New-York tribune., 1922-03-05

The audiences don't have to under
tand the words ('werts' is the pro-
ranciation given by NJ Balief), be-
cause the feeling is so simple. Art is
mple. This is art to the very last
lick OF the hind legs of the dying
ront legs arc artists, the very best
NON OF the company
Chel>hoy Parody
On Moscow Theatcr
The interlocutor, or ringmuster. or
'"hatever place it is that N. Balief
Ills in this strangest Of all companies
hat have appeared in New York, was
then speaking of "The Sudden Death
Of Horse. or, The Greatness of the
Russian Soul"
You want to know about that? So.
Is is by Chekhov. One of his earliest
orks. 1t is parody on the SHOWS in
me official theaters of Moscow, all Of
~hich were required to have noble
ond. Was It not laughable? And with
iust my few werts of explanation"
Do any who have heard NJ. Balieff
peak before the curtain believe he
mulates his difficulties with the
snglsh language? 1t would grieve him
very much. He tried, in the dressing
,oom that serves as his Office, to ex-
7-@,n, but his feeble vocabulary crashed
nd he burst into Russian that was
aromptly translated by his English
secrctary as:
IN Russia or France | would talk
.onger before the curtain. would
even pull the leg of some one in the
-gdiencc for ten or fifteen minutes.
could not stand it if the audience
'hought pretended to have difficulties
in Russian, French. German or Ar
ucnian L can be vevy glib. But with
English,
Il have only hundred words or so.
BIZ. it grows. | am picking up Gil the
me. To-day stopped before shop.
Whas are youH l said to the pro-
YTetor. i am an undertaken. he told
&c. did not understand, so he showed
ne some cofins. Then I left him, say
g 'Undertalser, undertaken, under
skcr.' / have new word. SO it
sees"
NJ. Ballet lit a fresh cigarette and
,esumed for himself. with an occa-
sional lift from his Englisl, sd
NO Bad Parts.
Only Bad Actors
The parade Of the wooden soldiers
Why do you like it? | tell you. Here
II Il stage manager had such scene he
would react so: Uniforms, marching,
lcgs. girls. Is it not true? But with US
Il is art. We are copying the art of
tho peasants. the toys which they
make. Those soldiers are made up as
the peasants make their toy wooden
soldiers. Our best artists do their best
to make you like those toy soldiers
schiller said'--
There again his English gave out
and he hurled Russian words at the
translator, who susvely continued:
Schiller said There are no bad
parts; only bad actors"
That's it," approved NJ. Balieff.
You liked Katinka7 She dances an
Old Russian polka OF the sos. Her
surroundings, the setting is an en-
larged conception of a peasant toy
music box. The other figures are her
father and mother. 1t is as though we
took Punch and Judy and had artists
play their roles.
The Katinka Of the toy music box
danced to the tune. Some writer wrote
story about her and the two figures
Who watch her dance. She has been
away to boarding school and learned
30 dance. who does she dance with p
her parents want to know. An officer.
md she wants to marry him. They
Protest, and then she says she will die
ii she can't marry him. You know
rhere she screams and falls down?
You did not understand the words, but
you liked it.
IL IS not necessary TO understand
he words to enjoy art. There were
20 sailors from japan NJ. 5aliefT says
Iap-an'l who came to the Coliseum in
london. They tell us to come to Japan
md NC will be liked very much. True.
am sure all the world would like u.s.
apparently the reason for this liking |,
s nearly as much of mystery to NJ |
3alieR as to his audiences. The lift |
Il gypsy girls shoulder, the murmur
T guitar. their songs, all inspire a