Giannina

It's going to be tough to beat the Jose Carreno story. That made my day! Giannina

I saw Ecstatic Orange a couple of times, long ago; once (if not both times) at Orange County Performing Arts Center. The first time I saw Watts, Soto and Ashley in the principal roles. I loved it; Ashley was a revelation in it....very unlike her usual roles. The 2nd time (much later) it was Watts and Soto again; I do not remember the 3rd dancer. It was not as good; very dissapointing. The Watts/Soto pdd is rather gymnastic but truly lovely and flowing; I forget the Ashley role but it was seductive, I think. The music is exotic. Giannina

In spite of all my praise for Ashton and Helpmann's understated step sister interpretation, my favorite step sister is Guillaume Graffin in ABT's version of Cinderella which, I understand, is Ben Stevensen's. He's a tough, sexy, hysterically funny, good lookin' dame. I guess I just like the character; you could put him/her anywhere. Giannina

Did Ashton mean for the step sisters to be older women? I had the feeling that the stepsisters took on that guise only when Ashton and Helpmann danced the roles and gave them their own particular twist. Having forgotten what I read in Vaughn's book I don't remember if Ashton made the step sister roles on Helpmann and himself. If so then perhaps they're old; if not then it's a particular characterization. Giannina

Beats me! I opt for "excuse", and a darn good one! Giannina

Susan...that's a classic; I'm going to laugh over that one for days! I mentioned in another thread that in this production the step mother has died. That changes the entire relationship between Cinderella, her father, and the step sisters. The step mother is the only reason for the meanness of the story; without her either the Dad is an ogre (and he definitely isn't in Ashton's version) or the step sisters wield clout (which seems questionable, given their daffiness). However, it's a fairy tale and logic is not required. Giannina

That's very interesting. I've thought so much about the step sisters in this production, I think mainly because Ashton and Helpmann gave the roles such a distinctive flavor. I have seen many Cinderellas; none of the step sister characterizations compare to Ashton's and Helpmann's. It's not that they're men; I think it's because they're older men and make the step sisters look and act like older women, giving them a gentle, befuddled air. Their "gentleness" compliments Ashton's lush choreography. The So. Calif. step sisters were more on the zany side, none the less Ashton's choreography was not to be denied....nothing can diminish it. Having just seen the video I couldn't help comparing the So. Calif. step sisters to Ashton and Helpmann and I missed the above mention "gentleness" they gave to the ballet. Dowell and Sleep dance the step sisters in London; I'd be interested in seeing their interpretation. I find Ashton's Cinderella the best of the Cinderellas; I simply loved it, on the video and live. Giannina

Bummer! Major bummer! Giannina

We could have cheer leaders with pom poms! Giannina

On the Orange County Cinderella thread The Fred Step came up. I asked about it and Jane Simpson replied, telling me it appears, very clearly, in Cinderella. The dance instructor and the "Ashton" stepsister dance it. Cinderella does it later, in a somewhat modified form, when dancing with her broom in Act I. Giannina

So would I, in fact I'd just take him/her with me. Thanks for letting us share your theater-going experience. Glad you had such a nice time. Giannina

Bronxfan: tell us what you saw and what you thought. Giannina

Good for me! Giannina

I just have to add that Scenes de Ballet is considered one of Ashton's best; a classic. Giannina

I made it! And I loved it. It's hard to curb my enthusiasm and get my thoughts in order. The gist of the matter is: the name of the ballet is ASHTON! The choreography is so sumptuous that nothing short of rank amateurs could spoil the ballet. The evening was not perfect, but perfect enough. Jamie Tapper and David Makhateli starred; I found them the weak elements. Tapper dancing was excellent, but her portrayal was overly sad and lacked a joyfulness that Cojocaru projected in spite of her dismal circumstances. Makhateli's technique was a bit off tonight, and his partnering was not his strong point. Act I really is the best of the acts. The highlight is the Fairy Godmother's solo, and then the Seasons. Fairy Godmother's solo reduced me to tears tonight. The music; the choreography; the stomping toework; it was perfect. Vanessa Palmer danced the role, and somehow she moved me more than Isabel McMeekan did on Monday tho I preferred McMeekan's technique. Natasha Oughtred, Isabel McMeekan, Deirdre Chapman and Christina Arestis were the seasons. All were lovely. Arestis (Winter) is a beautiful woman and beautiful dancer; I'd like to keep an eye on her. I got more out of the stepsisters this time around, probably because I followed them beyond the first act. Alastair Marriott repeated in the Ashton role and was still a bit blah. The 2nd act brought out the personality of the Helpmann stepsister; Philip Mosley's protrayal was miles away from Helpmanns's (I've got to quit comparing them to Ashton and Helpmann) and I loved it. He/she was a dame (USA dame, not Brittish!). I was glad to see that these stepsisters, in their own way, kept the endearing qualities Ashton and Helpmann brought to the roles; they loved each other, and there was a bond between them and Cinderella. Act II brought the best costume of the production: the jester's. If nothing else he served the purpose of bringing primary colors to a pastel act. The Cinderella/Prince pdd was lovely. This was a love pdd in the balletic classic style with the Ashton touch; you just couldn't miss it; not flambouyant, not stilted; elegant. So many lovely passages, for example Cinderella is lightly supported in a double pirouette, then released and circles the Prince in a series of single pirouettes. Act III was Act III The theater's stratosphere section was empty so I could cough and sniffle to my heart's content. No rude audience members, in fact no audience up there. Wonderful evening. I could go on and on but enough already. Giannina

art076 states (wish I knew how to use that "quote" thing-y): "Ashton’s “Cinderella” is a bit deficient narratively, as it glosses over plot points to instead focus on individual moments" I'll say. Consider this....I mean think about it: in this version of the story the stepmother has died! Giannina

Thanks, everyone! Giannina

You're not going to believe this but I left at the first Intermission! Not in a fit of pique but in a fit of not feeling well. My husband almost fainted when I came home! But, in reference to the first act at least: I completely agree with art076 that McKeekan was a wonderful Fairy Godmother. The Season were also lovely, some more than others. Even lovelier was their choreography; it's beautiful in itself, and what the dancers add gives the magic to the performance. Having just seen the video with Ashton and Helpmann as the stepsisters I found these stepsisters lacking, and almost void of personality. I was sitting in the stratosphere which is usually empty. It was jammed, and it was good to see the OCPAC full of ballet goers. Unfortunately I was seated by 3 or them who displayed some of the horrible manners we've mentioned. Sigh. I'm going for another Cinderella dosage Thurs. Giannina

Thanks, Jane. Yes, David Vaughan's description is the one I read but I don't know ballet terms well enough to form a picture. I'll go back to the tape. Giannina

Forgot....I had another question. Can someone describe "Fred's step" and where does it appear in Cinderella? I think I read a description in one of his biography's, using the name of ballet steps, but I didn't quite get it. Giannina

Just watched the DVD. Choice, or in honor of Brando, "cherce". I have a question or 2. How many companies perform Ashton's Cinderella? And who choreographed ABT's Cinderella? Giannina

Yes indeed! I have the DVD, and it's so good that I suggest everyone see, or better yet, buy it. I'll be going to 2 performances of Royal's Cinderella next week. Giannina

You can get Malakhov at: http://www.vaimusic.com I bought it there rather recently. Giannina

OK; I'll start. Legs: Early in here career when she carried more weight: Wendy Whelan Feet: Guillem. Honorable mention (very honorable): Makarova Arms and Hands: Dunno; don't watch them too much Giannina

Am I the only one who finds all this a bit scarey? Giannina