Evening star., 1952-02-26

cred In celebration Of an occasioni
they never expected to see.
They represented all ages. from
seven to 10, and enough nation
alities to suggest that for a few
hours and under the spell of
music, the bliss Of brotherhood Is
supportable by human nature.
Thus England's brilliant ballet
tourists provided far more Of
drama on their opening night
than any one, including their
traditionally triumphant selves.
had a right to anticipate. More.
over, the group which last night
was headed by Svetlana Berios.
ova and David Blair in Delibes'
"Coppelia" seemed to respond to
the special excitement In the
atmosphere.
"Coppelia" is not the first bal.
let ever presented in Washington
with the lighting and decor that
are indispensable features Of its
magic. Nevertheless O generation
has grown UP with the unhappy
impression that this reputediy
Iopulent art form must be reduced
TO d scarecrow In the local atfnos.
phere.
D. Hurok. Sadler's Wells, the
Capitol theater management and
Constance Shows Concert Bus
feAu have changed all that.
This ID q new kind OF history for
"Ceppeiia" 10 be making and 10
somehow seems a flttlha ballet 10
lHauauFate a new era, no matter
how leha or sheFt the era proves
10 be,
II 10 q say and brilliant, full.
length ballet beautifully made to
show the excellence OF sadleF'sI
Wells, pellbes music Ia Eaeledle
and made for dancing and its
charm IA perfectly VisualiEed In
the varied, eapFleieusly shifting
movements of Nina do Valeis' bril-.
liant group,
The three acts Of "ceppella"
provide an ideal program opener
In their revelation that for all the
excellence Of the sololsts, 6adleF's
Wells is O dancing group, The en-
semble effect for which 1t strives
is q match for that Of the Old Vic
theater company, which can lose
such spectacular performers as Sir
Laurence Olivier and Sir Ralph
Richardson without losing itself.
incidentally, this Sadler's Wells
company lacks ballerinas Margot
Fonteyn and Mora Shearer, who
accompanied 1t here two seasons
ago. It has Miss Beriosova, how.
ever, and Miss Elaine Fifleld (who
will dance tonighD and they fll
any gap with all the artistry, grace
and beauty any one could reason
ably ask.
Balletomanes with q taste for
programs Of several shorter ballets
can flnd only academic satisfac.
ton in having missed "Coppelia.
Few combinations Of dances could
90 effectively illustrate the express
sive range Of ballet or prove more
Inusieally agreeable than this one.
II Js pure imagination at work
on one Of mans oldest and most
fascinating ideas, iffusing dolls
with life. Its setting 10 ideal, 0
small town whose people can share
intimately the experience Of the
eofifnunity's most gifted dreamer,
In this case Dr.. Ceppelius.
Or. ceppelius 10 the mystery
man OF the community, and Sad.
ief's Wells dancers make OF him
0 being Of instant and everWhelfn.
ing excitement, From the minute
Miss DeFieseVa, % eWanilda, be-
comes curious about the figure on
the ceppeiius balcony until the
third.aet marriage festival, the
odd doctors story Ia one OF sus.
pense, comedy, and q wonderfully
tentative promise OF happiness,
There ~ an irrepressible gayety
In the people Of Or, CoppeliuA'
town. They have the faith OF chill
dren that this absolutely Ia the
best OF oil possible worlds, and
confidence has never been more
contagiously danced than by the
sadler's Wells group.
Its comedy highllght centars IN
Miss BerloAoVa'k RecondsAct InVas