UK Theatre Network

Theatre Royal, Glasgow (17 - 31 December 2011)

Ahead of the curtain there is a real feeling of anticipation in the auditorium.  A look through the beautifully presented programme / brochure featuring details on composition, artistic process, company and rehearsals gives a sense of the love, care and reverence that this production has received.  As the lights dim, there is just time to glance into the expansive orchestra pit of the Theatre Royal to see row after row of attentive musicians as they await the first upbeat from Resident Conductor, Richard Honner.  We are clearly in for a Christmas treat!

The curtain opens on a simple scene outside a doctor's office as the concerned King (Owen Thorne) and Queen (Eve Mutso) learn of their inability to conceive a child.  But the good Lilac Fairy (Noellie Conjeaud) is able to intervene with magic.  The doctor's office is swiftly struck to reveal the impressive set of the Royal Gardens featuring a substantial summer house which pivots smoothly to allow space for the ensemble to weave their magic of dance in celebration of the Royal Christening.  In this open setting we are also able to appreciate the lighting effects adorning the set from Designer, Anthony McDonald.  Subtle but effective changes of colour are used to influence mood as the many principals perform for the assembled Royal Party.  We are also treated to a mist effect around the trees giving the backdrop an ‘other-worldly' quality appropriate to the tale.  The quality continues into Act II as the enchanted forest setting is given an ethereal depth as we meet more fantastic characters like Snow White, Cinderella and Red Riding Hood.  Costume-wise, we are treated to flowing gowns and royal finery across two centuries as the Beauty, Princess Aurora, and her royal court sleep for a full hundred years.  With the initial part of the tale set in 1830, the story reaches a happy conclusion in 1946 … and it is a real joy to see such breathtaking choreography performed in 20^th century costume.

Tchaikovsky's immortal score was performed with power and sensitivity by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.  Ashley Page's artistic direction incorporates a great deal of humour with the bad fairies portrayed as wicked (rather than evil) for the family audience.  Several laugh-out-loud moments reached a peak, for me, at Princess Aurora's birthday celebration as the audience was teased with a number of sharp objects upon which the cursed Princess might prick her finger.  Would it be the hedge shears wielded by the gardeners (who looked strangely like the bad fairies), or perhaps the swords worn by Aurora's four suitors … no, it would be the 8 foot tree-like comedy cactus presented in a gift pot at the end of the scene!

Performances from Claire Robertson and Eric Cavallari as Princess Aurora and her Prince were captivating and I would be remiss were I not to mention the beautifully charismatic performances from Tomomi Sato as the Fairy of Song and Lady Bluebird.  All of the principals were expressive and displayed superb synchronicity throughout the performance.  The production was exquisitely executed and a joy to behold.

Listings Info:

Scottish Ballet "The Sleeping Beauty"

Sat 17^th to Sat 31^st December 2011

Tickets: £7 - £35

Box Office 08448 717 647 (Bkg fee)

http://www.atgtickets.com/Scottish-Ballet's-The-Sleeping-Beauty-Tickets/2/530/ (bkg fee)

Tour details:

Festival Theatre Edinburgh
11 - 14 January 2012
Tickets from £10
Box Office 0131 529 6000*
BOOK ONLINE NOW  Full booking details

His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen
18 - 21 January 2012
Tickets from £11.50
Box Office 01224 641122*
BOOK ONLINE NOW Full booking details

Eden Court Inverness
25 - 28 January 2012
Tickets from £14
Box Office 01463 234 234*
BOOK ONLINE NOW Full booking details

 Theatre Royal, Newcastle
1 - 4 February 2012
Tickets from £10
Box office 08448 11 21 21
BOOK ONLINE NOW Full booking details

The Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia

In the second of their three dazzling ballet masterpieces, presented at the Waterside on consecutive nights, The Russian State Ballet of Siberia performed traditional fairy story Sleeping Beauty on Friday 25th March.

Formed in 1981, The Russian State Ballet of Siberia has now established itself as one of Russia’s leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and unusual depth. Both the soloists and the corps de ballet have been highly praised by critics, and never fail to delight audiences with their breathtaking ability and stunning costumes.

The classic story of love and innocence, mystery and magic, Sleeping Beauty , continues to prove why it is every child’s favourite fairytale. With stunning choreography, sumptuous costumes and wonderful sets the fantasy world is created in which the Lilac Fairy struggles against the evil Carabosse.

The backdrops and some of the first costumes had very muted colours and the fairies costumes complimented this with the soft pallet of pastel shades.  It was interesting to see the use of Jacobean period costume with the men wearing huge wigs, feathered hats and breeches, which can’t have been easy to dance in!  Prince Desire though wore more traditional ballet tights enabling him to leap and jump around the stage with great vigour and ease.

The story begins at the Christening of Princess Aurora in the palace of King Florestan 1V, played with imperious aloofness by Alexander Kuimov and his graceful Queen (Margarita Nosik).  The fairies of the Kingdom are presenting presents to the new Princess, when the evil fairy Carabosse (gleefully played by Kirill Litvinenko, who makes a great villain and whose presence fills the stage) enters with her rats and tries to attack the Princess.  The statuesque and very elegant Natalia Vyskubenko beautifully plays the Lilac Fairy who blocks Carabosse from her evil intent, but not before she has pulled out the hair of Cattalabutte (Roman Kirkorov) and promised that the Princess will die after pricking her finger. 

On Princess Aurora’s (Maria Kuimova) 16th birthday party, the villagers join in the festivities and make garlands for her.  Four Princes arrive and she dances with each of them in turn, charming them all with her great beauty and accomplished dancing.  Carabosse gives Aurora a spindle and she pricks her finger, dancing dizzily before collapsing.  As Carabosse vanishes, the Lilac Fairy appears and assures the King and Queen that the Princess has not died, but is only in a deep sleep.  She is carried up to bed and Lilac Fairy waves her wand to make the whole kingdom fall into a deep sleep.

Act 2 takes place 100 years later, as Prince Desire (Yury Vyskubenko) searches for Princess Aurora in the forest.  Lilac Fairy appears and takes him to her and when he kisses Aurora she awakens, along with everyone in the kingdom making Carabosse die.  At the wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Desire, all the fairy tale characters from Charles Perrault’s stories come to celebrate and dance for them.  There’s the white cat (Anastasia Kazantesva) and Puss-in-Boots (Denis Pogorelyy), Bluebird (Ivan Karnaukhov), Princess Florine (Natalia Goroshko), Little Red Riding Hood (Anna Germizeeva) and the Wolf (Roman Pavlenko), Cinderella (Ksenia Vdovina) and the Prince (Vyacheslav Kapustin).  In true classical fairy tale fashion they all live happily ever after!

 For the latest programme at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre visit www.ambassadortickets.com/aylesbury  or call the Box Office on 0844 871 7607.

Yvonne Delahaye
www.uktheatre.net