Victor Borge Delights at SPAC

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, July 1, 1968

Universal Brand of Humor

Whether you’ve ever seen Victor Borge before or not is of little consequence. His humor remains universal and delightful for the entire family and his two performances this weekend at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Saturday night and yesterday afternoon proved that conclusively.

No stranger to this area, Mr. Borge and his very talented co-star, Leonid Hambro, have performed in the Saratoga-Troy area several times and yet their humor is always fresh and hysterical.

Whether he’s explaining the method for performing a selection or playing a comic duet with Mr. Hambro, attempting to lead the New York City Ballet Orchestra or finally settling down to some serious music, Victor Borge remains Victor Borge, known the world over for his particular brand of entertainment.

When he turns to some serious piano playing, he has no peers at the keyboard. His touch is perfect, his rapport with the work and the sensitivity with which he moves through the selection are the result of true musical knowledge, background and experience and one can not help but wish that he would play even more during his shows.

Equally gifted at the piano is Mr. Hambro, who makes a perfect foil for the Borge brand of comedy, yet is still very definitely a personality. Mr. Borge turned his talents to conducting the New York City Ballet orchestra on several occasions, with selections ranging from Tschaikofsky to Strauss. Some he treated in a semi-serious rein, while for many, his humor proved the keynote.

With the two performances by Mr. Borge and company, the series of six pre-season performances at SPAC came to an end. The New York City Ballet with George Balanchine will open its third season at SPAC on Thursday night with the spectacular “The Nutcracker.”