The Nutcracker, Graduation Ball, Coppelia, Divertissements ON TOUR

BALLET PERFORMANCE OF HIGH STANDARD

Review by Frank Connell

In the City Hall on Saturday afternoon and evening The Ballet Theatre of Queensland presented The Nutcracker and Graduation Ball, under the artistic direction of Miss Phyllis Danaher, with assistance from the teaching members of Toowoomba Ballet Workshop, Mrs C. Drew, Mrs M.O’Brien, Mrs C.Mullins, Mrs B.J.Rotterveel and senior members.

At the evening performance the large audience demonstrated many times that it was being treated to ballet of a very high standard. Although of amateur status, at times professional work was displayed.

Mal Czislowski has been seen here before and his technique has since improved considerably. He is now a male dancer of grace and virility, with a dignified deportment and audience appeal. Dennis young is also in the latter category.

The perfectly cast Sugar Plum Fairy, Judy Casey, danced with technical ease and grace - in the pas de deux with Mal Czislowski she was entrancing.

Bright future

Clara (April Perkins), although most of the time in an unbecoming nightie, managed to move and appear graceful. This young dancer appears to have a very bright future.

Although Graduation Ball was bright and captivating, it came as an anti-climax after the brilliant, colourful Nutcracker.

Dayne Cory as the dragon Headmistress did not miss a trick – he was good to the last drop when he tearfully left the ballroom, and in the Mazurka with Arthur Marshman the miming of both was character acting at its best.

The Ballet Theatre is to be commended on its hardihood – first of all to mount these ballets must cost a great deal, then there are many other commitments. But they have the right idea – they start on time. There is strict discipline evident and the work is taken seriously by the dancers.

Really chilling

On a cold night in Toowoomba, the snowstorm was chilling, in character, but the mystery of the moving bed remains a mystery. It is to be hoped Toowoomba will be given a return season with packed houses.

Toowoomba Chronicle, 21 May 1968