Evening star., 1954-10-05


Joy cormody. dromo editor Of The Stor.
is on voeotion. His column will be
resumed later this month.
~>
applause last night when first
displayed in Washington. AS the
piece re resistance of the first
program of weeks engagement
at the National Theater by the
Ballet Russo de Monte Carlo,
THE Mikado' proved quite a
lively and colorful affair.
1t is fortunate. of course, that
the ballet waited this long to take
over the durable operetta. This
summary scrapping of the lyrics
would have served only to widen
the rift between w. S. Gilbert,
who wrote them, and his compos-
ing collaboration. Sir Arthur Sui
livan.
The suggestion that "The Mi
kado" could get along without the
Lord High Executioner singing
I've Got Little List would
certainly have added Choreogra-
pher CoboS' name to Mr.. Gill
bert's little list. AS a matter of
fact this treatment of minor
classic of the theater may cause
a brand-new feud in the world,
this between the SaVoyardS and
the balletomanes.
x
Be that as it may. the Savoy
ards will have to go their way
and the balletomanes theirs.
Each group is composed of peo-
pie of conviction and this re-
viewer is not sticking his inno-
cent neck into any argument
over whether or not a Gilbert
and Sullivan operetta can do
without Gilbert.
The Ballet Russo version of
"The Mikado" clearly was a sue
cess with last nights audience,
which greeted it with such en-
thuSiasm you would have
thought Gina Lollobrigida just
walked in. It must be assumed,
of course, that all present knew
what was going on and that the
ballet treatment was only new
establishment for something fa-
miliar.
Even to one unfamiliar with
"The Mikado'' (some hermit.
that Isl the general outlines of
the action must have been clear.
1t is obvious in this ballet Mi
kado" that a young fellow in a
black wig and a girl in another
black wig are smitten on sight.
1t is further obvious that their
mutual yen is painful to three
sinister parties, one of whom is
wearing a bright blue wig instead
Of the conventional black.
There probably isn't much
more you need to know about
the plot of a ballet, since this is
one corner of the theatrical arts
where the playing rather than
the play Cor as much of the
play) is the thing. The Ballet
Russo "Mikado" was executed
with both skill and spirit last
night.
A number of dancers are
granted an opportunity to DEM
onstrate their art during the
course of Miss Cobos' work.
Trina Borowska was pert Yum
Yum to Joseph Savino's COM
petent Nanki-Poo and. slong
with Gertrude Tyven and Yvonne
Chouteau. made a bright bit of
the Three Little Maids" num-
ber.
Leon Danielian managed.
sinister Ko-Ko and Victor Mo-
reno added some more of the
same as the Mikado. It was
Frederic Franklin, however, who
made the most of good comedy
role, if indeed it was Mr.. Frank
lin behind Katisha's mask and
under that blue wig.
The Cobos' choreography for
"The Mikado" derives in part
from oriental dance steps, for
both novelty and comedy. Things
get a shade confused here and
there, but all in all there is a
lot of swirling movement that
churns up deal Of excitement.
Bernard Lamotte's scenery and
costumes are quite a help, too.
in creating the overall effect.
"The Mikado" will be re-
peated at the National tomorrow
night and Saturday night. It's
one of the brightest new ballets
these eyes have seen in some
time. begging Mr.. Gilbert's par
don.
There was a fair amount of
variety about the rest of the
troupe's opening program, rang
ing from the very old to the
moderately old to the somewhat
new. 1t was the very old. "Swan
Lake" which allowed Maria
Tallchief to score a major per-
sonal triumph Of the evening.
Miss Tallchief's dancing of the
queen of swans, ably abetted by
Mr.. Franklin. was a thing of
grace and beauty and the huz-
zahs must have warmed her
heart.
Another success was the Ruth
anna Boris-choreographed light
hearted circus fancy. Cirque de
Aakhnret Tnnneil 70 Meet