Evening star., 1955-11-02
sadIer' 5 Wells
Ballet Turns
Erolicsonle
By HARRY MacARTHIjR

~ BY HAIRY MacAMThUH
1t was the more frolicsone
side OF the Sadler's Wells Bal
lets nature that came to the
fore last night at the troupe's
second appearance Of its cur
rent engagement at the Capitol
Theater. The groups major con-
versation piece Margot Fon-
teyn's exciting Interpretation of
.eThe Firebird'-was pro>
grammed, but this time preceded
BY q pair Of thoroughly cheerful
works.
Both Of these are recent. or
moderately recent. additions to
the repertoire. One. being seen
here for the first time. was The
Lady and the Fool, choreo-
eraphed by John Cranko to mll-
SIC arranged by Charles Macker-
ras from q number Of Verdi
works. It first was danced BY the
Sadler's Wells Theater Ballet IN
February, 1854. and BY this par
ent company last June.
The other was Facade done
lii i94s BY Frederick Ashton and
described as "a ballet freely
adapted to music thy William
Walton1 originally written as a
setting to a poem by Edith Sit
we'll, Z
sThe Lady and the Foola Is q
highly romantic affair. Its cefl-
trail figure IS a capricious beauty
who takes d clown to q swa1k
soiree then finds herself smitten
with him rather than with those
rich and handsome bcunders w
ing for her affection. Despite It's
soap opera overtones, there IS
much to recommend in it,
Principally it is noteworthy for
giving Beryl Grey an opportunity
To- show on an abundant variety
of excellent dancing. Miss Grey
has returned from maternity
leave since the last Sadler's Wells
visit here and she turns out to
be ballerina who commands
your attention. She has beauty,
talent. authority and is just
about an iinpeccabie performer.
The Lady and the Fool gives
her 3 sort Of three-way parlay.
an adagio passage with three
different male dancers. which
permits display Of . considerable
range Of her dancing skill. Last
nights Capitol Theater audience
was virtually shouting its ap-I
pr0yal Of Miss Grey by the time
she was finished
This same ballet has some fine
comedy passages BY Philip Chat
field. as the clown who catches
the beauty's eye. and Ray Powell,
as his small crony. They bring
them on excellently and lend
their contribution to this enter
prise q warm Chaplinesque blend
of comedy and pathoS.
4&
Facade" Is, indeed, is the
hote says. freely adapted and 1T
also is completely diyertine. Ii
Is simply . set Of gprishtly dance
interludes collected together for
no particular reason beyond the
fact that they are an immense
amount Of fun. It obviously is
reason enough.
Rosemary Lindsay and Alex
ander Grant. as q debutante and
gigolo executing Cor at least tor
tiIringl q slinky tango, gave this
It's funniest moments last night.
Merle Park, as q lailkmaid op-I
Grating on an imaginary COW,
was q small delight. too. Every
one on hand. as d hlatter OIL
fact, merits B kind word for
demonstrating that the ballet
can be frolicsorle.
The Lady and the Fool was
scheduled for today's matinee,
along with 'RinaldO and Ar
niida and Act II 0f Swan
Lake. Z Tonight's program viii.
include aRinaIdo. 2 Lady and
Act III of Sleeping BEAUTY. q
The Sadler's Wells engagement
viii conclude tomorrow night
with the full length swan
Lake. Z an experience no balleto-
name should miss.
4
VISITOR "A notable figure iii
another area of the dance world
has been 8 Washington visitor
this week, sightseeine and fur-|
thering the cause Of her fayOrite|
GpAlAAA