I saw the show Friday night. I have been an avid PNB
fan/follower/audience member from 19 years and it is always interesting
to see these Rep Shows. I have to say that I loved Petit Mort. But was
shocked when it was over! I wanted more! I loved the casting and I
really think that some of the shapes were interesting. I especially
loved Kaori Nakamura who looked more amazing than I ever could remember.
I loved the costumes (or lack there of)-really seeing the movement
articulating through the dancer's bodies was a new experience. Sitting
up close, it was also interesting to see the facial expressions of the
dancers and feel intimately involved. It might have been nice to sit
further away though to get the whole effect of the sweeping sheet and
the dresses.
Mopey was good for me as well. I have not seen a lot of Benjamin
Griffiths and he was impressive. Again, I liked the fact that he was
bare chested and did many of the solo facing away from the audience. His
back was amazing to watch!
I could not stand the Seasons. The corps girls seemed under-rehearsed
and Lucien seemed very half hearted to me. I am a big fan of Lucien and
after seeing him in Romeo and Juliet four times, I felt that he seemed
like his heart wasn't in it. I thought that there was some structural
problems in some of the pas de deux with the girls in blue tutus like
the corps. And, I didn't understand why the corps had like three costume
changes. As for the sparkly cargo pants and brown belt worn by
Bold.....well he and Carrie Imler were the highlight for me. The
costumes here, especially for the men were a joke to me. Also, it was
very odd to me how towards the end the corps girls went from a corps
that was dancing/supplementing to something similiar to peasents in a
story ballet! Talking with each other and pointing to the boys. What? It
was so contrived to me. The whole thing, expect for Bold, Carrie and
flashes of the Swallow dance.
West Side Story is cute....I still have a slight problem with dancers
singing....I do wish that maybe there was singing coming from the pit
and the dancers could just dance. But, how cute is Carla Korbes as
Anita? It is fun. Did anyone else notice the boys (both Sharks and Jets)
trying to point their feet in their converse sneakers? The sneakers were
getting all scrunched up.
So, overall not my fav program but ok.