Has anyone posted or read any reviews of the Saturday matinee with Sarah Lane & Joseph Gorak? I've looked all over the place (rather compulsively I might add). I've even checked twitter regularly. It's crickets out there! Surely someone will write a review? I am very new to ballet going, and reviews often help me understand portions that I miss. (At this stage, I am probably missing a lot!)
Here are some impressions I had on this, my 3rd viewing of Ratmansky's Nutcracker:
The humor in the mice, especially the "little" mouse, is truly enchanting. Everyone was chuckling throughout the kitchen scene. Then, near the end, when the mouse appears again underneath Mother Ginger's skirt, the children around me shouted with glee. It is fun to see children respond so freely- who says ballet isn't accessible? In my section were children and young adults and middle aged adults and two beautifully dressed older women. I heard laughter throughout.
The bees in the land of the sugar plum fairy don't really land with the same humor. In fact, I don't enjoy that part of the ballet at all. When they dance with all of the beautifully dressed flowers, it just seems like a bad joke that doesn't quite land. (Speaking of the dance with the flowers- did I actually see the very last dancer tossed in the air only to land on her backside? I don't know what happened there, but the chaos and confusion definitely took me out of the moment.)
The dance of the snowflakes. This dance is why I've come back each year. Depicting snow that starts out lovely and sparkly and fun, but builds in intensity to a dangerous, life-threatening storm- of course! It's even there in the music. What is a delight. I wish a recording existed so that I could see it again.
During the dance of the nutcracker's sisters, Isadora Loyola was a standout to me. She danced with vibrance and joy.
The moment when Clara and the Nutcracker are mirrored by their older selves is lovely.
The costumes are mostly fabulous. The Harlequin/Columbine is one of my favorites. The little mouse is perfect. The colors of the clothing in the party. And the shiny silver lining of Drosselmeyer's cloak- so many little details make up this production.
Here are some questions I had. Could someone with greater knowledge and experience provide some insight?
While Sarah Lane made a beautiful Clara, it seemed to me that she and Joseph danced with tentativeness during the 2nd Act PDD. I kept waiting for that moment when the prince would catch her or lift her or embrace her with abandon- the visualization of the heights of romance. It just never quite got there (for me). The orchestra would build, the tension would grow, and then the choreography was executed but didn't quite give me chillbumps or make me catch my breath. (The Part & Gomes performance in 2011 stands out). Did anyone else feel that way or was I missing something? Also, Sarah Lane appeared to end one of the dances completely off balance. I don't know who made a mistake- or if it was a mistake at all- but it made for uncomfortable viewing.
The Arabian dance was baffling. With the likes of Hammoundi in the role, I expected something interesting at least. Honestly, it looked like a mess. Again, maybe I'm missing something here so I'd love for someone else to weigh in.
The staging in the 2nd Act (or scenery- not sure what you would call it) is awful. They must have been going for a restrained, elegant feel instead of the over-the-top sugary sweetness that can happen when you think "Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy." It's just boring instead. There's no real sense of "place" in it. (Maybe they blew the whole budget on the detailed costuming?)
Overall, I'm glad I went. There were some moments of great delight and beauty and real emotion. I would go back next year for the snowflakes dance alone, if I could. And in the hopes that that glorious moments in the PDD would reach the same heights as that Tchaikovsky score. (I'm partial to the Tchaikovsky. It's what really brought me into ballet in the first place!)
I'd love to hear any impressions from others. I was so excited to see Lane and Gorak. What did you see in the program that I missed?
Rhesa