Ballet, anyone?
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| Posted on October 17, 2014 at 15:48:03 | ||
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Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia Joined: January 30, 2002 |
Last night Patricia wanted to see a performance of that old chestnut ballet 'La Fille mal Gardee'. Towards which, having looked it up I had a resigned attitude. I don't quite dig a lot of 19C opera for similar reasons. * The Australian production tradition / history for this piece is expect-ably euphemistic / bowdlerised as "the Wayward girl". Ashton and Lancberry The music is Herold's and arranged by Lanchberry, there's a 'Pantomime-dame' as the scheming widowed mother doing a chicken-dance!!!!!, provincial town/village, farmers, and so Timbo was not expecting to enjoy himself. But, it is a core piece of ballet repertoire. * See here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_fille_mal_gard%C3%A9e_%28Ashton%29 We had a simple one-course & one-glass meal at a much favoured Italian place across from the theatre precinct, during which I was asked about that afternoon's tour/group. Trisha asks good questions! Then we walked over to The Canberra Theatre, and unusually we held hands, my idea. Well now? Spectacular dancing, pretty girls, nice legs, good figures and lots of knickers, and a not entirely silly plot. And the widow was very funny. I enjoyed it. More than that, I realised in ways I couldn't list, why it has endured within ballet. Good for the entire WA Ballet and the Qld Ballet's dancers, who combined to do it. While there were a few pas de deux, a lot more ensemble work, which was very engaging. Very south of France sets and costumes. Bring back frilly petticoats, I say. A review - http://www.hismajestystheatre.com.au/eventDisplay.aspx?ID=1424 The music? was a recording, possibly Lanchberry's last? on Decca. Played through the theatre's own sound system. Bit hard sounding and the bass was woomphy where we were sitting. It is good when she takes you out!
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