Word: ballets
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Toast of the Town (Sun. 8 p.m., CBS). Guests: Sophie Tucker and the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet...
...Conservatory, brought stature to the title role. Her big, well-disciplined voice and perfect diction made her the outstanding soloist of the evening. She sang the "Endless Pleasure," aria about the joys she expects to find in heaven as Jupiter's mistress, with Iyric fluency. The poorly danced, unimaginative ballet sequence that accompanied her, however, was distracting...
...Casse Noisette (the revised Nutcracker Suite) the dancers' spirit combines with magnificent costuming to create a delightful fairyland. As originally choreographed by Ivanov, this ballet was rather pointless and uninspiring. Frederick Ashton's revision retains the more colorful scenes, includes a pas de deux, and makes the myth more enjoyable. The finale of Tchaikowsky's Suite, however, assigns too much force to the Kingdom of Ice scene, causing Pauline Harrop and Robert Lunnon to put excessive power into their gestures. A necessary and remarkable scenery change to the Kingdom of Sweets also demands awkward pushing motions...
Finishing the evening in their native element, the Theatre Ballet put on Pineapple Poll--another premiere--adapted from Gilbert's Bab Ballad. True to the Gilbert and Sullivan formula, tragedy and comedy have play, in this case on board the H.M.S. Hot Cross Bun. Elaine Fifield shows great talent for the comically forlorn gesture in her futile attempt to attract the Captain (David Blair), who keeps a crew of ladies in disguise...
Especially in those dances other than classical ballet," the Sadler's Wells Theatre group is extremely capable and enjoyable. The polished execution and coordination of the corps as a whole makes up for what it may lack in individual excellence...