SWAN LAKE – Birmingham Royal Ballet – Theatre Royal Plymouth


15 March 2023

5*****

In the week after Theatre Royal Plymouth have a major coup in appointing Dame Darcy Bussell as its Chair of the Trustees, they bring to the stage an exquisite production of Swan Lake from Birmingham Royal Ballet. BRB visit Plymouth twice a year and it is always something to look forward to; indeed tickets for their trip to the South West are not easy to get hold of; such is the popularity of dance and this Company in particular.

Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s production is rooted in tradition but carries with it so much to admire. It can be described by the 5 ‘E’s’ – Emotional, Enchanting, Exemplary, Exceptional and Exquisite. There; that says it all – almost.

With Swan Lake, the faintly ridiculous tale of a Prince falling in love with a swan is subsumed by the beauty of the dance and the wondrous score by Tchaikovsky; what is there not to like? The choreography of Lev Ivanov, Marius Petipa and Peter Wright must surely have rarely been so well presented.

In the performance I am reviewing Prince Siegfried is danced by Mathias Dingman who ticks every box you could want; he performs with such ease and elegance and he lifts his partner with the effort needed to lift an empty pillowcase. In Momoko Hirata, as Odette and Odile, you have class shining through in the most emotional and winning performance. The two combine on every level and their vast experience ensures they have the audience in their hands. Their pas de deux in Act Two, in particular, is a thing of immense depth of beauty. Hirata combines the beautifully soulful Odette with the smiling, slightly awkward Odile so well; her dancing takes care of the aforementioned ‘exquisite’.

The corps of 18 swans are faultless and the production paints the most wonderful pictures with them; and in a real coup de theatre, their appearance at the start of  Act Four illicits gasps and applause from the captivated audience.

The hugely experienced Jonathan Payn enjoys himself as the rather mad and bad Baron von Rothbart and Gus Payne is spot on as Siegfried’s friend Benno. The whole Company display their skills and virtuosity with aplomb.

Philip Prowse presents atmospheric and bold sets which are dressed with big furniture as well as some of the biggest costumes you will see on stage. The Act Three presentation of the Princesses is a feast for the eyes as yards of brocade makes its way across the stage. The lighting of Peter Teigen (adapted by Johnny Westall-Eyre) errs on the dark side, but it works a treat in complementing the action.

You never expect anything less than excellence from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and, under Paul Murphy, they give full voice to the sublime score. This is an orchestra working in perfect tandem with the performers on stage – as it should be – it’s utterly joyful to witness.

The knowledgeable audience is never short of offering support to what they are watching; there are cheers and whoops of joy – an outpouring of emotion and appreciation for what is put in front of them.

Birmingham Royal Ballet is a class act and this is a production of the highest order which leaves you breathless and full of emotion. Theatre Royal Plymouth is fortunate indeed to be able to bring work like this to audiences who are so ready to appreciate it. Long may it continue. Ballet at it’s very best.


CAST & CREATIVES

Music – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Choreography – Lev Ivanov, Marius Petipa and Peter Wright

Production – Peter Wright and Galina Samsova

Designs – Philip Prowse

Lighting – Peter Teigen (adapted by Johnny Westall-Eyre)

Conductor – Paul Murphy

Leader of Royal Ballet Sinfonia – Robert Gibbs


ODETTE/ODILE – MOMOKO HIRATA

PRINCE SIEGFRIED – MATHIAS DINGMAN

THE QUEEN MOTHER – EILIS SMALL

BARON VON ROTHBART – JONATHAN PAYN

BENNO – GUS PAYNE

COMPANY – EMMA PRICE, MATILDE RODRIGUES, DARIA STANCIULESCU, AMELIA THOMPSON, GABRIEL ANDERSON, RYAN FELIX, MILES GILLIVER, LENNERT STEEGAN, REINA FUCHIGAMI, RACHELE PIZZILLO, OLIVIA CHANG CLARKE, KARLA DOORBAR, TESSA HOGGE, HANNAH MARTIN, LUCY WAINE, YAOQIAN SHANG, KIT HOLDER, RIKU ITO.

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