Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-12-06
Ballet Theatre :
In Gala Closing
BY CHARLES GENTRY


JUST AS we were getting ready
10 put our ballet slippers away
for the current season, the
Masonic Temple Association comes
out with the announcement at
the final program of the Ballet
Theatre last night, that the Ballet
Russo dc Monte Carlo will appear
here for two performances on
New Years Eve and New Years
night. just to give 1914 dancing
christening.
AT that. the Monte Carlo group
will have 10 60 a long way 10 beat
the colorful appeal of the final
nine offerings of the Ballet
Theatre here
The Saturday night, Sunday
afternoon and evening programs
were a Kaleidoscope treat, offer
ing everything from severe classic
illustrations like Les Sylphides"
TO such modern ballet bouffe" as
Three Virgins and a Devil"
Saturday nights "Sylphides'
with its Corot-like setting and
Chopin score was a delightful
vision. although Anton Dolin is
not the male dancer for the lead
and Lucia Chase lacks elevation
and technique for the passages,
which younger dancers like Alfonso
and Hightower perform so well.
"SylphideS." despite its pictur-
esque charm, calls for at least
two real stars.
A PERFECT TRIO
"Aleko" went much better this
year than it did when first given
here last season. MasSina, Nora
Kaye and Hugh Eaing are a
perfect trio in this dance-drama
of smouldering gypsy love and
jealousy.
The nightmare sequences are
extremely powerful. but some OF
the other scenes. like the peasant
dance in the third scene are too
long.
The highlight for Use in the
Saturday evening program was
the new "Mademoiselle Angot. "
a comic ballet of the Directoire
period, typically French and de.
lightfully danced.
A LITTLE PET
Janet Reed is a darling as the
little Soubrette, who leaves her
affianced barber. for a tickle ar
fist and Andre EglevSky is superb
as the radical cartoonist. Simon
Semenoff has already proven him.
self. one Of the best comedy stars
in the company, but he adds
another laurel 10 his clown crown
with his role as the stuffy official
in "Angot."
Perhaps il was because II was
new and fresh that we were SC
entranced, but '-Angot" is de-
lightful substitute for the more
hackneyed Beau Danube" and
Cate Parisienne. which are
almost always included in each
years repertoire.
Sunday matinee was on the
lighter side with Peter and the
Wolf" for comedy starter. al
the characters in this Prokofief1
fairy tale, evidently being personal
favoriteS of everybody in the
audience.
PAS de Quatre" We are &C.
customed 10 seeing four very
famous ballerinas work in. but
without balletomaine IN m O s, y
Rosella Hightower, Alicia Alfonso,
Janet Reed and Abba KaZan Gas
substitute for Mana Gollner) gave
a really charming performance.
WONDERFUL SUBSTITUTE
The big surprise OF Sunday
afternoon came with "Bluebeard,
the wonderful Fokine comedy.
Anton Dolin. who usually dances
the role was suddenly taken i'll
and could not appear. Since he
had no real understudy, il was
hard TO figure who might possibly
be able to take his part But
Anthony Tudor, who is a great
photographer. as we'll as a fine
dancer, stepped out Of his role
as the cuckold king (the heir
apparent i'm this case being Rex
Cooper and danced a superb
"Bluebeard In fact we think
Dolin and he should alternate in
this role. because. while Dolin
has style, Tudor lends it a kind
of grace that the dancing bigimist
has never had before.
Eglevsky, the superb. Rex
Cooper. the 1.-THE leaper and
Margaret Banks, all came TO the
rescIe Con a minutes notice. 10
give Vs a. conpletsly compelling
,s-.- -