Revolution of the Umbrellas, The (1943 - )

Telegraph, The (Brisbane): Peggy Sager (left) and Helene Kirsova in 'The Revolution of the Umbrellas', Kirsova Ballet, 1944

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Helene Kirsova's three-act ballet The Revolution of the Umbrellas premiered at the Sydney Conservatorium on 9 February 1943, as part of the 'Kirsova Ballet Season in aid of the Legacy War Orphans' Appeal'. It was choreographed to music by Henry Krips, musical director and pianist for the Kirsova company at the time. Decor and costumes were by Wolfgang Cardamatis. The libretto, inspired by a Danish fairytale by Kjeld Abell, depicted a lonely waif who finds an umbrella and dreams that it comes to life to lead a revolt against her pretentious wealthy relatives. Peggy Sager performed in the premiere as the Soul of the Lost Umbrella, with Rachel Cameron as Poor Little Anna and Edouard Sobishevsky as the Professor. Other lead cast members included Helena Orlova, Strelsa Heckelman, and Valentin Zeglovsky.

The Sydney Morning Herald review of opening night praised The Revolution of the Umbrellas as 'an arresting work…charged with artistic honesty' and featuring 'a minimum of banality, a maximum of mobility and drama, and some moments of memorable beauty, as in the majestic adagio of the second act.' This review also noted the ballet's 'masculine virility, too rare a characteristic in the work of women choreographers'.

Bibliography:

John Whiteoak and Aline Scott-Maxwell (general ed.), Currency Companion to Music and Dance in Australia (Sydney: Currency House in association with Currency Press, 2003); 'Arresting New Ballet', The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 February 1943, p. 9; The National Gallery of Australia holds nine set and costume designs by Wolfgang Cardamatis for The Revolution of the Umbrellas.

See also: Cameron, Rachel ; Heckelman, Strelsa ; Kirsova Ballet ; Kirsova, Helene ; Sager, Peggy

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