vagansmom Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Having not yet seen the NYCB in "Sleeping Beauty", I was puzzled by this comment in a NY Times review: Megan Fairchild was largely wasted as a new Florine. Can someone explain? See here for the full review. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 My guess is that the reviewer thought the role wasn't big enough for her -- wanted to see her doing more. Other interpretations welcome! Link to comment
oberon Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Yes, Alexandra, I agree that is what the reviewer was saying. Oberon Link to comment
carbro Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Ahem. Isn't Florine considered a demi-ballerina role? If you're tall you do Lilac, if you're small you do Florine, right? I, too, look forward to Megan as Aurora , but what's the rush? Link to comment
Alexandra Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 I didn't see the performance, so I can't comment on the review, but I can't imagine a dancer I'd consider wasted as Florine. I consider it a major role; Makarova danced it. In fact, gave an interview when ABT got "Sleeping Beauty" in which she said she was more Florine than Aurora. I wondered if Fairchild, at present, might not be too light for Florine. Link to comment
Old Fashioned Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 I also agree that Florine is an important role. This season I saw Leticia Oliveira, a soloist with HB, dance the part. She would also make a nice Aurora, although she wasn't cast in it this time (don't know if she ever danced it). Oliveira is one of the most technically accomplished in the company and one of the favorites here, and I definitely did not think she was being "wasted" as Florise. Link to comment
tempusfugit Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 I think Florine, or Bluebird Princess as she is sometimes called, is a ballerina role. it's often been alternated with Aurora (Sibley, Park, Jenner, Benjamin, Tapper I think, to name a few Royal ballerinas who have done both regularly) in almost the same way that Dewdrop and Sugar Plum are often done at NYCB. Florine is certainly demanding enough technically. Perhaps that reviewer isn't aware of the history of the role? Link to comment
Alexandra Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 I can't imagine Dunning is unaware of the history of the role Maybe she just wanted to see Fairchild as Aurora ?? Link to comment
tempusfugit Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Yes..... or maybe she doesn't like this particular choreography? it's been several years since I saw the NYCB Beauty and I don't remember exactly what he has Florine doing. Link to comment
Leigh Witchel Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 TF - It's pretty darn close to what most everyone else does. Link to comment
dirac Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 I was puzzled by the "wasted as Florine" comment, too. It wasn't a long review, and maybe Dunning didn't have enough space to elucidate. However, the "so-and-so was wasted as thus-and-such" construction, a familiar one, generally means what Alexandra says – that the role isn't big enough or good enough. Clearly wrong in this case – it's not like giving Fairchild a walk-on as the maid, which is the impression I'd get from this if I wasn't familiar with the ballet. Link to comment
atm711 Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 I am so glad to have read the earlier comments....I just read the article in the 'Times' and wondered what had gotten into Dunning. My favorite Florine has always been Alicia Alonso, who performed the role when she was also doing Giselle and Odette. The beauty of her performance is that she danced like a regal classical ballerina---it's not all cutesy-ville. Doesn't Dunning know that this is a prize ballerina role----when Sadler's Wells performed 'Beauty' on their first visit to NY, Moira Shearer was the Princess Florine, and she was at the height of her popularity--having just filmed 'Red Shoes'. Link to comment
Herman Stevens Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 Isn't it fun? we're probably putting more thought into this than the reviewer did when he wrote the piece. Perhaps this wasn't Dunning's concluding sentence, and the piece was cut at the bottom, as is usual in newspapers. However, I think it makes sense to look a the previous sentence, which says the De Luz Bluebird wasn't a complete success. The funny things of the Bluebird pdd is, of course, it's one of the few times in classical ballet the man outshines the girl. And in this case, perhaps, Fairchild's talents were wasted (according to Dunning) in that she had to play second fiddle to a not entirely confident De Luz. Herman Link to comment
Alexandra Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 Good point, Herman! Link to comment
BW Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 I'll be glad to give you my take on it after tomorrow night. Looking forward to the evening. Link to comment
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