Delightful Evening of Theatricals, Music and Dancing Arranged The Carlton was crowded on Wednesday evening with guests on the occasion of the Russian New Year festivities organised by the Association of Russian Army and Navy men, General dancing which was punctuated by the items of a well chosen and delightful programme was continued. practically throughout the night. The ball was not complete masque but there were nevertheless many cleverly designed and pretty costumes among which the charming gala dress as worn by Russian peasant women predominated, The usual steps were varied by Russian dances includ~ ing a variation of the fast polka and the Kohanochka, a pretty dance in which the couples move in graceful procession " around the floor The comparative unfamiliarity of these steps gave a little much needed breathing space on the floor which was uncomfortably packed for the customary foxtrot and waltzes.
The programme opened with a one act Comedy "The Burglar under the Bed" by Averchenks, performed by the Dramatic Section of the Association. In this the parts of the two burglars, taken Messrs, Jscherbakof ' and Antolko sky, were well sustained, the latter' particularly upon whom' the onus of th a very gallant and rome, acting fell, making cool Madame *Valitzky Mot a delightful ingenuous vivacity "and succeeded in making us all jealous of her lovers and very' sad at her subsequent fate, captive of that hopeless here, her husband, where part ay such was well taken'by Mr. Kusnetyoft, Madame Valitzky' background acting: was remarkably well done and gave just the right emphasis to the stormy scenes Which she was the unhappy witness. Mr. Evdokimoff played the ardent though timid lover with credit, overdoing: none of this dificult part, We could have wished that the audience "had been taken a. Tith more into the producer's confidence Dut possibly the hilarious vein which it was decided to act. the play was a necessity dictated both by the dificalties "of a ball-room auditorium and also the festive spirit of the occasion.
This way followed Troika dance by M. Jean lo and his troupe which was performed, with a pretty delicacy and spirit. Mr. Fedoroff then gave a mellow and restful rendering of Avensky's Sevenade" on the violin with an nere after which Madame Jelin-
Kovaky who was doessed in Russian gala costume sang one or two selected songs.
It is to be regretted that Inck of time curtailed some of the later items of the programme. We should have been glad to have seen much more than it was possible to permit of Madame Balneff's beautiful dancing. Her solo performance of the Gold Fish dance from Pugni's "Don Quixote" war done with a delicacy of charm and a finished mastery of the art that captivated her audience, while Madame Schneider's dancing of variations from "Coppelin" was both pretty and graceful.
Among the remaining items Mr. Kroupin's burlesque "of classical dancing was extremely effective being carried out with a sustained and. well balanced humour and grotesqueness that brought down the house.
At midnight a striking tableau representing 1926, was staged and the New Year was hailed by a crashing salute from a brass band.
Tiis had been preceded by "Ding Dong" a clever and vivacious dual turn by Mr, and Mdme. Arsky and wag followed by Mr. Lentz. who mystified and amused his audience with a finished exhibition of coning.
'A selection of songs by Br. Kargauoff in the choruses of which the company joined ended the official programme.
The committee of the Association is to be congratulated on a very successful evening, which was in Jayge measure due to the untiring efforts of Mr. V. Tolginnie who had charge of the general arrangements, -and Mr. Loanidoff the theatrical znd musical manager,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.