You couldn't have said it better... I mean, I think Irina's always a great technician, but I was aware every minute of the first act that she was "acting" today. What is it? Is she overacting? She just has this vacant smile. I liked her much more once she came unhinged, and she was better in the second act. And real tears before she died! Technically though, oh my god, the hops on pointe she did at the beginning were unreal, she just skittered across the stage. I don't know how she can be so sensational in one ballet and I don't want to say it-- forced... in another. I loved her in Merry Widow this year, but was disappointed today. I saw Julie and Ethan on Tuesday and you know like, you can't compare.
The sailing bouquets at the end were ridiculous; Irina and Max must have gotten eight thrown at them.
Veronika Part though, I went just to see her and she was excellent, and so GORGEOUS, god, they should put her picture in the tourist brochures next to the Statue of Liberty. She had beautiful serpentine arms, and was so predatory as Myrtha. She moved very slowly in places, especially when she was waving her arms above her head, and I think this added a lot of power to her gestures; it was very different from Wiles' approach on Tuesday, which was a little more insistent.