Russian New Year’s Eve! The doorway of the “Balalaika,” a Russian Cabaret in Montmartre! The doorman was once a Lieutenant in a crack Regiment of Cossacks; his former Colonel is now a street singer; his brother-officers work in the cabaret inside. Exiles, these men cling together in poverty. To-night after the last guest has left the “Balalaika,” they will hold their New Year party.
Mrs. Randall P. Morrison, of Cincinnati, in Paris with her husband for the first time, is “out for the evening.” A few drinks, a row with the taxi-driver, and behold her, outside the “Balalaika,” demanding stridently what it is all about! She does not believe the story that ex-officers and former aristocrats work there for a living. As her voice dominates the crowded street, like an answer to her questions, the story begins!
In St. Petersburg, in July 1914, the corps de ballet of the famous Marinsky Theatre were pursued by the wild young Cossack officers—so much so that the ballet mistress, Petrova, had set Nicki, the assistant-assistant stage manager to keep them out of the theatre. The dancers were none of them averse to flirtation, except Lydia, daughter of professor Marakov, whose contempt for men was a joke.
Nicki loved Lydia and was in his turn adored by Masha, the head dresser, but try as he would, he never dared to speak, though Masha, self-sacrificially, did her best to help him. When Count Peter Karagin discovered his officers amusing themselves with the dancers he pretended to be angry—although he, the most notorious Casanova in the Imperial Army, had come to the theatre to see Lydia who had previously slapped his face. This time he stole a kiss and invited her to a party. When she refused he assured her coolly that she would turn up all the same!
Later in the day Peter’s father, Prince Karagin, visited the ballet mistress to warn her that his son must not become seriously entangled with her dancers. To make doubly sure he paid a surprise visit to his son’s wild party at the “Balalaika” gipsy restaurant which was kept by one Maniev. There he found Peter and Lydia not only in love, but talking of marriage!
Another unexpected visitor was Lydia’s father. Marakov showed scorn for the aristocracy and their philandering which few men in Russia would have dared to express. Peter and Lydia, refused to be parted, but Fate had a blow in store or them; the celebrations were interrupted by the news of the out-break of War; the Cossacks had to leave immediately and Lydia made her lover promise not to return until the enemy were beaten.
Christmas Eve and the third winter of the War . . . the Cossack Officers are at dinner. Peter is told by the Colonel that he is to be transferred to Petrograd, owing to the growing fear of Revolution and the need for a personal bodyguard to the Czar. So Peter, released by his orders from his promise to Lydia, returned home. With him went his orderly, Nicki, who had joined the Army to look after Peter.
They reached Petrograd on the night of the Grand Gala at the Marinsky Theatre. Peter’s first duty was to be with the Czar in the Imperial Box. Nicki found Masha a very changed person; instead of adoring him from a distance, she now advanced upon him and grabbed him for her own. After an affecting reunion with Lydia, Peter promised to call for her later and go with her to speak with her father.
The performance of Petrova’s new ballet, “Reflections,” was reaching its climax when a bomb was thrown from the gallery into the Imperial Box and only prompt action by Peter saved the life of the Czar. Later, when Peter and Lydia arrived at Marakov’s house, they discovered that Lydia’s father had thrown the bomb. Marakov wildly accused Peter of being a spy—a story which Lydia, too, believed when Denikov of the Secret police came to arrest her father and congratulated Peter on having got there first. Before Peter could explain Denikov’s mistake, Lydia rounded bitterly on him and told him that she never wished to see him again.
A few weeks later Prince Karagin gave a Ball. Revolution was in the air. At the height of the evening the storm broke. Led by Marakov, the revolutionaries broke into the Karagin Palace and overcame the unarmed guests.

Scene I

Scene III