time grace about
it's stage. She is getting to be almost
q big girl now. although there Is the
fire and flash Of youth in every one Of
her audacious and graceful flights on
the steel runners OF her magic skates
Fraulein Charlottee has inevitably
grown in muscular strength and power.
although with no damage to her shapely
outline and symmetrical strength. She
still shoots across the frozen stage OF
the Hlppodrome with the swiftness and
mystery Of a ray OF light.
The Red Shoes" was the new diver
tissement in which she and her coll
leagues from the Admirars Ice Palace
in Berlin were seen. II was In effect a
ballet on skates. incredibly difficult and
endlessiy exacting In its demands on the
virtuosity Of the trained cohorts who
glided and leaped, twirled and shot over
the icy surface. II was a beautiful
sight TO witness apart from the technical
difficulties of its interpreters. Howard
Nicholson awoke patriotic enthusiasm
In the hearts Of the audience. Katie
Schmidt and Paul Kreckow. other skat-
ing friends Of other years who return
with Charlotte, distinguished themselves
In this novel end Of the programme
which makes the possession of the Hip
podrome more valued than ever.