Giselle
Peter H.M.Brooks
We were even luckier to find the Sunday matinee not only starred Tracy
Li, but also had a live orchestra.
We enjoyed it very much indeed. The set was good, suiting the lighter
first half as well as it did the darker second. The dancing was of a
high standard and the sound was excellent - though, during one ghostly
scene, the ghosts made rather unghostly thumps during a harp and flute
passage, the score might have had some more volume to conceal that!
I particularly loved the Gothic flavour of the second half and though it
very well done. The stage smoke was well managed and a properly spooky
atmosphere was created. The dancing fitted the theme very well - with
the one, to my mind, unfortunate bit where the ghost was rushed across
the back-stage area held up by a black-cloaked dancer, it made me laugh,
which wasn't quite the intention. There was also quite a bit of
one-legged hopping, but one has to accept that there aren't many other
places where you can go to see sixteen very athletic adults hopping
towards each other in long dresses.
The orchestra supported the dark score nicely. It wasn't dark enough to
be called Wagnerian, but certainly a long way from some frothy ballet
scores. The French horns with the bassoons gave a good backing
throughout, with the tuba (a huge beast) and bass trombones took over
the atmosphere in the second half. There were some gentle harp, cello
and clarinet sections as well as, of course, a few flute and violin
pieces, it wouldn't be ballet without those, I suppose, but there was
lovely contrast - something that some ballet scores lack.
The costumes were simple, but with some clever high-lights, particularly
with the regal costumes, but also in things like the waistcoats worn by
the principles.
The choreography included some delightful set pieces for the corps de
ballet that were elegantly performed in the main and made good use of
the set. The solo set pieces were lovely.
A Sunday matinee is clearly popular as there weren't many empty seats in
the main Nico auditorium.
Moira de Swardt
"Peter H.M.Brooks" <pe...@new.co.za> wrote in message
> We were lucky enough to be taken to Giselle this afternoon by my
father.
> We were even luckier to find the Sunday matinee not only starred
Tracy
> Li, but also had a live orchestra.
I've seen the adverts on TJ's website, Artslink.
> A Sunday matinee is clearly popular as there weren't many empty
seats in
> the main Nico auditorium.
Yes, it is a sensible time to be at the theatre. I spent the
afternoon with the current love of my life at "Defending the
Caveman. We found it highly entertaining even though we have both
seen it before.
--
Moira de Swardt posting from Johannesburg, South Africa
Remove the dot in my address to find me at home.
Peter H.M.Brooks
> seats in
>> the main Nico auditorium.
>
> Yes, it is a sensible time to be at the theatre. I spent the
> afternoon with the current love of my life at "Defending the
> Caveman. We found it highly entertaining even though we have both
> seen it before.
>
become a general trend. Evening shows on Sunday are a lot less appealing
if you've got an early Monday morning start.