Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-24

NEW YORK, Feb. 24.-It was the
smartest sort Of New York theater au-
dience-women in captivating frocks and
gowns with necklaces Of pearls and dia-
monds, exquisitely coiffured hair and be
jeweled tn gers tapering into much mani
cured nails, and all this inset upon a
dressy white fronted expanse Of care
fully valeted, barbered and roundly put
Tered males. Decked in the Fomp anu
full livery Of a nations abundance those
American men and women We're uncon-
sciOus that they were looking into the
aching DEBTS of another nations soul
Russias.
The opulent appearing audience
laughed and cried by turns yielding to
the Inesmeric sway Of the foreign artist
beyond the footlights.
"I wonder whispered the voice Of a
Travelled companion when salvo or ap-
plause had subsidized If the good people
around US realize that these very RUSSIAN
actors and actresses witnessed the nlght
of elegance and fashion from Moscow a
city which in pre- Soviet days was more
gav ana extravagant than New York has
ever been 2"
Morris Gest. theatrical manager, Is one
who looks further than the dollar sign,
he may or may not have a profit from
his importattons Of "Balien's Chauye-
SoIlris and the presentation of that
novel entertainment at the Forty -Nlnth
street theater. I personally am Of the
opinion that Mr.. Gest, who is Russian
born. had a far higher motive than dol
lar getting in his extraordinary venture.
One thing is eertain-hts Russian conf
panv Of ten women and twenty five men
have taken the big town by the ears,
and even hard boiled Broadway Is
twisting it's tongue around the difficult
to-pronounce Russian cOnsOnants, and
struggling with the extremely caprictous
Russian accent.
DRAMATIC CRITICS
LOUD IN PRAISES.
The dramatic critics have told I'M
gtinted praise Of the show itself, which
is vaudeville de luxe on the Russian
plan with Russian painted scenery and
Russian music. In characteristic fashion
thew have done their reviews, pointing out
the good voices, and the rare bits OF 1u-
NOR, the genuine Russian dancing ana
the gypsy singing. Ii all helped to BRING
out the fashionable crowd that nightly
swishes the felt-carpeted aisles OF the
theater proper.
But as to the personnel Of the com
pany-ah, there was our chance, so We
went back stage to talk with these Rus
SLAMS who act so well, they must have
been ''somebodies" in that great tn
pfre which once stretched the width Of
two continents At least we felt we
could begin with Nikita BaIied, the
rotund and exceedingly joyial inter
locutor Of the entertainment, who in the
attire Of q maitre de hotel steps before
the curtain to introduce each event Of
the program, providing gales Of laughter
and who said his American is bad be-
cause he studied his English in London
from an Italian"
We found him installed in a small
dressing room, mopping his expansive
brow with a handkerchief. What did
that Russian at the rear Of the theater
mean when he called YOU 'govOrite
gromtsche'? I asked.
He called me nothing. only asked me
to speak louder" replied the great
Balief. "Goworite gromtsche," is Rus
sian for speak louder" he added.
Then followed innumerable questions
and their answers and when the Rus
sian director was on the stage we talked
with various members Of the company,
through the medium of George Birse, a
tenor singer of English parentage who
doubles in brass" as they say in Amer
can vaudeville by acting as private sec
rotary TO Mr.. Balieff.
MOSCOW IS