When was the last time you saw a ballet at the end of which you had that warm fuzzy feeling of being utterly entertained and happy ( like the first time you saw the Wizard of Oz?). If they gave out Oscars for the most enjoyable ballet production of this decade this La Fille Mal Gardee should win hands down.
This has to be Ashton at his most whimsical and artistic best, a brilliant and idiomatic piece of choreography of a simple village love affair set in the perpetual sunshine of his beloved Suffolk countryside. Herold's music is unpretentious but melodic and memorable, the costumes colourful and strongly evocative of the rustic setting and the dancers bring the house down with their vigorous and wonderful performances. They appear as if they were all having a gay old time at it.
Firstly, Nunez gives a great characterization of the willful,wayward daughter Lise, and Carlos Acosta impresses with his graceful and athletic dancing as her admirer and suitor. The pas de deux are beautifully done, with whirling pirouettes and energetic lifts, both stars are in top form. But this ballet is more than just perfection of the dance, it is wit and frothy humour that makes makes this champagne bubble. And here it is William Tuckett as the widow Simone who almost steals the show. With a wry face and Chaplinesque mime, she provokes more than a few chuckles as the rascally mother hell bent on marrying Lise to Alain, the rich farmer's son. And her famous 'clog dance' is well, hilarious. As for Alain, was there ever a more lovable simpleton in all of ballet ?
The set pieces are wonderfully choreographed and eye-catching, notably the Maypole dance and the storm scene which ends Act 1 where the dancers really appear to be blown like leaves in the wind. And of course the rousing finale with the expected happy ending. Mere words fall short of the delight this ballet has given me. I watched it with an eleven year old ballet student who had just the week before scandalized her mother by falling asleep watching a performance of Swan Lake . No danger of that here. Yelps of delight, giggles and even hand clapping at the end of each engaging scene. And after the finale, she beamed at me and asked if we could play it again the next evening. Five stars ? That request alone made it worth a sixth !
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I. Giles
Totally enjoyable on any level and a truly inspirational disc
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 7, 2011
