Page:The Dial (Volume 73).djvu/723



Balieff's actors from The Bat in Moscow seem as if from the centre of the onion—the vision predominates. Removed from the intimate it is all intimate, closely observed to be deftly translated to the stage—

The swiftness, fulness, delicacy of their compositions dance with the imaginations of peasants and musicians, philosophers, and gipsies—The keen eyes of humour look from tall women's faces gently; the ensemble is felt above the detail; the music goes free of the fact; the satire puts a varicoloured bridle on the donkey— the old and the young engage in the same pastimes—

Pantomime and gesture woman or man—a power suffuses everything gathering it altogether uniting without brushing even the bloom— The free air welcomes them to itself, the footlights obey as if it were some lost master— The Americans of the audience crumble, sweetness escapes their lips, their straining comedians feel a lightness that bids them play— They are relieved of their lot Jolson is entranced