MARK KAPPEL

252 West 76th Street
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ph: 212-724-3889
MARKKAPL1@aol.com

NEWSNOTES DANCE BLOG

NEWSNOTES DANCE BLOG

MARK KAPPEL

EDITOR

252 WEST 76TH STREET

SUITE 6E

NEW YORK NY 10023

TELEPHONE: 212-724-3889

E-MAIL: MARKKAPL1@aol.com

WEB SITE:

http://www.markkappeldance.com/

newsnotes_dance_blog

MISSION STATEMENT

FROM THE EDITOR

Recognizing the need to promote the personal accomplishments of creative artists and to inform dance audiences, dance professionals, dance supporters, and the general public about news in the dance world, I have established the NewsNotes Dance Blog. It is my goal to collaborate with the dance community, and all arts comunities in this effort. Please direct announcements and press releases for inclusion and coverage to Editor/NewsNotes Dance Blog at MARKKAPL1@aol.com

NEWS IN THE DANCE WORLD

11-21-20 - Pacific Northwest Ballet has announced that Angelica Generosa and dylan Wald will be promoted to pincipal dancers, and Cecilia Iliesiu will be promoted to soloist.

11-16-20 - Ethan Stiefel has been appointed the new artistic director of American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey.

10-15-20 - The Tony Awards Committee announced that Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Jagged Little Pill), Sonya Tayet (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), and Anthony Van Laast (Tina - The Tina Turner Musical) have been nominated for the Best Choreographer Award for their work during the 2019-20 Broadway theatre season.

9-10-20 - American Ballet Theatre has announced that Joo Won Ahn, Aran Bell, ,Skylar Brandt, Thomas Forster, Calvin Royal III, and Cassandra Trenary have been promoted to the rank of principal dancer, and Gabe Stone Shayer has been promoted to soloist.

7-14-20 - Jakob Feyferlik will join the Dutch National Ballet as a principal dancer beginning with the 2020-2021 season.

6-22-20 - Julian Mackay will be joining the SanFrancisco Ballet as a principal dancer beginning with the 2020-2021 season.

4-22-20 - The San Francisco Ballet has announced that Wona Park and Max Cauthorn have been promoted from soloist to principal dancers, and Ellen Rose Hummel, Diego Cruz, Lucas Erni, and Myles Thatcher have been promoted to soloist. Nikisha Fogo will be joining the San Francisco Ballet as a principal dancer.

4-15-20 - Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has announced the appointment of Susan Jaffe as the company's new artistic director.

3-26-20 - The Boston Ballet has announced that Tigran Mkrtchyan has been promoted to principal dancer, and Chisako Oga has been promoted to the rank of soloist.

3-3-20 - The Australian Ballet has announced the appointment of David Hallberg as the company's new artistic director.

8-5-19 - Luke Schaufuss will be joining the Sarasota Ballet as a principal dancer.

7-5-19 - American Ballet Theatre has announced the promotions of Aran Bell and Joo Won Ahn to the rank of soloist.

6-25-19 - Linnar Looris has been appointed the new artistic director of the Estonian National Ballet.

6-17-19 - The National Ballet of Canada has announced that Brendan Saye has been promoted to principal dancer, and Ben Rudisin and Donald Thom have been promoted to first soloist.

6-9-19 - Sergio Trujllo was given the Tony Award for Best Choreography for Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations.

6-7-19 - The Royal Ballet has announced that Marcelino Sambe has been promoted to the rank of principal dancer.

5-8-19 - Ballet Memphis has named Steven McMahon to be the company's new artistic director beginning with the 2019-20 season.

5-6-19 - The San Francisco Ballet has announced that Esteban Hernandez, WanTing Zhao and Benjamin Freemantle have been promoted to the rank of principal dancer, and Madison Keesler and Cavan Conley have been promoted to soloists.

4-17-19 - Miami City Ballet has announced that Carlos Quenedit will be rejoining the company as a principal dancer, Kathryn Morgan joins the company as a soloist, Alexander Peters has been promoted to principal dancer, and Emily Bromberg, Shimon Ito, and Chase Swatosh have been promoted to principal soloists.

2-28-19 - The New York City Ballet has announced the appointments of Jonathan Stafford as artistic director, Wendy Whelan as associate artistic director, and Justin Peck as artistic advisor.

1-15-19 - Carlos Acosta has been appointed the new artistic director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

DIARY

National Ballet of Canada – Spotlight Series – Ballet’s Storyteller: John Neumeier

February 25, 2021

By Mark Kappel

Continuing its Spotlight Series, a streaming series, the National Ballet of Canada is focusing on ballet storyteller, John Neumeier, currently artistic director and resident choreographer of the Hamburg Ballet in Germany.

Neumeier is unique in that he chooses to express himself choreographically as a storyteller and he has evolved his view of dance dramaturgy in a hybrid manner of different styles of dance and the sometimes non-linear manner in which he interprets stories.

Here in the National Ballet of Canada presentation Neumeier is represented by excerpts from three of his full-length ballets which have been acquired by the National Ballet of Canada – two of them created for the Hamburg Ballet and one created for the Stuttgart Ballet.

In his opening introduction Neumeier is clear that he had not represented his versions of these stories in detail and has taken dramatic license in order for him to express his view point and interpretation of each story.

This is clear in the excerpt of A Street Named Desire, based on Tennessee Williams’ signature play, and created for the Stuttgart Ballet as a vehicle for Marcia Haydee. Williams’ tale of fantasy and despair focuses on the character of Blanche Du Bois, here danced with poignancy, by Sonia Rodriguez, in an excerpt focusing on the courtship between Du Bois and Mitch (danced by Evan McKie) which is a courtship of sorts for what could be the only hope for Du Bois and her happiness.

The choreography represents distance and intimacy between them, and how fragile Du Bois is. She is haunted by the suicide of her husband, Allan Gray, who is only referred to in the play, but Neumeier presents him as a ghost that haunts Du Bois – one of many ghosts in her past. Skylar Campbell notably dances the role of Gray whose appearance in this excerpt is only a cameo.

The other two full-length ballets, represented by excerpts, were created for the Hamburg Ballet.

An excerpt from The Seagull follows based on Chekov’s play and this excerpt depicts Kostya making a paper version of a seagull – and then dancing a solo on a simple stage with little movement but reflecting torment. Guillaume Cote makes the most of this solo – followed by a pas de deux for Kostya and Nina (danced by Sonia Rodriguez) in which passions are heightened.

The third excerpt is from Nijinsky – a scene with three dancers – in which Romola (danced by Heather Ogden) imagines Nijinsky in his famous role as the Faun (danced by Keiichi Hirano) with Nijinsky (danced by Guillaume Cote) more as an on watcher. Romola re-imagines Nijinsky in this role and the sensual images it represents – infusing fantasy in the relationship between Romola and Nijinsky.

If there is a recurring theme in these excerpts is that they are snapshots and moments in time in each story with little reference to time and place in the costuming and scenery. This is Neumeier’s signature in how he tells a story.

Bernstein & Robbins: The Early Ballets

By Mark Kappel

Bernstein & Robbins: The Early Ballets by Sophie Redfern, recently published by the University of Rochester Press, is a detailed study of the collaboration of two giants in their fields, Leonard Bernstein, the composer, and Jerome Robbins, the choreographer.

This collaboration extended encompassed the creation of ballets and Broadway musicals. In particular the ballets, Fancy Free, created for American Ballet Theatre in 1944, which evolved into the Broadway musical, On The Town, and Facsimile, also created for American Ballet Theatre which premiered in 1946.

Also very much a part of this collaboration was Oliver Smith, a member of American Ballet Theatre’s artistic staff, in his role as designer of these ballets. Smith shepherded both ballets through American Ballet Theatre’s artistic and administrative bureaucracy to make sure these ballets reached the stage.

Also this book focuses on the details of the music’s creation, the differences among the collaborators, and how they were resolved in time for each ballet’s premiere. The author has stated clearly that her book is not a detailed examination of how the choreography evolved for these two ballets, but puts more emphasis on Bernstein’s scores, and how Robbins collaborated with Bernstein. For choreographers interested in commissioning scores for their dance pieces, the information contained in this book is very useful.

American Ballet Theatre was noted for its Russian ballet repertoire in the 1940’s and Jerome Robbins and other American choreographers were focusing on dance pieces about Americans, American life, and American vernacular dance. Redfern’s book traces the history of such works that pre-date Fancy Free – a slice of life – sailors having a spree on leave in New York City.

Among the Americana dance pieces that predated Robbins’ Fancy Free were Eugene Loring’s Billy The Kid, Lew Christensen’s The Filling Station, and Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo which also had scores by American composers and a shelf life decades after their premieres.

Although Bernstein was chosen by Robbins to compose the music for Fancy Free, Robbins considered many other composers when either they turned down the project or were not available but many of them recommended Bernstein.

Fancy Free’s score reflected Bernstein’s enthusiasm for Latin American music, and also included a song he composed for singer Jane Froman in 1942 which was recycled for Fancy Free’s score. Fancy Free’s scenario was broken down and revised much like the book and score for a Broadway musical as part of the process of refining the music and the libretto for this dance piece.

Also Smith provided the visual look of Fancy Free.

Fancy Free had a very successful premiere and it was only months later that On The Town, which evolved out of Fancy Free, premiered on Broadway resulting in two triumphs within months of each other.

The next Bernstein/Robbins collaboration was to have been a ballet tentatively entitled Bye Bye Jackie which was meant to be an additional installment in a planned three ballet entertainment that was to include Fancy Free, and a third ballet. Noted in Redfern’s narrative was Bernstein giving an interview to Dance Magazine which mentioned this project and how irritated Jerome Robbins had been when Bernstein didn’t mention Robbins’ participation in this project in the interview.

The focus was then an alternative project entitled Facsimile, a second commission by American Ballet Theatre which initially involved Robbins and Oliver Smith. Paul Bowles was initially engaged to be the composer and had done some work for the score before Bernstein became involved with the project. It was mentioned that Bowles struggled to work with Robbins and then Bernstein committed to the project with a timeline meaning Bernstein was under the gun to compose the score and have it ready for rehearsals and the ballet’s premiere.

Facsimile was intended as a one-act dark narrative dance piece and Robbins spent a great deal of time on rehearsals – more than 120 hours of rehearsal time – with Nora Kaye, John Kriza and Robbins himself as members of the original cast. However the plans to produce Facsimile were on and off over a period of time and the second cast of Alicia Alonso, Igor Youskevitch, and Donald Saddler withdrew from the project.

Unlike Fancy Free, Facsimile was not a critical success – American Ballet Theatre has not danced this ballet since 1950.

Fedfern also summarizes and details other Robbins/Bernstein collaborations and in many instances there were too many cooks in the kitchen. Bernstein feared Robbins and some of these projects faltered because Oliver Smith was not a member of the creative team and unable to be the mediator and facilitator.

In the ballet world, the choreographer is the captain of the ship while composers are secondary and in a Broadway project, the director is the captain but must collaborate with the composer, lyricist and book writer. Two very different worlds. Also to add in the mix, Robbins himself, danced in the original casts of Fancy Free and Facsimile adding another dimension to possible dissension with each collaborator protecting their own interests.

Redfern also examines Bernstein’s music in detail for Fancy Free and Facsimile, and includes the critical response for both ballets as well.

Bernstein and Robbins: The Early Ballets is an interesting read if only to experience the process of making art!

Ballet West Dances Rubies from Jewels

February 20, 2021

By Mark Kappel

Continuing its Winter Streaming Series, Ballet West dances the second act, Rubies, from George Balanchine’s full-length ballet, Jewels. Although an abstract ballet, Jewels is themed together by the ballet’s costume and scenery designs, and the allusions to dance styles from different eras.

Rubies, choreographed to Igor Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, reflects Balanchine’s American veneer on his style of neo-classicism. The jazziness in Stravinsky’s music and the feeling of space and libertarianism – and showmanship – are characteristics of this act of Jewels.

As in the Capriccio itself, Rubies is divided up into three parts with the first an introduction to the theme, the cast of dancers led by the “Tall Girl” and ultimately the principal couple weaving itself into the choreographic movement.

The second part is the tongue and cheek and showy duet, and the third part is the exuberant finale of the piece.

I have seen many different interpretations of the spirit and dancing in the duet section and Beckanne Sisk and Hadriel Diniz exemplify the refined and classic interpretation – but also showing quickness and speed in the execution of the choreography.

Katlyn Addison also represented the authority required in the role of the “Tall Girl”, and Ballet West’s corps de ballet was a cohesive ensemble.

Rubies is the only act of Jewels that has frequently been performed on its own and it is unique in that it breaks down the fourth wall between the dancers and the audience – creating a special connection.

Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet

February 19, 2021

By Mark Kappel

Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures has toured the United States regularly but with the travel, visa, and venue restrictions caused by the Covid-19 virus it was not possible for the company to appear in the United States this season.

Screenings of the company have been made available instead which are a collaboration between the Kennedy Center and the Center Theatre Group, and presented on February 19, 20 and 21, 2021 will be Matthew Bourne’s new production of Romeo and Juliet. Having premiered in 2019, it is fortunate that Bourne’s production of Romeo and Juliet was filmed at the time of its premiere.

Bourne has put his own particular stamp on many familiar stories and presented them in a unique theatrical form. He is a story-teller and excels at providing a different slant on well-known stories – some of them based on films.

With costumes and scenery by Bourne’s frequent collaborator Lez Brotherston, Bourne’s new and unique take on Shakespeare’s story – employing Serge Prokofiev’s music as adapted by Terry Davies – is very appropriate for the 21st century.

Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet takes place in the Verona Institute in the not too distant future and the story unfolds in three short acts spanning the time of a handful of weeks.

The Verona Institute is a well-guarded and controlled institution for mental health patients where young people are placed – controlled by drugs, and security guards who take on more authority than required – under the guise of providing help and support to these young people who in other times would be considered juvenile delinquents or youthful criminals.

The Verona Institute’s patients form a community that protects each other as they are awkward, social misfits and cast offs. In fact Romeo is dumped off at the Verona Institute by his entitled parents, Senator and Mrs. Montague – abandoning him because they cannot control him with his emotional illnesses and his acting up – and even bribe the Verona Institute to keep him there after he has killed Tybalt, after Tybalt, who in a drunken state, has killed Mercutio, Romeo’s fellow patient.

Juliet and Romeo meet at a party for the patients which is hosted by the Reverend Bernadette Laurence – first love blooms. It is reckless and dangerous as both of them are damaged emotionally and also physically.

The tragic ending of Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet has the equivalent impact of the dark and doomed ending of Shakespeare’s original which is also supported well by Terry Davies adaptation of Prokofiev’s score and Brotherston’s sparse and sterile scenic atmosphere. In all Bourne made a compelling argument for his reassessment of this familiar tragedy in his dance theatre piece.

Bourne also has an uncanny knack in finding dancers who make full commitments to his movement and interpretation of the story at hand. This knack was reflected in the casting of Paris Fitzpatrick as Romeo and Cordelia Braithwaite as Juliet, two young dancers who appropriately translated the impulsiveness of youth and how they were trapped in a tragic web of their own making.

Dan Wright was forceful as Tybalt and somewhat sympathetic in his interpretation as well because he is also a tragic figure to some degree in Bourne’s vision and just as much a misfit as the patients imprisoned at the Verona Institute.

Also excellent in supporting roles were Monique Jonas as Governor Escalus, Matt Pelly and Daisy May Kemp as the arrogant Senator and Mrs. Montague with Kemp also playing Reverend Bernadette Laurence, Ben Brown as Mercutio and later appears as a Psychiatrist – and with Harrison Dowzell as Benvolio.

With excellent screen direction by Ross MacGibbon, Bourne’s 90-minute version of Shakespeare’s classic story is that much more compelling.

San Francisco Ballet’s Digital Season –

Program 2

February 13, 2021

By Mark Kappel

The San Francisco Ballet is presenting an ambitious digital season in place of live performances during the coming months. Program 2 includes a world premiere and two dance pieces in the company’s active repertoire.
What all of the dance pieces have in common is that they are all ensemble pieces with two of the pieces choreographed by experienced dancemakers, and the remaining piece choreographed by one of the company’s dancers.

In that latter category is Myles Thatcher’s world premiere, Colorforms, choreographed to music by Steve Reich. Thatcher has choreographed a volume of work for the San Francisco Ballet, and he has also choreographed pieces for the New York City Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet among other companies.

Thatcher’s piece has a sense of spontaneity and a bit of tongue and cheek humor expressing human foibles.

In this piece the dancers are dancing in site locations including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Golden Gate Park and Yerba Buena Gardens – noting that at the beginning of the piece, dancers are in the SFMOMA dancing in modern art galleries and manipulating shapes and objects which are color-blocked. That same theme is reflected in the costume designs.

In this dance film – which was directed by Ezra Hurwitz – Thatcher has inserted every day life and tasks with people chewing gum and blowing bubbles, grocery shopping, and bicycling – a slice of life – reflective of the times we are living in. The choreography expresses a youthfulness and optimism.

The ensemble cast of Frances Chung, Sasha De Sola, Isabella De Vivo, Jasmine Jimison, Maggie Weirich, Sean Bennett, Ulrik Birkkjaer, Cavan Conley, Esteban Hernandez, and Steven Morse were impressive in working within Thatcher’s concept.

Mark Morris’ Sandpaper Ballet was seen in an archival capture from 2020 but the piece was premiered by the San Francisco Ballet in 1999. Morris cleverly used the music of Leroy Anderson with the choreography mimicking and responding to Anderson’s unique style of pop music – and performed by a large ensemble cast. Every now and then throughout this dance piece Morris includes his signature folk dance steps and choreographic quirks, and reflects the sense of light-hearted humor in the music and in the piece itself.

Also represented on this program was choreographer Dwight Rhoden with his Let’s Begin At The End an archival capture from 2018, the same year that the San Francisco Ballet premiered Rhoden’s dance piece. As highlighted in the program notes Rhoden’s piece is about love and relationships, and throughout the piece there are loners and intruders that break up couples as noted by the final moments of the piece which was a pas de deux after which the female dancer leaves the male dancer along on stage before the final curtain.

Choreographed to the music of an eclectic group of composers including Johann Sebastian Bach, Philip Glass, and Michael Nyman, Rhoden has created an up-to-the-minute and non-stop dance piece danced by the quick and agile cast of Frances Chung, Angelo Greco, Esteban Hernandez, Sasha De Sola, Benjamin Freemantle, Jennifer Stahl, and Ulrik Birkkjaer.

Myles Thatcher, Dwight Rhoden, and Mark Morris all use contemporary ballet or modern dance in their pieces but come up with individual perspectives in their pieces.

Ballet West – Winter Streamings – Emeralds from Jewels

February 6, 2021

By Mark Kappel

Continuing its Winter Streamings series, Ballet West will be presenting each act of George Balanchine’s Jewels, a unique neo-classic work, that is not narrative but finds its story-telling in the jewel-theme presented in the ballet’s costume and scenery designs.

Having been premiered in 1967 by the New York City Ballet, Jewels was, and is, unique in that other choreographers who have tried to match Balanchine’s achievement have not been able to do so.

The first act of Jewels’ three acts is Emeralds, which is designed in green jewel-tone, and is an homage to the ballet style that was born in Paris with allusions to many of the Romantic Era’s well-known classics. The choreography is elegant and courtly, and is choreographed to music by Gabriel Faure.

The ballet is a showcase for its four principal dancers, and additional three soloists and corps de ballet dancing precise and intricate choreography that combines both solemnity and joy. Before his passing Balanchine also had second-thoughts about Emeralds’ ending and added a short section of choreography that featured the cast in adagio choreography culminating with the three principal male dancers on their knees striking a bold chord.

Dancing the two principal pairs were Sayaka Ohtaki and Tayler Gum, and Katherine Lawrence and Rex Tilton, who all captured the spirit of Balanchine’s choreography and his allusions to the French ballet. The same came be said for the dancers in the Pas de Trois – Katie Critchlow, Christopher Sellars, and Lindsay Bond -- and Ballet West’s corps de ballet.

Ballet West put its best foot forward in Emeralds -- now to look forward to the streaming performances of Rubies and Diamonds in the coming weeks.

Paris Opera Ballet Virtual Ballet Gala

January 30, 2021

By Mark Kappel

After a series of on again and off again openings and lockdowns from the beginning of this current season the Paris Opera Ballet staged a virtual ballet gala which began streaming on January 30, 2021. As is customary the gala performance opened with the Defile of the company’s dancers and student dancers in a choreographed ceremony by Albert Aveline and Serge Lifar to music by Berlioz. The fact that all of the dancers and student dancers were masked reminded one of the reality of the COVID-19 crisis we are experiencing. In spite of this unfortunate aspect of the Defile it was a majestic and optimistic image.

The remainder of the dance pieces on this gala program were few in number and also were danced by casts that were also few in number. But nevertheless it was diverse programming.

Following the Defile was Victor Gsovsky’s Grand Pas Classique, a neo-classical stand alone pas de deux with adagio, variations, and coda – with suitably showy and virtuoso choreography – choreographed to music by Daniel Auber. Valentine Colasante and Hugo Marchand danced Grand Pas Classique with style and exacting technique – and simply spot-on wonderful dancing.

For contrast was Jerome Robbins’ In The Night, choreographed to Chopin nocturnes -- dark, romantic, and moody set against a starry night. The three couples express their romantic attachment in different ways and Robbins expresses them well in the emotional shadings of their relationships. They are passing strangers – a bit nostalgic and a bit sentimental.

The cast of Ludmila Pagliero, Mathieu Ganio, Leonore Baulac, Germain Louvet, Alice Renavand, and Stephane Bullion successfully expressed the darkness in Robbins’ choreography.

And for more contrast was William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, a romp choreographed to Schubert music. Dazzling quick in attack and neo-classic in style, Forsythe’s choreography challenges the five dancers who dance in this ballet, and the cast of Amandine Albisson, Ludmila Pagliero, Paul Marque, Hannah O’Neill, and Pablo Legasa overwhelmingly met those challenges.

What the Paris Opera Ballet offered were quite a few appetizers in this virtual gala which were well presented and well danced, and one looks forward to more expansive streaming dance programs in the future.

Ballet West Dances The Green Table

January 30, 2021

By Mark Kappel

Ballet West has joined what has become a growing number of American ballet companies that are offering digital and streaming performances instead of live performances due to COVID-19 restrictions all over the United States. Openings its series Ballet West is streaming a unique ballet that was choreographed in the earlier part of the 20th century which makes a significant choreographic statement as well as a social statement. That ballet is Kurt Joos’ The Green Table.

Joos was a master choreographic innovator combining modern dance and theatre in Germany at a time when dance was moving in the realm of the abstract. Joos had a story to tell when he created The Green in Table in 1932 which was about the futility of peace negotiations at an historical moment when Europe was in economic and political crisis.

As choreographer Joos included modern dance vocabulary and organic movement, and as a librettist he included theatrical conventions in telling his story and expressing his emotions about a crisis that was taking place in Germany and other parts of Europe. He opened and closed this dance piece with diplomats talking past each other as they tried to negotiate solutions that would bring peace – all sitting at a green table.

In between thee effective tableaux Joos effectively used the figure of Death as a ghost involving himself and presenting himself in the midst of the people suffering through the ravages of war with each heroic character being depicted in an everyman persona. Yet all is displayed in the form of a dance play and performed by a theatrical ensemble with every character being an important component in telling Joos’ story.

Ballet West took this ballet into its repertoire in 2017 and among its dancers found excellent dance/actors who could interpret what Joos described as a Dance of Death in 8 Scenes. There were heroic performances by Beau Pearson as Death, Chase Connell as the Standard Bearer, Christopher Rudd as the Profiteer, and Beckanne Sisk as the Old Mother. Maturity and artistry came through.

Also in its simplicity, The Green Table is danced to a piano score composed by Fritz Cohen which is played by two pianists.

The Green Table had often been in the active repertoire of the Joffrey Ballet – but it is not a ballet that makes an appearance in the repertoires of ballet companies often. In this streamed presentation Ballet West affords the opportunity to experience an important dance theater piece from the early 20th century.

Sarasota Ballet’s Digital Program 4 – A Tribute To Paul Taylor

January 29, 2021

By Mark Kappel

Presented on January 29, 2021, the Sarasota Ballet’s Digital Program 4 was a testimonial to one of America’s modern dance innovators, Paul Taylor. Hard to believe that we only lost Taylor in 2018 when it seemed like he was always around with his company and also creating new works. Taylor was best known for his clever and humorous works but even in his most solemn moments, his dance works were entertaining, playing on the strengths of his dancers, and have been challenges for dancers to dance.

The Sarasota Ballet’s Digital Program 4 presented two of Taylor’s works which are representative of Taylor’s range.

Brandenburgs, choreographed to J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos No. 6 and 3, is Taylor in his classic modern dance style. The ensemble surrounds one male dancer evolving into sculptural movement and in inventive stage patterns danced to Bach’s intricate music. There are moments of solemnity but mostly this is a dance work celebrating dance.

But for the contemplative male solo, Brandenburgs is a joyous work and was enthusiastically danced by the cast led by Ricardo Graziano with Danielle Brown, Katelyn May, Ellen Overstreet, Yuri Marques, Lenin Valladares, Ivan Spitale, Yuki Nonaka and Daniel Pratt.

Company B was given its premiere by the Houston Ballet as part of a celebration of American music and choreographers sponsored by the Kennedy Center. Taylor created a work that was closely tied to Washington DC in that it reflected the American spirit and the sacrifices made by Americans during World War II.

Company B is choreographed to songs sung by the popular singing group, The Andrews Sisters, and each section of this dance piece is a vignette telling a story that is inspired by each song’s lyrics – all nostalgic memories.

Company B is another Taylor ensemble piece, however outstanding in Tico-Tico was Ricki Bertoni, in Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was Yuki Nonaka, and particularly nostalgic was There Will Never Be Another You danced by Kate Honea and Richard House.

The Sarasota Ballet’s dancers acquitted themselves well in these two Paul Taylor dance pieces which make for a particularly entertaining dance performance.

National Ballet of Canada – Classical Gems

January 28, 2021

By Mark Kappel

For its third digital presentation, seen on January 28, 2021, the National Ballet of Canada turned to excerpts from two 19th century ballets, and an excerpt from a familiar neo-classical “classic” ballet. In this rather short, less than 20-minute presentation, there was a great deal of excellent dancing to view.

The first of the classical excerpts was the Act I Pas de Quatre from Peter Wright’s production of Giselle which the National Ballet of Canada had in its repertoire since 1970. In most productions of Giselle, the Peasant de Deux, is danced by two dancers, but some stagers in an effort to provide more dancing opportunities for male dancers in performances of Giselle have expanded this to include four or six dancers or even more. This excerpt is rarely performed on its own – and is perhaps overlooked as an audience pleaser. No matter what the point of view this part of the ballet is an opportunity to show off some virtuoso dancing as well as being a component of the plot presented in Giselle.

Here danced by Jeannine Haller, Skylar Campbell, Miyoko Koyasu, and Siphesihle November this Pas de Quatre from Giselle is a display of virtuosity, and an opportunity to show off these well-trained classical dancers.

In that same vein also presented was the Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, often performed out of context of this full-length ballet, which was danced by Jurgita Dronina and Francesco Gabriele Frola. Unfortunately only the adagio and two variations were presented. However even in this shortened version the dancers give an admirable performance – emphasizing experienced showmanship.

The presentation ended with the Finale from Harald Lander’s Etudes, a neo-classical ballet, which was created for the Royal Danish Ballet, and meant to be a showcase for the technical skills of the company’s dancers. The ballet traces the codified ballet steps from class room exercises to performance, choreographed to music by Charles Czerny which were composed to train musicians in technical mastery. Applied to the ballet is the same test for the dancers, and the exhilarating finale of Etudes brings the entire company onto the stage for an appropriately stirring end to this ballet.

Even in these excerpted forms all three of these dance pieces are classical gems.

Circle in the Square Theatre: A Comprehensive History

By Mark Kappel

Circle in the Square Theatre: A Comprehensive History by Sheila Hickey Garvey, published by McFarland & Company, is what its title suggests. A comprehensive history of a resident theatre company occupying an important place in the artistic development of theatre in New York City. And this is a history with many details profiling the people who were responsible for the Circle in the Square Theatre’s founding and its path to where it is today – with a detailed chronicle of productions and back stories that influenced this company’s development. At the same time Garvey’s book also adds to the historical record of the development of New York’s other notable non-profit theaters.

Author Sheila Hickey Garvey was trained at the Circle in the Square’s theater school, ultimately taught there herself, and was also a member of the theater’s Board of Directors – an inside view of an important arts institution in New York City.

The Circle in the Square’s early years were in locations in Greenwich Village after its founding in 1951 – its founding co-directors, Theodore Mann and Jose Quintero (a partnership that only lasted for 12 years) – including a special relationship with Carlotta Monterey O’Neill (Eugene O’Neill’s widow) which resulted in the Circle in the Square’s acclaimed productions of O’Neill’s plays.

Garvey’s book provides details of this warring family’s relationships – both working with Circle in the Square and in outside theatrical projects – revealed in biographic facts about these influential theatrical personalities. The Circle in the Square’s history is closely tied to its productions of O’Neill’s plays and this book includes significant background information on O’Neill, his plays, and the Circle in the Square’s productions of them.

The Circle in the Square’s first venue was a nightclub that was renovated into an arena stage which became the Circle in the Square’s signature. The company’s first presentation was a production of Dark of the Moon by Howard Richardson and William Berney with Jose Quintero as its director and Charles Curtis, a member of the Doris Humphrey-Jose Limon Dance Company, as the play’s choreographer.

However experiencing one of its “down” periods, the Circle in the Square Theatre closed in 1954, and then reopened in 1955, after having survived the continuous artistic battles between Mann and Quintero. However fortunes changed when the Circle in the Square presented its production of Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh – and in 1956 produced the first Broadway production of O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night – which was a theatrical coup.

Many other important theatrical productions followed but it became clear that producing off-Broadway was not to be commercially viable, and the Circle in the Square followed the path taken by other New York theatre companies and was transformed into a non-profit entity.

That transformation was expedited in 1968 when Mayor John Lindsay’s office made an offer to the Circle in the Square to be an occupant in a new building that would be built in the Times Square Theatre District. Lindsay intended to clean-up this area of New York City, and was allowing skyscrapers to be built – and changing zoning variances to accomplish this goal – but the proviso was that these skyscrapers had to include a new theater in their plans. Not only would this change the Circle in the Square’s physical location, but also becoming a Tony Award eligible theatre bringing further prestige to itself and its productions.

In 1972 the Circle in the Square Theater and theater school made the bold move from being an off-Broadway non-profit theater to a Broadway location when under the artistic direction of Theodore Mann and managing director, Paul Libin, occupying a below street level space of the Uris office building that also housed what is now the Gershwin Theatre.

The Circle in the Square continued its policy of presenting major stars in revivals of classic American plays and new plays – its first production in its new home was O’Neill’s Mourning Becomes Electra. The Circle in the Square functioned from one financial crisis to another, experimenting with subscription seasons of plays that didn’t always appeal to its audiences – much less interest from critics – and critics even began to question the Circle in the Square’s arena stage set up – and also there were disputes between the Circle’s artistic and business leadership – and the Circle’s Board of Directors. Also time was consumed with the necessary lobbying for private and paltry government subsidies.

Also Circle in the Square had competitors who began operating in the Broadway theatre district and the Circle in the Square experienced a decline from 1990 onwards with the departures of its founders, frequent changes in artistic and business management, productions that were not met with acceptance by audiences and critics, and continued failed fundraising efforts.

Paul Libin resigned in 1990 to pursue commercial theatrical enterprises, and Theodore Mann searched for other partners as business and artistic managers. Jose Quintero returned to teach at the Circle in the Square School but that association was short-lived.

There were working relationships with Josephine Abady – and after bankruptcy was declared Mann had resigned – and Gregory Mosher was appointed artistic director. But in 1997 the Circle in the Square, as a non-profit theatre, suspended operations while the Circle in the Square School continued to operate.

Thereafter Mann and Libin rented out the theatre functioning as commercial producers.

Circle in the Square as a non-profit theatre had an incredible history with a goal towards becoming America’s National Theatre while also fending off competition from other non-profit theaters operating in New York City, and also the ups and down of New York City’s economy, changing theatrical tastes, and fundraising challenges. Its notable history is explored in detail in Garvey’s book which is a must read for Board members of non-profit arts institutions and for creatives working in the theatre.

San Francisco Ballet Opens Its Digital Season With A Midsummer Night’s Dream

January 22, 2021

By Mark Kappel

The San Francisco Ballet’s 2021 season has been impacted by the continuing Covid-19 crisis, and not being able to offer live performances the San Francisco Ballet is presenting a digital series. Opening the digital series is the company’s production of George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream which Balanchine had created for the New York City Ballet in 1962. The San Francisco Ballet’s company premiere of this ballet was in 1985.

The San Francisco Ballet was fortunate in being able to film a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in March of last year just before state regulations made it impossible for live performances to be presented. It is this film of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that is being shown to open the digital series.

Based on William Shakespeare’s masterful comedy of mismatched lovers, and choreographed to Felix Mendelssohn’s music, Balanchine’s personal vision is apparent in every aspect of this ballet. There is a German Gothic veneer in Balanchine’s choreography and the general tone of the ballet, but in contrast the San Francisco Ballet is performing this ballet with the designs by Martin Pakledinaz which are fanciful and mystical.

Balanchine adapted the play’s libretto into two acts but most of the exposition and story takes place in the first act in which Oberon plays a trick on Titania to obtain the guardianship of a Changeling Boy, and does so with one of the local rustics, Bottom, being transformed into donkey – with whom Titania falls in love. There are also sub-plots in which two other mismatched couples are sorted out, as well as the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. Adding to and creating the confusion is Puck, who manufactures chaos everywhere as he tries to implement Oberon’s master plan.

The second act of the ballet celebrates the marriages of all in a divertissement – the kind of plotless neo-classical ballet that Balanchine is famous for. Dominating the divertissements in Act II is a pas de deux, a real gem, which is part of a suite of these celebratory dances and was beautifully danced by Frances Chung and Ulrik Birkkjaer.

In many respects performances of Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream are ensemble efforts as there is a long list of characters that participate in the ballet’s complicated plot.

Sasha De Sola as Titania and Esteban Hernandez as Oberon were suitably elegant and regal. Cavan Conley as Puck and Lucas Erni as Bottom provided the humorous moments. Vladislav Kozlov as Titania’s Cavalier was an attentive partner, and the mismatched lovers, Sarah Van Patten as Helena, Elizabeth Powell as Hermia, Myles Thatcher as Lysander, and Luke Ingham as Demetrius provided both comic and poignant moments. Suitably grand was Sasha Mukhamedov as Hippolyta and Tiit Helimets was courtly and noble as Theseus.

Overall this was a charming and spirited performance of Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Boston Ballet’s Look Back, Focus Forward

January 21, 2021

By Mark Kappel

It is very fortunate that the Boston Ballet has not left any gaps in terms of its digital series and is now presenting an overview program, “Look Back, Focus Forward”, which includes two short works and excerpts from a work by choreographer Leonid Yakobson, tour footage from the Boston Ballet’s international tours, and a background look at the creation of a new work for the company.

Leonid Yakobson was born in St. Petersburg in 1904 and from 1926 through 1975, he was associated with what is now known as the Mariinsky Ballet. In 1970 he formed his own company, Choreographic Miniatures, and he worked with major Russian ballet stars including Mikhail Baryshnikov (for whom Yakobson created the solo, Vestris), and Natalia Makarova – among others.

In this program Yakobson’s Vestris, was included -- a short solo inspired by the ballet icon, Auguste Vestris, who was part of the Vestris dynasty of dancers in the 18th century – a piece including the combination of characterization and virtuoso dancing. Choreographed to music composed by Gennadi Banshchikov, Vestris and was given its world premiere in Moscow in 1969. This virtuoso solo presents many challenges as the dancer must not only dance but also portray Vestris and reflect his many moods – comic and sad.

The work was taken into the Boston Ballet’s repertoire in 2019 and was here beautifully danced by Derek Dunn.

Yakobson’s Pas de Quatre, performed by the Boston Ballet at the City Center Fall for Dance Festival in 2015, was inspired by the 1845 lithograph of the star ballerinas of their day in the 19th century. Music by Vincenzo Bellini serves as the musical foundation for this piece which eliminates the competitiveness of the four dancers as depicted in Anton Dolin’s Pas de Quatre – even the dancers join hands throughout the piece but for the solo variations, with the choreography inspired by the Romantic choreographers of that time period. It is a delicate piece with the cast of Ji Young Chae, Ekaterina Chubinidze, Maria Baranova, and Nina Matiashvili, dancing the choreography with correctness and clarity.

The third of the Yakobson works was Rodin, which is inspired by the works of French sculptor Auguste Rodin. For this piece Yakobson chose the music of Debussy and Berg to choreograph to and each of the three duets presented here were derived from famous Rodin sculptures.

The Eternal Spring was danced by Sun Woo Lee and Abigail Merlis, The Kiss was danced by Maria Alvarez and Alec Roberts, and The Eternal Idol was danced by Emily Entingh and Michael Ryan. These duets were costumed in plain leotards with the choreography being a metaphor for what each one of Rodin’s sculptures represented.

There is also an overview of the Boston Ballet’s international and domestic tours which includes excerpts from Jiri Kylian’s Bella Figura (danced by Sarah Wroth, Altan Dugaraa, Rie Ichikawa, Yuri Yanowsky, Erica Cornejo, Paul Craig, and Kathleen Breen Combes), and the Pas de Deux from George Balanchine’s Symphony in Three Movements (danced by Lia Cirio and James Whiteside).

The program is bookended by rehearsal footage of Ken Ossola’s new work, Zoom In, a piece that Ossola choreographed via Zoom – and in the rehearsal room, Paul Craig and Maria Alvarez. The rehearsal process and discussion is a teaser for this piece’s presentation in this digital series in the future.

National Ballet of Canada – Digital Series – Power and Passion

January 14, 2021

By Mark Kappel

Continuing its digital series the National Ballet of Canada, on January 14, 2021, presented excerpts from three full-length narrative ballets that the company has acquired for its repertoire – two of them being co-productions with other ballet companies.

Three choreographers’ works which were presented in this presentation reflected an interest and commitment by the choreographers – John Cranko, Christopher Wheeldon, and John Neumeier -- in telling stories through dance.

The National Ballet of Canada had been the first ballet company in North America to acquire John Cranko’s Onegin in 1984, and has also performed this ballet in New York. Cranko adapted Pushkin’s narrative into a ballet in 1969 for the Stuttgart Ballet employing little known music composed by Tchaikovsky for its score – creating a compelling ballet – with a compelling story -- that has been performed by ballet companies all over the world.

The excerpt from this ballet that was presented was the first pas de deux of two danced in Act I of Onegin. This pas de deux captures the character and arrogance of the diffident Onegin (danced by Evan McKie) and the young Tatiana (danced by Svetlana Lunkina) who is quite taken by this mysterious man. Even this excerpt shows Cranko’s theatricality in setting the tone for how this relationship would be developing through the course of this story ballet and was well danced and acted by McKie and Lunkina.

Also presented was the Act II Pas de Deux from Christopher Wheeldon’s The Winter’s Tale – a co-production with the Royal Ballet – based on Shakespeare’s play, and choreographed to a commissioned score by Joby Talbot.

It is in Act II that Perdita (danced by Jillian Vanstone) and Florizel (danced by Naoya Ebe) express their love – and are given a blessing to marry. This was young love blooming with each character trying to win each other’s affections through the danced choreography. Although the choreography itself did not consistently express those affections and emotions, those affections and emotions were expressed transparently by both Vanstone and Ebe.

Another co-production in the National’s repertoire is John Neumeier’s Anna Karenina, based on Leo Tolstoy’s novel, and choreographed to music by Tchaikovsky. Given its company premiere by the National Ballet of Canada in 2018 it is in this excerpt that Anna Karenina (danced by Heather Ogden) is pulled in two directions by her infatuation with Vronsky (danced by Guillaume Cote) and her son.

Neumeier has a unique story-telling style which often doesn’t define the exact era or place which the story needs to be clearly told. The dancers are in contemporary dress, with minimalist scenery in the midst of the stage space, and in this instance doesn’t present the social constraints that Anna Karenina was condemned to. Still the passion was there!

Certainly this presentation by the National Ballet of Canada, even in these short excerpts, exemplifies that the company’s dancers have the gift of being dance actors.

National Ballet of Canada – Digital Series

January 8, 2020

By Mark Kappel

As in many parts of the world, ballet companies in Canada are not able to perform due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions and like those other ballet companies, the National Ballet of Canada is presenting a digital series of performances which includes excerpts of works – and a few new works – that are in the company’s repertoire.

The first presentation in this series includes excerpts from three familiar and known contemporary ballets and dance pieces that have found their way into the repertoires of many ballet companies.

The presentation opens with one of the movements from Alexei Ratmansky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 which had been given its world premiere by American Ballet Theatre as part of Ratmansky’s Shostakovitch Trilogy. The National Ballet of Canada acquired this work in 2015.

In this homage to Shostakovitch’s music Ratmansky responds to the music in a Balanchine manner and has created choreography that must be danced with speed and clarity. The excerpt performed by the National Ballet of Canada’s dancers (Elena Lobsanova, Brendan Saye, Tina Pereira, and Skylar Campbell) gave the necessary correctness and technical proficiency that this ballet’s choreography required.

What followed was an excerpt from Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort, choreographed to music by Mozart, which makes choreographic statements about relationships between men and women. This excerpt began with a group of female dancers moving around on the stage in large skirts that were on wheels, and then followed by a series of duets with intricate and sometimes off-kilter choreography – a hallmark of Kylian’s style.

Here danced by the cast of Tina Pereira, Spencer Hack, Hannah Fischer, Brendan Saye, Greta Hodgkinson, Guillaume Cote, Elena Lobsanova, and Jenna Savella, the dancers moved with intent and emotion to Mozart’s music.

The program closed with an excerpt from Wayne McGregor’s Chroma. McGregor’s choreography pulsates and mirrors that same momentum in Joby Talbot’s music – choreography that is noted for its ensembles although in these excerpts there were showcases for individual dancers and sections for only male dancers that tested their skills.

McGregor’s choreography is influenced by contemporary, modern dance – and Merce Cunningham – comprised of angular and relentless movement – all of which was well danced by the cast of Skylar Campbell, Christopher Gerty, Tanya Howard, Svetlana Lunkina, Siphesihle November, Heather Ogden, Brent Parolin, Tina Pereira, Brendan Saye, and Alexander Skinner.

Also it is important to note that presentation of the National Ballet of Canada’s digital series will be available for view for a period of 30 days – and there is more to come with the National Ballet of Canada dancing works that vary from the classical to the contemporary – including excerpts from full-length ballets.

Sarasota Ballet’s Digital Program 3

January 1, 2021

By Mark Kappel

The Sarasota Ballet will be presenting digital/livestream performances for the remainder of its season having to make a decision about these plans when safety guidelines and strategies regarding COVID-19 were not consistent.

As in previous Digital Programs, the Sarasota Ballet’s artistic director, Iain Webb, is on hand to provide pertinent details and information about each piece that is danced, and all is beautifully photographed – producing the atmosphere of a live performance in a theatre.

The Sarasota Ballet’s Digital Program 3 is a program of excerpts and highlights – with one exception – celebrating the choreographers whose works have important places in the company’s repertoire.

The one exception presented as part of this program – the ballet presented in full – was Peter Darrell’s Othello, telling the tale in Shakespeare’s play choreographed to the First Movement from Liszt’s Faust Symphony. Othello was created for the New London Ballet, a company established by Galina Samsova and Andre Prokovsky, in 1971. As Darrell’s ballets are rarely performed, this is an opportunity to examine the work of a choreographer whose works are on the brink of being forgotten. Fortunately the Sarasota Ballet acquired Darrell’s Othello and has kept the ballet in its active repertoire.

Darrell successfully distills this Shakespeare tragedy with choreography in the classical style but with subtle dramatic gestures which illuminate the plot, his interpretation of the plot, and draw the characters. He has reduced the number of characters to five -- Darrell includes the title character (danced by Ricardo Rhodes), Desdemona (danced by Danielle Brown), Iago (danced by Ricardo Graziano), Cassio (danced by Daniel Pratt), and Emelia (danced by Janae Korte). And the mysterious scarf is the sixth character.

Darrell successfully creates the power, control and tension between all of these characters – and especially so in how Iago plots to destroy the relationship of Othello and Desdemona – which leads to the ballet’s tragic end.

Particularly notable is Ricardo Graziano as Iago as he portrays this sinister and calculating character – and steals the ballet in its final moments when he is on his knees and rocking back and forth understanding the tragedy he has caused.

Peter Wright was represented by a short work and an excerpt from a longer work on this program. The short work was The Mirror Walkers Pas de Deux, which he created for the Stuttgart Ballet in 1963. Choreographed to a section of Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 1, Wright’s response to this music is to the point which reflects the rhapsodic moments in Tchaikovsky’s music – and danced by Ryoko Sadoshima and Richard House expressively.

Also danced was the Pas de Quatre from Wright’s Summertide, choreographed to Mendelssohn’s Second Piano Concerto – which was danced by Ellen Overstreet, Ricardo Rhodes, Harvey Evans, and Thomas Leprohon. There are hints of Ashton’s Symphonic Variations and Monotones, and even hints from Balanchine’s Apollo, and Tudor’s The Leaves Are Fading – uncluttered and enhanced by Dirk Bird’s evocative designs.

Also included in this program was the Pas de Deux from Kenneth MacMillan’s Concerto, choreographed to Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto, which had been created for the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1966. Danced to the adagio movement of Shostakovich’s piano concerto, MacMillan’s choreography is an example of less is more – its strength, calm, and clarity are hallmarks in this ballet which was danced by Ellen Overstreet and Richard House in the appropriate understated manner.

Christopher Wheeldon has also been well represented in the Sarasota Ballet’s repertoire and for this program the Sarasota Ballet danced a Pas de Deux from Wheeldon’s The American, choreographed to music by Antonin Dvorak. This was choreography intended to establish a mood and this was reflected in the expressive dancing by Katelyn May and Yuri Marques.

There were also two solos as part of this program. Dominic Walsh, who has been the company’s resident choreographer, was represented by his solo, Clair de Lune, which he choreographed as a world premiere for the Sarasota Ballet in 2011. One is focused on its sentiment and Chaplinesque quality as the male dancer (Ivan Spitale) drops flower petals on the stage – the modern choreography purposefully expresses a lost soul.

Spitale also danced the other solo on the program which was the Merman solo from Matthew Bourne’s The Infernal Galop which Bourne created in 1989, choreographed to songs by Charles Trenet. In a more obvious comic approach Spitale portrays a Merman being admired by three sailors – danced to the soundtrack of Trenet’s song which expresses the romantic nature of the sea. It is fortunate that the Sarasota Ballet has acquired one of Bourne’s works as his works are only danced by his own company.

The Sarasota Ballet’s Digital Program 3 is not only substantial but also entertaining and spotlights the company’s efforts to curates the works of the past, and encourage the choreographers of the present.

NBC10 Boston Presents The Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker

December 27, 2020

By Mark Kappel

NBC10 Boston presented highlights from the Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, choreographed by the company’s artistic director, Mikko Nissinen, and lavish costume and scenery designs by Robert Perdziola, a production which the company has been dancing since 2012. By viewing this presentation on bostonballet.org, one will get more than the mere essence of this magical production of The Nutcracker.

Hosted by Today’s Hoda Kobt with NBC10 Boston’s Colton Bradford as narrator in the role of Drosselmeyer, one is guided through the important plot points in Act I of The Nutcracker and Clara’s dream journey to the Nutcracker Prince’s Kingdom.

It is at a Christmas Eve Party at the home of the Silberhaus Family that Clara is given a Nutcracker as a gift from Drosselmeyer who conjures Clara’s dream from the Battle of the Mice where the Nutcracker defends her honor until Clara intervenes herself, and Clara and the Nutcracker Prince venture on to be guided by the Snow King and Snow Queen to further their journey to the Nutcracker Prince’s Kingdom where Drosselmeyer’s dolls come to life and the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince dance the familiar Grand Pas de Deux.

Nissinen’s production tells the story effectively and offers many opportunities for moments of great dancing. This was notable in the Act II Grand Pas de Deux danced with great elegance by Ji Young Chae and Tigran Mkrtchyan, the Snow King and Snow Queen of Paul Craig and Seo Hye Han, and Viktorina Kapitonova as the Dewdrop in the Waltz of the Flowers.

Also notable was Mia Steedle as Clara who reacted with spontaneity as the story was revealed and also Paulo Arrais in his brief moments as Drosselmeyer.

These highlights were culled from a video from one of the Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker performances from 2019. Fortunately the Boston Ballet is presenting it in a digital format that will allow balletomanes all over the world to see it.

English National Ballet – Nutcracker Delights

December 24, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Facing safety guidelines in regard to live performances in London, English National Ballet presented Nutcracker Delights – an abridged version of its production of The Nutcracker in December only to have the remaining performances cancelled due to further restrictions. Fortunately Nutcracker Delights was filmed on December 18 and 19, 2020 and it is now being streamed by English National Ballet through the remainder of the holiday season.

English National Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker was staged by Wayne Eagling, one of the company’s previous artistic directors, with designs by Peter Farmer – and it premiered in 2010.

In this version Simon Callow provides the narration illuminating the animated presentation of the Christmas Party in Act I in which Drosselmeyer conjures his tricks and gives the Nutcracker Doll to Clara. Clara falls asleep and begins dreaming – to be awakened to find the Nutcracker Doll involved in a battle against the Mouse King – defending Clara. In caring for the Nutcracker’s wounds, the Nutcracker transforms into a Prince.

Throughout the Snow Scene, the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King engage in battle again after which Drosselmeyer travels them to a different land by way of an air balloon. It is there that Drosselmeyer becomes the major domo in presenting the divertissements which include the Spanish, Chinese, and Russian Dances, the Waltz of the Flowers, the Grand Pas de Deux, and Finale – and thereafter Clara finds herself back in her room realizing it was all a dream.

In spite of how the story of The Nutcracker is presented in this unconventional manner, the story is told effectively, and there is plenty of dancing to keep an audience interested, involved, and entertained.

Erina Takahashi and Joseph Caley provide an elegant and superlative performance in the Grand Pas de Deux, and Natascha Mair (as Clara) and Aitor Arrieta (as the Nutcracker Prince) give charming performances and interpretations of their characters – and James Streeter is a magical and charismatic Drosselmeyer.

Thanks to English National Ballet for giving us this holiday treat!

Bavarian State Opera Ballet’s Swan Lake

December 24, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Bavarian State Opera Ballet has offered a free streamed performance of the company’s production of Swan Lake during the holiday season. This production was staged by Ray Barra in 1995 but has been adapted by Thomas Mayr for the 2020/2021 season to meet COVID-19 safety guidelines allowing for these performances to take place in front of audiences.

In this production of Swan Lake Barra has chosen to tell the story of Swan Lake in a traditional manner with a few added dramatic punctuations. The ballet opens with a Prologue in which Odette is put under a spell by Von Rothbart and is transformed into a swan, and Prince Siegfried is also affianced to Charlotte, one of the courtiers, and they are both looking forward to their engagement party. However Siegfried is not totally committed to his engagement and at the end of his Act I solo Von Rothbart steps out of the shadows where his white swans appear. Siegfried has first meeting with Odette, vows his true love, and they part.

At the engagement party, Siegfried rejects Charlotte, and Von Rothbart appears mysteriously with an entourage of black swans one of which is Odile, disguised to look like Odette. Siegfried ultimately vows his eternal love to Odile. Although Odette ultimately forgives Siegfried for his transgression both determine that there is no alternative but to drown themselves in the lake – with Siegfried’s mother finding Siegfried’s dead body at the conclusion of the ballet. The concept is that of betrayal and a romantic illusion.

Barra has restored the original adagio of the Black Swan to a place in Act I where Siegfried and Charlotte dance a pas de deux, and the Act I Pas de Trois has been enlarged to a Pas de Six which includes the participation of Benno (danced by Dmitrii Vyskubenko). In the equivalent of Act III included only are the Spanish, Russian, and Italian Dances – and assisted by the subtle but effective designs by John Macfarlane each scene transitions mysteriously from one to the next.

As with any performance of Swan Lake, the success of the performance weighs heavily on the shoulders of the dancers dancing the roles of Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried. With strong classical dancing performances and strong characterizations Ksenia Ryzhkova as Odette/Odile and Jinhao Zhang as Prince Siegfried brought this production to life – with equal quality performances from the rejected Charlotte as danced by Lauretta Summerscales and Von Rothbart portrayed by Emilio Pavan.

In spite of fewer dancers on the stage, this production of Swan Lake succeeds.

Irish Repertory Theatre – Meet Me In St. Louis

December 22, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Irish Repertory Theatre’s 2020-21 season is being produced on a livestream platform – a solution created by the world’s battle with the corona virus – while also solving the problem about being visible during this difficult time.

The Irish Repertory Theatre has proven itself to very adept at producing these livestream presentations and although there have been changes in the proposed season presentations, the Irish Repertory Theatre is responding to the needs of its audiences in a nimble and audience-friendly manner – as reflected in its revival of Eugene O’Neill’s A Touch Of The Poet which was transferred from live rehearsals into a livestream event with the actors all filmed in isolated locations and editing their performances together.

This method has been used again for the Irish Repertory Theatre’s holiday presentation, a stage musical version of the holiday film, Meet Me In St. Louis, adapted and directed by one of the Irish Repertory Theatre’s co-artistic directors, Charlotte Moore, who was a cast member in the original Broadway production of Meet Me In St. Louis which premiered on Broadway in 1989. This same adaptation was presented by the Irish Repertory Theatre in 2006.

This stage version is based on the popular 1944 film version and on Sally Benson’s The Kensington Stories following the everyday lives of the Smith Family in St. Louis anticipating the opening of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Turning the family’s life and future plans upside down is the possibility that the family might be facing a move from St. Louis to New York due to the family patriarch’s promotion at his law firm ---and also missing the experience of the St. Louis World’s Fair. Not to mention complicating the love lives of Rose and Esther Smith.

The story is introduced by narrator Charlotte Moore, setting the scene and the tone of the Smith Family on Kensington Avenue – and a wonderful story-teller she is.

The close-knit Smith Family is ruled over by Alonzo Smith (Rufus Collins) and Anna Smith (Melissa Errico) who cope with the day to day adventures of their large family, Agnes (Austyn Johnson), Tootie (Kylie Kuioka), Esther (Shereen Ahmed), Rose (Ali Ewoldt), Lon )William Bellamy), and Grandpa (Jay Aubrey Jones) – expanding the family with Esther’s boy next door, John Truitt (Max von Essen), Rose’s impulsive suitor, Warren Sheffield (Ian Holcomb), and Lucille Ballard (Kerry Conte), who is Lon’s love interest – and also trying to bring order to chaos is Katie (Kathy Fitzgerald), the Smith Family’s maid. All played by a superlative cast with superlative singing voices and bringing the necessary nuances to the characters they are portraying.

We experience the surprises of the younger children’s Halloween trick or treating, and eavesdropping on the older children as they try to sort out their love interests – happenstance meetings, and also a bit of plotting – and secrets kept and unkept. Ultimately when faced with the possibility of moving to New York and how unhappy the Smith Family has become, Alonzo Smith makes the stunning decision to remain in St. Louis recognizing that St. Louis is just as a promising a city as New York -- and providing the Smith Family with a very Merry Christmas.

All of the story is revealed in Hugh Wheeler’s book and with songs by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane – familiar tunes including “The Trolley Song”, “The Boy Next Door” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”.

In another technological achievement in filming each actor individually and then editing those performances together, the Irish Repertory Theatre has given us a much needed tonic and nostalgia for the season in these exceptional times – and also a merry little Christmas when we needed one.

The Nutcracker at Wethersfield

December 20, 2020

By Mark Kappel

With the ghost of the corona virus hovering over us all, and local political and health officials enforcing restrictions on all of the performing arts, Ballet Collective, directed by New York City Ballet soloist, Troy Schumacher, has taken on the challenge of choreographing a “New Covid-19 Compliant Nutcracker” which had been performed on the Wethersfield Estate in Amenia, New York and will be offering a free streamings from December 23-27, 2020.

Employing a host of furloughed New York City Ballet dancers, and imaginative designers, and filmmakers, Schumacher has re-imagined and reconceived The Nutcracker in an effort to keep this holiday tradition alive.

The traditional story of The Nutcracker ballet is presented in a site specific and immersive manner as this livestreamed version moves from one location to another on the Wethersfield Estate telling the story and serving as foundation for each of the plot points in the ballet. You feel like a participant in this production of The Nutcracker as you are motoring up to the door of the house, following the primary characters through the rooms of the historic Wethersfield Estate Mansion (built in 1938), through the snow-covered walkways to discover the dancing Snowflakes – and then to a tent where guests are able to sit at tables covered with sweets and the dancers are performing in a stage area in a tent.

Schumacher’s conception focuses on Clara (Erica Pereira) receiving the Nutcracker from her godfather, Drosselmeyer (Julio Bragado-Young) at an intimate Christmas Eve Party in which everyone seems to be wearing designer clothes. Suddenly mice appear and chase Clara through the rooms of the mansion -- the Nutcracker champions her cause against the Mice, then leads us on through snowy walkways to the Snow Scene, and the Land of the Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy dances her variation to be followed by Chocolate, Marzipan, Candy Cane Dances with the Dewdrop (Mira Nadon) leading the Waltz of the Flowers, and the traditional Act II Grand Pas de Deux (Adagio and Coda) danced regally by Sara Mearns as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Tyler Angle as Her Cavalier.

Schumacher has adapted choreography to fit in the round stage space astutely and stylishly.

Schumacher, the dancers and all of the people in support who helped make this production happen should be given a salute as they have enabled audiences to see live dance performances during this challenging time.

Norwegian National Ballet Dances

The Nutcracker

December 20, 2020

By Mark Kappel

American ballet companies have not been alone in presenting livestream/digital performances of The Nutcracker. The Norwegian National Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is now being presented in a version produced by NRK-TV which has been made available for international viewing as of December 20, 2020.

The Norwegian National Ballet’s The Nutcracker has been conceived by Jon Bausor and Kaloyan Boyadjev – with choreography by Boyadjev – scenery designs by Bausor, and costumes designed by Bausor and Bregje Van Balen – and this production was given its premiere by the Norwegian National Ballet in 2016.

The story is set in Oslo in 1905 at a time when Norway was asserting itself on the world stage. The choreography and libretto is typical of those danced by Russian companies most notable that the Battle of the Mouse King and the Nutcracker does not come to a conclusion at the end of Act I as the Mouse King and his Mice Army re-appear in Act II to be thwarted by the Nutcracker for a second time. Also Clara was played by two dancers – the younger Clara who is a guest at her own family’s Christmas Eve Party and an older Clara who appears in Act II and dances with the Nutcracker Prince.

One of the unique aspects of the libretto is that Drosselmeyer is the magician and major domo in this production of The Nutcracker as he presents Clara with her Nutcracker doll and repairs it when it is damaged. But it is he who presents the entertaining divertissements in Act II. In fact, connecting the two acts is a Spanish fan, a Russian Wife Doll, a Chinese porcelain plate with a picture of a dragon, a French music box – and a book – The Arabian Nights, which are presented as gifts in Act I – and become the Spanish Dance, the Russian Dance, the Chinese Dance, Marzipan, and Arabian Dance in Act II.

The older Clara and the Nutcracker Prince dance the Grand Pas de Deux at the end of Act II, and it is the younger Clara who awakes from her sleep to realize it was all a dream.

All of these concepts are enhanced by the sumptuous designs, and the story is illuminated by the acting performances of Erle Ostraat as the younger Clara, and Ole Willy Falkhaagen as Drosselmeyer.

Also there was the superlative dancing from Whitney Jensen as the older Clara and Richard Castellanos as the Nutcracker Prince.

In all the Norwegian National Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is an imaginative version of this perennial classic – with choreography that is notable for its simplicity and its clarity.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Presents Fireside Nutcracker

December 18, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Among the major American ballet companies that are presenting productions of The Nutcracker, some are presenting them in livestream performances that are of archival videos and others are presenting a hybrid of archival videos, live performances and/or abridged versions.

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre – from December 17-31, 2020 – is presenting what is described as its Fireside Nutcracker which is an abridged version of The Nutcracker employing narration and live performances on location and the empty stage of an auditorium, which are edited into a film. All aspects of this version of The Nutcracker are linked by the narrative story which is imparted with eloquence and alacrity – and an appropriate German accent -- by Brett Sullivan Santry as he reads the story in a comfy chair by a fire place. This enterprise has been overseen by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s new artistic director, Susan Jaffe.

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s current production of The Nutcracker was staged by its previous artistic director, Terry Orr, and was given its world premiere in 2002. In this version the traditional story of The Nutcracker is told except for the slight change in plot as details of Drosselmeyer’s background are intricately interwoven into the plot of the ballet. In the past Drosselmeyer was involved in a misstep and a Mouse Queen cursed his nephew upon her death which was to disfigure his nephew’s face. The only method of removing the curse is if a young maiden falls in love with him which is a variation on Beauty and the Beast – and The Phantom of the Opera – as the nephew wears a mask to prevent his disfigurement from being seen. Also Drosselmeyer is not only a watch maker but he is also magician which is where the magic comes in.

The production’s Act I remains the traditional Christmas Eve celebration in the Stahlbaum’s house, followed by the depiction of the battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the Rat King, then the Winter Fairy guides Marie and the Nutcracker as they travel on to the Snow Scene after which the Snow King and Snow Queen chaperone Marie to Act II’s Land of the Sweets. Act II includes the Spanish, Russian and Arabian Dances, the Waltz of the Flowers, and the Grand Pas de Deux for the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier – and then Marie awakening to realize that it was all a dream. But to his surprise Drosselmeyer’s nephew realizes that the Mouse Queen’s curse has been lifted and his disfigurement has vanished.

What is unique about this production are the historical markers placed within the ballet including the presence of the influential families in Pittsburgh – the Kauffman and Heinz Families – as guests that have been invited to the Act I Stahlbaum Christmas Eve Party, and two of the children wearing the Carnegie Family tartan kilts.

Dancing the roles of Marie and Drosselmeyer’s Nephew were Diana Yohe and Joseph Parr with standout performances by Gabrielle Thurlow and William Moore as the Snow Queen and Snow King, and Jessica McCann as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Yoshiaki Nakano as her Cavalier elegantly dancing the Act II Grand Pas de Deux -- Steven Annegarn exhibiting his charm and magic as Drosselmeyer.

The film approach that the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has chosen to present its production of The Nutcracker combines ingenuity and practicality, and makes for an appropriate holiday entertainment.

Boston Ballet Presents The Gift

December 17, 2020

By Mark Kappel

For its second livestream of the current season, the Boston Ballet is presenting a unique and ambitious program. With the overall title of The Gift this program includes the world premiere of Nutcracker Suite with sections created by seven Boston Ballet dancers choreographing to the Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn jazz arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker score – and opening the program with the traditional Grand Pas de Deux from Mikko Nissinen’s production of The Nutcracker. The presentation is a unique example of collaboration.

Mikko Nissinen’s production of The Nutcracker had its Boston Ballet premiere in 2012 with new designs by Robert Perdziola. Performed live on film with piano accompaniment was the Act II Grand Pas de Deux – here danced by Viktorina Kapitonova and Tigran Mkrtchyan, with elegance – appropriate for this moment in time.

Nutcracker Suite is an interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s score for The Nutcracker arranged by Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Their jazz gloss over Tchaikovsky’s music has been used for dance interpretations in the past since the music was premiered in 1960.

However in this version seven of Boston Ballet’s dancers provided choreography for each section: Chyrstyn Fentroy (Overture), Gabriel Lorena (Toot Toot Tootie Toot – Dance of the Reed Flutes), Haley Schwan (Peanut Brittle Brigade – March), Paul Craig (Sugar Rum Cherry – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy), My’Kal Stromile (Entr’acte), John Lam (The Volga Vouty – Russian Dance), Arianna Hughlett (Chinoiserie – Chinese Dance) and in the Arabesque Cookie (Arabian Dance), some of these dancers have choreographed sections for their colleague dancers. To end Nutcracker Suite, all seven choreographers contribute to the Dance of The Floreadores (Waltz of the Flowers) for the entire cast of dancers.

The choreographers’ contributions are distinct in style from jazz to classical ballet to modern dance – to a little bit of Bob Fosse. But overall it is a collaborative effort – with the Boston Ballet’s dancers providing spirited dancing to the spirited choreography and music. And then there is the illusion to William Forsythe’s In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated with a gift box suspended in mid-air over the stage space.

All of the dancers dance with masks on and have been rehearsed with safety guidelines in mind – and Ernesto Galan deserves much credit for the editing of the video sections that are included in The Gift.

This is a very different dance presentation – and the one hour running time of the Boston Ballet’s livestream grabs an audience’s attention in the midst of the holiday season.

Estella Scrooge – A Christmas Carol With A Twist

December 15, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Livestream and digital platforms have evolved into becoming the most utilized outlet for the development of new work – theatre, dance, and music – and currently available on livestream access is a new musical, Estella Scrooge – A Christmas With A Twist which combines theatre, and state of the art film and animation.

Estella Scrooge’s composer and lyricist, Paul Gordon has established his musical credits in adapting classic novels to the musical stage, and here collaborates on the book based on a story by Gordon, John Caird, and Sam Caird – and is also directed by – John Caird. Also a stellar cast’s performances were captured and filmed individually, one day at a time, one scene at a time and one acter at a time -- in keeping with socially distancing guidelines.

Estella Scrooge is a modern fable based on Charles Dickens’ famous 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol, which also incorporates characters and plot lines from other Dickens’ novels -- Great Expectations, Little Dorrit, and Bleak House.

Estella Scrooge (Betsy Wolfe) is a Wall Street business woman, who is the CEO of Bleak House, a health insurance and investment company. She has climbed the corporate ladder protecting the profit motive and is described as a Barbie with a razor blade smile, and had been inspired by her aunt, Marla Havisham (Carolee Carmello) who has molded Estella to be a weapon to hurt men – and anyone who impedes her success. What is made clear Estella particularly enjoys exploiting people and has a particular joy in authorizing foreclosures.

A hotel owner in her hometown of Pickwick, Ohio has defaulted on his mortgage and Estella wishes to lower the boom on Christmas Eve in person. Estella discovers that she would be victimizing her childhood sweetheart, Pip Nickleby (Clinton Duncan) who has transformed the property into a refuge for the sick and homeless. A snowstorm forces her to take refuge at this hotel – and experiencing what her ancestor Ebenezer did, she is visited by ghosts and characters from the past – and many of them from Dickens’ other celebrated novels. An alternative intervention for our modern and pandemic times.

Estella is installed in Harthouse’s Honeymoon Suite, which is believed by Harthouse’s residents to be haunted. Estella is introduced to an entourage of spirits by the ghost of Marla Havisham and Her Demonettes, with the Spirit of Christmas Past, Sissy Jupe (Sarah Litzsinger), the Spirit of Christmas Present, Ebenezer Scrooge (Danny Burstein), and the Spirit of Christmas Yet To Come, Mr. Merdle (Patrick Page). With the help of these spirits and the group of misfits that are residents of Harthouse Estella Scrooge sees the light.

What is most important is that Estella Scrooge is a highly entertaining musical with a tuneful and memorable score and performed by an excellent cast which would be difficult to single out for their individual performances. Also one of the stars is the clever technology that sets the stage for the absorbing story-telling in this musical.

Estella Scrooge is a wonderful alternative to the many Christmas television movies – with a lot more heart and far more entertaining.

The Richmond Ballet’s The Nutcracker

December 14, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Richmond Ballet is another one of the major American ballet companies that are presenting their productions of The Nutcracker on livestream/digital platforms. This presentation gives the Richmond Ballet a greater visibility considering that its touring engagements are few and far between. The Richmond Ballet’s fortunes changed when in 1984 the company was transformed into a professional ballet company, and is currently directed by Stoner Winslett.

The Richmond Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker was conceived by Stoner Winslett – and its designer Charles Caldwell, with artistic direction and choreography by Winslett. This presentation is from a live performance from last year and is enhanced with interesting features on how this production of The Nutcracker reaches the stage.

This production includes the traditional Act I Christmas Eve Party at the Silberhaus home where family friend Dr. Drosselmeyer, accompanied by his nephew at the party, presents Clara with a Nutcracker doll. Upon falling asleep on the living room sofa, Clara dreams about the Nutcracker defending her against the army of mice led by the Mouse King. The scene is transformed as Clara and the Nutcracker Prince are taken to the Snow Scene and the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Kingdom.

It is in this Kingdom that the Sugar Plum Fairy dances the famous Sugar Plum Fairy variation which includes the participation of four student dancers – and following are the familiar national dances – with the exceptional Bear leading the Russian Dance.

However the ballet ends in an apotheosis in which Clara awakes from her slumber – realizing that her adventures were part of a wishful and intriguing dream.

Throughout the production Charles Caldwell has included magical transitions from one scene to another which adds to this polished performance of The Nutcracker ballet.

Matthew Frain’s Dr. Drosselmeyer is a bit younger version of this character than seen in other productions but nevertheless is the character that brings this story to life.

Also notable are Kyla Williams as Clara, Carter Bush as Drosselmeyer’s Nephew, Abi Goldstein and Mate Szentes as the Snow Queen and Snow King, and Cody Beaton as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Fernando Sabino as the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier.

In viewing the Richmond Ballet’s The Nutcracker one will be able to experience a traditional production of the ballet as well as enjoy the feature videos that explains all of the chaos that is inherent in putting on a production of this magnitude.

Ballet Arizona’s The Nutcracker Suite

December 12, 2020

By Mark Kappel

For those of you who are missing performances of The Nutcracker this holiday season, there are productions of The Nutcrackers being presented on livestream and digital platforms – opportunities to binge on The Nutcracker and to see productions of The Nutcracker one would not usually have the possibility to view.

Ballet Arizona is currently presenting artistic director Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker Suite, excerpting the ballet and representing the well-known ballet’s essence. Company principal dancer, Jillian Barrell is on hand as a narrator who relates the story of the Stahlbaum Family’s Christmas Eve Party during which Drosselmeyer presents Clara with a Nutcracker -- who comes to her defense when she is attacked by an army of mice led by the Mouse King – and the Nutcracker is transformed into a young prince who accompanies her to the Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

It is from there that Ballet Arizona’s dancers take over beginning with the Snow Scene led by the Snow Queen (Rochelle Anvik) and Snow King (Ethan Price) and there are the notable divertissements from Act II of this ballet including the national dances, the Waltz of the Flowers, and the Grand Pas de Deux danced by the Sugar Plum Fairy (Tiffany Chatfield) and her Cavalier (Luis Corrales).

As the dancers perform with masks on one is very much aware that they danced live to be filmed on the stage of the Dorrance Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona -- and even with those masks on one feels their joy in dancing again – dancing Andersen’s choreography which is styled in the classical vocabulary, a bit of Balanchine, and also a bit of Vassily Vainonen.

There is much to be admired here in the valiant efforts exemplified here by Ballet Arizona’s artistic team, management and dancers to bring us this much needed entertainment during this difficult time.

Pennsylvania Ballet – The Nutcracker

December 9, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The benefit of American ballet companies turning to livestream and digital platforms to present performances has made it possible for balletomanes all over the world to view performances of the annual productions of The Nutcracker that are danced by ballet companies throughout the United States. In the recent past the only pathway to viewing all of these productions would be to travel from one city to another during the month of December which would be an expensive and time-consuming luxury.

The Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the companies that is presenting its production of The Nutcracker in a digital format– an archival performance dating back to last year. These viewings will be from December 16-25, 2020.
The Pennsylvania Ballet has been dancing The Nutcracker since 1968 – George Balanchine’s production of The Nutcracker with choreographic additions and revisions in Act I by many choreographers – and it was 1987 that the Pennsylvania Ballet began performing all of George Balanchine’s choreography for its production of The Nutcracker with new costume designs by Judanna Lynn, and scenery designs by Peter Horne. The staging itself is a duplicate of the staging that is currently performed by the New York City Ballet – and is definitely reverential.

My experience with Balanchine’s The Nutcracker has been limited to the New York City Ballet’s performances of this version – but not so this year – and the Pennsylvania Ballet’s performance of this unique production of The Nutcracker reflects how Balanchine’s choreography has now been absorbed into the artistic DNA of dancers all over the world.

Balanchine’s production of The Nutcracker is hybrid of new and traditional choreography, and Balanchine also has moved well-known variations and dances to different parts of the ballet – and has also moved music and added music. The only added piece of music that is significant is a piece of music that Tchaikovsky composed for another one of his ballet scores, The Sleeping Beauty, which in Balanchine’s production is used as underscoring for a scenery change. Also the Act II Grand Pas de Deux only consists of the adagio and the coda – the Sugar Plum Fairy variation from the Grand Pas de Deux is danced earlier in Act II, and there is no male variation for the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier.

However the story is presented in a traditional manner from the Act I Christmas Party hosted by the Stahlbaum Family to the Battle of the Mice, the Snow Scene, and then on to the Land of the Sweets.

Herr Drosselmeier remains a focal point in this production as he still brings the magic and gifts – particularly the gift of the nutcracker to Marie – to the Act I Christmas Party and he also escorts Marie to the Land of the Sweets. Also included in Act II is the charming mime section for the Little Prince as he interprets, mimes, and dances in retelling his exploits of defending Marie in the battle against the mice and the Mouse King – ultimately leading to the Mouse King’s demise.

Balanchine’s choreography presents technical challenges for the dancers and in this performance the Pennsylvania Ballet met those challenges from the principal dancers to the soloists to the corps de ballet and the student dancers.

Lillian DiPiazza was commanding as the Sugar Plum Fairy with Sterling Baca displaying the courtly decorum of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier. Also Mayara Pineiro danced the role of the Dewdrop meeting the challenges of the choreography in an effortless manner as she led Act II’s Waltz of the Flowers – and then there was Jermel Johnson showing off his virtuosity as the soloist in the Act II Candy Cane divertissement. Charles Askegard brought mystery and charm in his interpretation of the role of Herr Drosselmeier.

Also charming were Audrey Tovar as Marie and Rowan Duffy as Fritz who are transformed into the Little Princess and the Little Prince in The Nutcracker’s second act.

The Pennsylvania Ballet’s digital presentation of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is a unique opportunity to experience what the Pennsylvania Ballet’s audiences in Philadelphia already recognize -- that the Pennsylvania Ballet has made Balanchine’s production of The Nutcracker its own.

Stuttgart Ballet Presents Angels and Demons

November 28, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Although performances of the Stuttgart Ballet have been disrupted by off and on lockdowns caused by COVID-19, the Stuttgart Ballet presented a livestream of a live performance of a triple bill of ballets on November 28, 2020 – under the title of Angels and Demons – two of those dance pieces being company premieres.

The two opening pieces were paired to some degree as both of them were choreographed by Jiri Kylian – and both having had their world premieres by the Netherlands Dance Theatre. Falling Angels, choreographed to music by Steve Reich, was given its company premiere by the Stuttgart Ballet in 2017. It is danced by an ensemble of female dancers who are put through their paces in what could not be purely defined as modern dance but certainly influenced by it. The athletic, ritualistic, and repetitive movement is organic with the opening minutes positioning the dancers in lighted square spaces – all socially distanced. Falling Angels ultimately closes with a climactic moment.

Also an ensemble piece, and here presented as a company premiere, was Petit Mort, which opens with the male cast members brandishing swords which become one of the props of choice as the swords are manipulated, and tossed – symbols of war and conflict. In the piece’s choreography there is the contrast of femininity and glamour reflected by the female dancers – but in the group dances and the handful of duets, the conflict is what is reflected – and this is all effectively accomplished even being choreographed to music by Mozart.

The closing dance work on the program was a piece in contrast as it had a story to be told as surreal as it was. Although a company premiere for the Stuttgart Ballet at this performance, it was the oldest of the works on this triple bill program having been given its world premiere in 1946.

Roland Petit’s Le Jeune Homme et la Mort, depicts a young Bohemian man evaluating his current life and what was before him. He has a mysterious visitor who later reveals herself to be a death figure and she leads the young man to suicide and death. This story by Jean Cocteau is both surreal and absurd, and Petit’s theatrical choreography plus the scenography, and Bach’s mournful Passacaglia and Fugue, creates the mood of this forbidding fable.

Petit was masterful in creating these theatre dance pieces which are enhanced by their emotional grip provided by the acting and dancing performances of the cast members. Ciro Ernesto Mansilla as the Young Man, and Hyo-Jung Kang as Death brought the necessary in-depth interpretation to the characters in this piece – which is typical of the dancers of the Stuttgart Ballet.

Angels and Demons is not the typical livestream performance that Stuttgart Ballet has presented in the last few months, and it is notable for a hugely successful combination of master choreographers with their works danced by excellent and expressive dancers.

National Theatre Presents Death of England: Delroy

November 27, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Somehow there was a sense of irony that the latest National Theatre offering’s performances were disrupted by a COVID-19 lockdown after being open for only two weeks – but fortunate that the play being presented, Death of England: Delroy, was livestreamed on November 27, 2020 and there are plans for the National Theatre to present more performances of this play in London next year.

Death of England: Delroy, written by Clint Dyer and Roy Williams, is a one-actor play about Delroy – as a sequel to an earlier play in which Delroy is only mentioned as a friend of the leading character, Michael, a white British bloke, who is experiencing how England is spiraling out of control.

Delroy was raised by his Jamaican-born mother who is a caregiver attendant. As he drinks beer – he tells the stories of meeting his girlfriend, Carly (the sister of his best friend, Michael), the path to being upwardly mobile and an unapologetically capitalist in his career as a bailiff – bragging that he even has the responsibility of paying a mortgage -- becoming unemployed, and how he spends his daily life one beer at a time. He is pro-Brexit and has questioned the motives of Black Lives Matter.

He is just a bloke but a black working class bloke. Even though Delroy has experienced racial profiling since he was 15 years old and identifies himself as British, a recent experience changes his political views.

That political transformation occurs when he is arrested on his way to the hospital where Carly is going into labor. His life implodes as he experiences being a victim of the police, and going through the enigmas of the British court system. A story set against the landscape of the killing of George Floyd and the COVID-19 crisis.

Michael Balogen as Delroy reveals his emotions and frustrations – in a one-way chat with the audience -- as this situation seems to repeat itself over and over again without a solution and resolution describing what he calls English amnesia. In his story-telling Balogen commands the stage space and reveals himself totally – it is a virtuoso performance that fortunately is archived on film.

Clint Dyer and Roy Williams wrote this play in just six months and it is a play of the moment – and is universal -- and has its resonance not only in Balogen’s performance but also by how Dyer has directed the play.

If time and opportunity allows, one has only about 24 hours to experience this compelling play – and Michael Balogen’s equally compelling performance – on the National Theatre’s Youtube platform.

ABT Today: The Future Stars Now

November 23, 2020

By Mark Kappel

American Ballet Theatre has come in a bit late to the current trend of producing and presenting livestream performances which because of the spread of the corona virus has now become an important platform for arts organizations to have visibility during this crisis.

Therefore when on November 23, 2020, American Ballet Theatre presented a digital program entitled, ABT Today: The Future Stars Now, it was a most welcome addition to what has become the norm of livestream performances.

ABT Today: The Future Stars, hosted by Tamron Hall, included four filmed pieces created by four different choreographers, one of whom has worked with American Ballet Theatre in the past, and others that were having their first works performed by American Ballet Theatre – and it also served to highlight American Ballet Theatre’s outreach programs, its ballet school, with cameo appearances by company members, staff members, and teachers. There were also highlights of an upcoming livestream program featuring the ABT Studio Company.

Gemma Bond, a former member of American Ballet Theatre, has collaborated with American Ballet Theatre in the past, and for this digital presentation she created a new work entitled Convivium, which was choreographed to John Harbison’s Variations for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano. This piece for four dancers (Breanne Granlund, Katherine Williams, Thomas Forster, and Carlos Gonzalez) was filmed at the Silver Bay YMCA Conference Family Retreat Center in Silver Bay, New York and was Bond’s second work for American Ballet Theatre. Bond’s piece was introspective employing a contemporary ballet vocabulary – and was filmed in black and white which added to the gravity of this piece which reflected how the plague that is effecting people in the arts.

Christopher Rudd, creating his first work for American Ballet Theatre, choreographed Touché, a duet for Calvin Royal III and Joao Menegussi, choreographed to Que Te Mate el Desierto by Woodkid, and Giuseppe Tornatore Suite by Ennio Morricone. This piece was also filmed in Silver Bay, New York. As he stated Touché was his choreographic statement confirming the normalization of gay couples – and with the use of modern dance and snapshot images, and a sculptural duet at the end of Touché, Rudd ended the piece with a kiss, and expressed humanity and empathy.

Pam Tanowitz and Jeremy Jacob collaborated on David, a work influenced by Godard’s Contempt, which was danced by David Hallberg. Choreographed to music by Lawrence Baldwin and Luigi Boccherini. The choreography for this filmed solo is representative of Tanowitz’s influences from Merce Cunningham with the random inclusion of classical ballet vocabulary. Filmed on the grounds of the Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, Tanowitz used the concrete foundations Hallberg to support the dance positions and images required, and created a quiet and contemplative dance piece.

Providing some balance in terms of mood was Darrell Grand Moultrie’s first work for American Ballet Theatre, Indestructible Light, which was created and filmed at P.S. 21 in Chatham, New York. As a celebration of American Jazz music, Moultrie created his work to songs composed by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Neal Hefti, and Billy Strayhorn, providing a musical contrast to the other works in this livestream program. The choreography, which was a mashup of jazz movement and classical vocabulary, was aimed at entertaining the viewing audience – and projected a feeling of optimism which is definitely needed in these difficult times.

Indestructible Light was danced by Anabel Katsnelson, Erica Lall, Betsy McBride, Jacob Clerico, Melvin Lawovi, and Duncan McIlwaine with elan, exuberance, and a spirit – which also reflected that their need to dance was just as important as it was for the audience to see dance in performance.

ABT Today: The Future Starts Now proved to be a showcase for the talented young and mature artists in the company’s ranks – and also a bold artistic statement to say that American Ballet Theatre is relevant even though the company is not currently giving public in-person performances.

Sarasota Ballet’s Digital Program II

November 20, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Sarasota Ballet celebrated the work of Frederick Ashton in its Digital Program I, and for its Digital Program II, which premiered on November 20, 2020, the Sarasota Ballet is celebrating the work of one of Ashton’s contemporaries, George Balanchine.

Only one of the pieces presented on this program was performed in its entirety, and all of the pieces were choreographed by Balanchine for the New York City Ballet representing a wide range of his work.

The first two pieces on the program have strong influences from Auguste Bournonville – notable for the fact that Balanchine had been a balletmaster for the Royal Danish Ballet.

The program opened with Tarantella, a high-speed, high-energy, virtuoso duet which had particular allusions to Bournonville’s ballet, Napoli. With tambourine in hand, the two dancers compete for the audience’s attention with the short blasts of dancing, frequently playing to the audience, and were danced by Kate Honea and Yuki Nonaka with the combination of elegance, swagger, and over the top spirit.

Equally inspired by Bournonville was the ballet Donizetti Variations, and in this livestream the exuberant Pas de Deux was danced by Katelyn May and Yuri Marques which was danced with technical proficiency – and I find that Donizetti Variations is one of those Balanchine works that isn’t as often as danced by ballet companies as it should be. It is a neglected gem.

In tune with Balanchine’s more modernist period, presented were the three opening themes from The Four Temperaments, which was choreographed to commissioned music composed by Paul Hindemith. In these excerpts Balanchine’s angular and linear choreography was performed in an understated manner in the First Theme danced by Ellen Overstreet and Daniel Pratt, the Second Theme danced by Lauren Ostrander and Ivan Spitale, and the Third Theme danced by Janae Korte and Richard House.

In the more popular vein – in terms of the mainstream music that the ballet was choreographed to – was the Second Movement from Western Symphony a reference to the fantasy or dream ballets in movie musicals and choreographed to traditional American western songs. The Second Movement of Western Symphony is the adagio movement of the ballet – danced by Katelyn May and Ricki Bertoni with a bit of tongue and cheek humor.

In that same vein were the excerpts from Who Cares?, Balanchine’s homage to George Gershwin and his music. The New York City Ballet premiered the ballet in 1970, and it was revised and transformed over a period of years.

The excerpts presented here included the ballet’s highlights including The Man I Love romantically danced by Kate Honea and Riccardo Rhodes, Stairway to Paradise danced by Janae Korte, Embraceable You danced by Lauren Ostrander and Richard House, Who Cares? danced by Janae Korte and Ricardo Graziano, Fascinating Rhythm danced by Kate Honea, My One & Only danced by Lauren Ostrander, and Liza danced by Ricardo Rhodes, and Honea, Korte, Ostrander and Rhodes enthusiastically dancing I Got Rhythm.

This program provides a balletomane with an appreciation of Balanchine’s range as a choreographer – and also how entertaining his work can be – and the Sarasota Ballet’s performances of these works reflect different interpretations of them. Such performances are notable examples of how much Balanchine’s style is accessible by ballet companies the world over.

Boston Ballet Dances Forsythe Elements

November 19, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Boston Ballet’s visits to New York have been rare. But just as other major American ballet companies are presenting themselves in livestream performances as part of their 2020-2021 seasons – the Boston Ballet is making it possible for the company to be seen in specially prepared livestream performances for nation-wide and international audiences.

Directed by Mikko Nissinen since 2001, the Boston Ballet’s repertoire includes the 19th century and 20th century full-length classics as well as the works of many of the significant contemporary choreographers of the day.

The first of the Boston Ballet’s livestream programs was premiered on November 19, 2020 focusing on the Boston Ballet’s partnership with choreographer William Forsythe which was initiated in 2016. An aspect of this partnership has been Forsythe working with the Boston Ballet’s dancers in adapting and/or revising his works to suit the strengths of the company’s dancers which has resulted in the Boston Ballet having unique versions of his works to dance.

This program includes excerpts from many of Forsythe’s signature works and works that are less familiar, as well as a discussion of his choreographic philosophy and how he works with dancers with six of the Boston Ballet’s dancers. Some of the excerpts were specially filmed in Boston Ballet’s studios and others are from the Boston Ballet’s archival videos – and even though these excerpts are seen in short clips, they exemplify how Forsythe has pushed dancers to their limits – mixing classical ballet with modern and post-modern dance – and refashioning roles for individual dancers. Also this survey of Forsythe’s work owes much to the camera work, and video editing work of Ernesto Galan.

The program opens with the “Impossible” ensemble section from Playlist (EP) filmed in Boston Ballet’s studio and closes with additional excerpts from Playlist (EP) – “Surely Shorty”, “Vegas”, “Sha La La Means I Love You”, and “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” – as captured in an archival performance video. In this piece Forsythe interprets pop music of the recent past.

Pas/Parts 2018 is also presented in two separate excerpt sections with a section of the piece captured in Boston Ballet’s studio danced by Maria Alvarez, Lia Cirio, Irlan Silva and Paul Craig, and then in further excerpts of an ensemble dance, two duets (danced separately by Emily Entingh and Lasha Khozashvili, and a second duet danced by Ji Young Chae and Seo Hye Han), a trio (danced by Isaac Akiba, Misa Kuranaga, and John Lam), and a solo danced by Isaac Akiba.

Created for the National Ballet of Canada in 1991 and given its company premiere by the Boston Ballet in 2011, the Boston Ballet danced The Second Detail during its most recent New York engagement. With music by Forsythe’s frequent collaborator, Thom Willems, this is Forsythe in what is the most familiar ground – with the excerpts being one of the work’s ensemble dances in which dancers are moved around as if on a chess board.

In contrast was the excerpt from Artifact 2017 which combines theatre, the spoken word and dance and in this excerpt the dancers are congregated on stage in two groups clapping as they underscore the spoken word. At least in this section of Artifact 2017 Forsythe exposes his whimsical side.

What followed were excerpts from two of Forsythe’s creations for the Paris Opera Ballet. First Blake Works I choreographed to the music of James Blake, instilled with Forsythe’s improvisational approach to choreography and given its company premiere by the Boston Ballet in 2019. Most notable for their performances in Blake Works I were Chrystyn Fentroy and Roddy Doble in “The Colour In Anything” and Lia Cirio and Patric Palkens in “F.O.R.E.V.E.R.”

Perhaps most distinctive is In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated, a familiar Forsythe signature work given its company premiere by the Boston Ballet in 2002, choreographed to music by Thom Willems in collaboration with Lesley Stuck, and in the short excerpts were solos danced by Chyrstyn Fentroy and Irlan Silva, and a duet danced by Patrick Yocum and Lia Cirio.

The added chat with Forsythe and six Boston Ballet dancers from all ranks of the company is revealing in terms of how Forsythe communicates to the dancers he works with – and also how he accommodates them as well.

The Boston Ballet’s Forsythe Elements allows one to observe Forsythe’s world and his creative process, and also to reflect on Mikko Nissinen’s artistic vision for the company which has established a creative collaboration such as this.

Royal Danish Ballet’s Cinderella

November 18, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Due to a COVID--19 lockdown in Denmark, the Royal Danish Ballet has cancelled live performances but is substituting a livestream of Gregory Dean’s production of Cinderella which was performed by the company in September of this year.

Cinderella has become a staple of ballet companies’ repertoires and some productions have been understated while others have included revised librettos which infuse psychological aspects of the Cinderella story – it is a story that is universal and seems to have its roots in most cultures.

Gregory Dean’s version of Cinderella is a version with reverence – choreographing to Sergei Prokofiev’s well-known score and following a traditional libretto. In Act I there are references to Cinderella’s anxieties about her sadly missed father, the stepsisters are played by female dancers, and also in Act I’s dancing lesson, Dean provides a choreographic homage to Bournonville’s Le Conservatoire.

In Act III Cinderella forgives her stepmother and her stepsisters for their behavior – a gracious Princess.

Dean’s choreography is classical, traditional, and neoclassical, and the choreography only gives the outline of the principal characters. With the Royal Danish Ballet’s tradition of mime and acting, Dean leaves it to the company’s dancers to flesh out the characters. Also enhancing this production are the costume and scenery designs by Jon Morrell which are opulent and decorative, but yet are also simple and not overwhelming.

In this performance Dean dances the role of the Prince in an elegant manner, and Ida Praetorius dances and plays the title role with clarity and humility. Also notable were Camilla Ruelykke Holst and Wilma Giglio as the Stepsisters, Astrid Elbo as the Good Fairy, and Christina Michanek as the Evil Stepmother.

This livestream of the Royal Danish Ballet’s Cinderella was a welcome surprise during a time when we all need an uplifting experience.

Teatro Colon’s Presents Coppelia

November 2, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Fortunately the Teatro Colon is continuing its presentations of ballet livestreams and the latest one is that of the 19th century comic classic, Coppelia which was seen on November 2, 2020.

Choosing productions of the 19th century repertoire is an art form as a curator – pick the best production, most appropriate for the company, and also what will be enjoyable for an audience to experience. In its series of livestreams that art form has been practiced not only in the choice of productions of the 19th century classics but also in full-length ballets created during the 20th century. Teatro Colon’s director Paloma Herrera has been masterful in choosing repertoire for the Teatro Colon.

The Teatro Colon’s production of Coppelia is performed in a staging by former American Ballet Theatre balletmaster, Enrique Martinez, who staged Coppelia for that very company in 1968. His production was replaced – and I think missed – although there have been a few ballet companies that did acquire Martinez’s production. Here lovingly staged by Dalal Achcar, you can see why this production of Coppelia is unique in possessing all of the elements that explain why the ballet has endured and has been enjoyed by audiences.

Choreographed by Arthur Saint-Leon, Coppelia was premiered by the Paris Opera Ballet in 1870 during France’s participation in the Franco-Prussian War which necessitated many of the Paris Opera Ballet’s male dancers to be drafted in the French Army – and therefore one of the principal roles, Franz, was first danced by a female dancer. The story for Coppelia, was inspired by a tale written by E.T.A. Hoffmann about a mechanical doll that comes to life. This was a time when prototypes of robots were being exhibited in world fairs in Europe’s capital cities – and then there was Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein depicting a scientist who brings a human being back to life.

However the libretto of the ballet focuses on the lovers, Swanhilda and Franz, who play a horrible trick on Dr. Coppelius, as Swanhilda impersonates his mechanical doll, Coppelia, bringing the doll to life and creating a bit of chaos in Dr. Coppelius’s workshop. And this was all brought on by Franz’s flirtation with the Coppelia doll with whom he became infatuated with from afar, which was sitting on the balcony of Dr. Coppelius’ house – but in this comic ballet with a lilting score by Leo Delibes, all ends well.

Martinez’ production of Coppelia has charm and with its traditional staging it also has authenticity. In Act I Martinez established the feeling of community, and with that exuberance, and the music played as well as it was, you have a joyous production of this classic ballet.

In this livestream performance of Coppelia the mischievous Swanhilda was brought to life by Macarena Gimenez with youthful innocence and technique to spare in executing the choreography, and Juan Pablo Ledo was the besotted and happy-go-lucky Franz. Julian Galvan gave an empathetic and sympathetic performance as Dr. Coppelius as he displayed Dr. Coppelius’s pain – but then turning around to forgive all.

The mime was performed with conviction, and the ensemble danced the mazurka and czardas with spirit, gusto, and sparkle.

This is a production of Coppelia well worth experiencing.

Irish Repertory Theatre Presents A Touch of The Poet

October 29, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Irish Repertory Theatre’s 2019-20 season was interrupted by the required lockdown in March of this year, and had triumphantly moved forward with an online series of presentations throughout the spring and summer. As these unforeseen circumstances continue, the Irish Repertory Theatre, directed by Charlotte Moore and Ciaran O’Reilly, is still actively involved in producing online performances.

From October 27-November 1, 2020 the Irish Repertory Theatre is presenting its unique online revival of Eugene O’Neill’s A Touch of The Poet, a rarely seen O’Neill gem. This revival had been scheduled as the Irish Repertory Theatre’s spring season offering and the Irish Repertory Theatre has transformed this revival into a special and virtual production under the expert directorial hand of Ciaran O’Reilly.

For this production the actors’ performances have been recorded in different locations and merged together by video editor Sarah Nichols with a scenic backdrop designed by Charlie Corcoran and costumes designed by Alejo Vietti.

The plot of A Touch of The Poet unfolds in the space of one day, July 27, 1828 – an integral date that is the ghost of this play’s plot as it is the date of a particular battle during the Napoleonic Wars. A Touch of The Poet focuses on tavern owner, military major, and former aristocrat, Cornelius Melody (played by Robert Cuccioli), an Irish immigrant who has earned notoriety for being a war hero.

With the Melody Family now fallen on hard times, Melody’s wife, Nora (played by Kate Forbes) – loyal to her philandering husband – demeans herself on a daily basis attending to Melody’s personal needs, working extraordinary hours to keep the tavern running in spite of minimal financial return, and is often sent off to seek financial relief for the family – his daughter Sara (played by Belle Aykroyd) is unhappy with the status of her family and doesn’t approve of Melody’s machinations, tendency towards manipulation, or his notion of celebrity.

In the meantime Sara is trying to climb up the social ladder with an advantageous marriage which is foiled by Melody’s making advances towards the potential husband’s mother. This latter event proves to be pivotal in not improving the family’s fortunes, and lies told within the family are exposed – with Melody emerging as a flawed Shakespearean character.

O’Neill was never a playwright who wrote concisely or expeditiously, and one has to follow O’Neill’s lead as the plot of his plays are revealed – as the characters reveal themselves in the same manner. A Touch of The Poet deals with themes that are also exposed in other of O’Neill’s plays – love and pride, in particular. However A Touch of The Poet is a play of the moment as it is set in the time of anticipating a Presidential Election, a family in turmoil, lies and secrets, financial sacrifices and failures – and those who seek celebrity status.

Fortunately the Irish Repertory Theatre has found a path in realizing this play with an amazing use of technology which comes close to recreating the intimacy of a stage performance in spite of the fact that the actors have been isolated and gave their performances in different locations – and were edited together for this online performance.

The result is a more than satisfying theatrical experience without distractions, with immediacy, being true to the playwright’s vision, and wonderful performances by all of the cast members.

Sarasota Ballet’s Digital Program I

October 24, 2020

By Mark Kappel

At this time there is a worldwide challenge in terms of being able to see live performances by ballet companies. Although many ballet companies in Europe, and in other parts of the world, are emerging from their state of hibernation and are performing again, in the United States there are major hurdles preventing ballet companies from performing.

The Sarasota Ballet, based in Sarasota, Florida, is among a selected few of American ballet companies that have turned to the digital platform to present performances as part of its 2020-2021 season – live performances that have been filmed for this purpose with strict health guidelines, and presenting the performances to a much wider audience than would be possible otherwise.

From October 23-27, 2020 the Sarasota Ballet is presenting its first digital program of the season which is a reflection of the niche in specialized repertoire that the company has been performing since artistic director Iain Webb took over the Sarasota Ballet -- with the assistance of his associate director and his wife, Margaret Barbieri – and that is to celebrate the choreography of the esteemed British choreographer, Frederick Ashton. And this program includes excerpts from larger works, and full performances of more intimate works – some familiar and not so familiar.

The program opens with excerpts from Ashton’s Les Patineurs which is a depiction of a Victorian skating party filled with virtuoso choreography and many moments filled with style and grace. Premiered in 1937, Les Patineurs is a work of its time yet is a throwback to the 19th century. Yuki Nonaka leads the cast as the athletic and high-flying Blue Boy with Lauren Ostrander and Janae Korte as the Red Girls, and Nonaka joining Kate Honea and Katelyn May for the Pas de Trois.

The following two works are performed in full, the first of which is Monotones II danced to music composed by Erik Satie with the choreography inspired by the world’s interest in space travel – a moment of human aspirations in a new world in the 1960’s -- and danced by Ricardo Graziano, Ellen Overstreet, and Ricardo Rhodes with precision – and followed by the expressive Meditation from Thais, danced to the music from Massenet’s opera, danced exotically by Katelyn May and Ricardo Rhodes.

Kate Honea dances the amusing solo, La Chatte Metamorphosee En Femme, danced to music by Offenbach, in which Honea impersonates an impertinent and self-involved cat. On this occasion Ashton provides a bit of parody and self-deprecating humor.

During his career Ashton staged many productions of the 19th century classics and also added his own choreography in these productions when he thought appropriate. These additions were choreographed in a manner to be expertly meshed with Marius Petipa’s classic choreography. One such example is Aurora’s Act II Variation from The Sleeping Beauty, here danced with elegance by Marijana Dominis.

Also notable for Ashton’s signature is an excerpt from his full-length Romeo and Juliet which he staged for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1955– the full-length ballet now rarely danced but had been danced by English National Ballet. The excerpt presented from Romeo and Juliet is the Balcony Scene Pas de Deux for which Ashton created simple and youthful choreography to express the feelings of these young lovers danced with reverence by Ellen Overstreet and Ricardo Graziano.

To end the program is Ashton’s Façade, -- an entertainment with poetry by Edith Sitwell and the music of William Walton – circa 1931. The ballet is a series of dance and theatrical portraits from the time period that Facade was choreographed in. Only excerpts performed here in this digital program but included was the stylized Tango that is the ballet’s final section which was led by Marijana Dominis and Ivan Spitale with suitable tongue in cheek humor.

Iain Webb is also seen as narrator and presenter providing information about each ballet and its history. There is also additional bonus content including video of Anthony Dowell coaching the Sarasota Ballet’s dancers in Ashton’s Thais, and Dowell answering questions asked by the company’s dancers.

Overall the production values of this digital program are well-thought out and concise offering more than just a dance performance.

On The Roof – A Look Inside Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish

By Mark Kappel

When the revival of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish premiered at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in 2018, it was a significant theatrical event. Although Fiddler on the Roof had a long engagement after its Broadway premiere in 1964 -- and Fiddler has been revived on Broadway many times since – but with the exception of the last two Broadway revivals, the revivals were recreations of the original production with Jerome Robbins’ direction and choreography protecting the authenticity this musical’s universal message and appeal – enhanced by the music of Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein’s brilliant adaptation of Sholem Aleichem’s source material, Tevye and his Daughters. All relating Aleichem’s story which takes place in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in 1905.

Besides performing Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish – which employed a translation authored by Shraga Friedman for a production in Israel in 1965 – one of the important ingredients was the insight brought to the production by its director, Joel Grey, a veteran of the Broadway musical stage.

In On the Roof – A Look Inside Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish by Samantha Hahn, one of the young cast members of this production, published by Vanguard Press, the reader has in her or his own hands a diary of how this remarkable revival came to be, and the creatives who fashioned this unique revival.

The book contains interviews with cast members describing their auditions and how they coped and fit into the new concept of Fiddler as it was evolving. The author of the book, Samantha Hahn, won the role of Beylke, one of Tevye’s younger daughters. The interviews reflect how the family of actors evolved, got closer, and shared the success – together. The process is told in great detail – and it finally came together when the curtain went up.

If you wish to experience how a musical production is rehearsed and prepared, actors finding their characters and directors guiding them through the process, and the mechanics of performing multiple times each week, On The Roof – A Look Inside Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish by Samantha Hahn is must read – and it is an excellent antidote to the current pandemic!

Mary Coyle Chase – Pulling Harvey Out Of Her Hat

By Mark Kappel

Probably the mere mention of Denver playwright Mary Coyle Chase would not inform one as to who she is and what she is famous for – but she is best known as the author of the stage and screen comedy, Harvey.

Mimi Pockross has written an entertaining and absorbing biography of Mary Coyle Chase, Pulling Harvey Out Of Her Hat – The Amazing Story of Mary Coyle Chase, published by Rowman and Littlefield, which includes details about Chase’s association with Harvey, but also creates and informs a profile of this playwright which is much more than merely being the creator of Harvey.

Harvey is a comedy about the unique relationship of Elwood P. Dowd, challenged by his personal dependance on alcohol, and his imaginary friend, Harvey, who is a 6 foot, one and a half inch rabbit.

Chase received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1945 for Harvey, and wrote 14 plays, 3 screenplays, and two award-winning children’s’ books – major achievements for anyone but also an even notable achievement for a woman at the time – especially for someone whose humble beginnings were with her immigrant Irish parents – being special in many ways and persistent in wanting to fulfil her ambitions.

Born in 1907, the fourth and last child of Frank and Mary McDonough Coyle, Chase was part of a family that settled in Denver -- the city and its life would become the inspiration for Chase’s plays. Because of her upbringing Chase found herself mocking the upper classes in her writing, and fortunately. Denver offered enough theatrical offerings for Chase to become a lifelong fan of the theatre.

Coyle grew up in the 1920’s when women got the vote and the day-to-day assistance of washing machines, refrigerators, and vacuum cleaner, and the rage of silent movies being transitioned to talkies.

She was hired by the Rocky Mountain News -- the beginning of her career in journalism and ultimately met her future husband, a fellow journalist, Robert Chase – and they were married in 1928.

The Federal Theatre Project presented Chase’s Me Third in Denver in 1936, a time when the theatrical community was hard hit by the Great Depression. But this success was another signpost in Chase’s career as she also turned her writing talent in the direction of plays.

In Chase’s career and networking on behalf of her career there was always a Denver or Colorado connection including Antoinette Perry who assisted Chase in getting one of her plays produced on Broadway. That connection and others would assist Chase as she broadened her Broadway career.

It took Chase two years to write “The Pookah” which evolved into Harvey. In that play Elwood P. Dowd is a problem child – embarrassing his sister Veta at society teas and not having any luck in finding a suitable mate – and then there is Dowd’s alcoholism and his imaginary friend Harvey, an oversized rabbit. When Veta seeks psychiatric help for her brother confusion occurs at the sanitarium. The solution is a Formula 977 shot but Veta decides that she loved her brother the way he was – even with all of his eccentricities.

Chase’s networking and persistence made it possible for Harvey to be directed by Antoinette Perry, as was the involvement of Brock Pemberton who had produced Chase’s unsuccessful and first Broadway play. Harvey opened on Broadway in 1944 – becoming an international hit that ran on Broadway for 4-1/2 years and won Chase many accolades and also some financial security for herself and her family. And Harvey was revived on Broadway as recently as 2012 by the Roundabout Theatre Company with Jim Parsons as Dowd.

Chase’s life, thereafter, focused on Harvey forcing her to travel quite a bit and trying to dealt with the problems of her chaotic family life – more income and more problems as well.

The residual and ancillary projects related to Harvey included the film version with the role of Dowd originally offered to Bing Crosby who turned it down. Other leading Hollywood actors who were considered included Cary Grant, Rudy Vallee, Joe E. Brown, Gary Cooper Jack Benny, Jack Haley and James Cagney. But chosen was Jimmy Stewart who had played the role of Dow as a replacement in the Broadway production of Harvey – and who would later appear in Broadway and London revivals of Harvey as well as a television version.

Also inevitable would have been a musical version of Harvey. Rodgers & Hammerstein tried in vain to get Chase to agree to a musical – as well as Leonard Bernstein and Danny Kaye. But Harvey was transformed into a musical with music by Leslie Bricusse which was produced in Toronto in 1981 with Donald O’Connor as Elwood and Patricia Routledge as Veta. This new musical version of Harvey was entitled Say Hello Harvey and after receiving lukewarm reviews in Toronto, Broadway plans were cancelled. Unfortunately after Say Hello Harvey’s closure – Chase returned to Denver and suffered a heart attack and passed away.

In coping with her success Chase developed a problem with alcohol that she managed to combat by creating a demanding daily routine for herself. Three were more plays on Broadway including Mrs. McThing which had been created primarily for children. She also wrote sketch material for television and her plays were adapted for television as well.

Chase coined many definitions of a play, one of them being “A play,” she explained, “begins with an idea, one’s ‘raw material” that the playwright can easily keep twisting.”

In Mimi Pockross’ concise biography of Mary Coyle Chase has rediscovered a playwright of the recent past who deserves recognition and attention.

Teatro Colon – Cinderella

September 28, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The story of Cinderella is universal and in some form it is familiar in every culture. Cinderella has been presented in film, in the theatre, the musical stage, opera – and in ballets – many different versions of the latter – and confirmed its permanent place in the repertoires of ballet companies all over the world since the latter half of the 20th century.

On September 28, 2020 the Teatro Colon in Buenos, Argentina, presented a livestream performance of its production of Cinderella, choreographed to the score by Sergei Prokoviev – by Ben Stevenson – as staged by Dominic Walsh.

The first production of Cinderella, with the Prokofiev score, was danced by the Mariinsky Ballet in 1945 with choreography by Rostislav Zakharov. Significant productions have included those by Frederick Ashton and other choreographers, and in his production Stevenson has used the Ashton blueprint and British music hall traditions in having the Ugly Sisters played by male dancers. And Stevenson’s production has been danced by such major ballet companies as the Houston Ballet, English National Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and the National Ballet of Canada among others.

Stevenson’s production keeps the magic in the Cinderella story – telling the story with comedic mime when appropriate and courtly politeness when appropriate -- and also giving principal and supporting characters their dimensions in the choreographic sections of the ballet. Stevenson has also used clever stagecraft to create the magical transformations. This is grand ballet and danced in the grand manner.

For the Teatro Colon this production dates back to October 2019 and in this livestream the title role was danced by Macarina Gimenez and the Prince was danced by Maximiliano Iglesias – both of whom were royal in their own manner and danced the choreography impeccably and joyously. Paulo Marcilio and Julian Galvan played the Ugly Sisters with adept comedic skill without playing any of the mime and pratfalls in an over the top manner. Also Jiva Velazquez as the Jester also offered virtuosity in this performance of Cinderella.

Fortunate that the Teatro Colon continues to present in free livestreams the many ballets it has in its video archives.

Eubie Blake – Rags, Rhythm, and Race

By Mark Kappel

Eubie Blake had an accomplished career as a composer, and performer as part of what was a long career.

In their book, Eubie Blake – Rags, Rhythm, Race, Richard Carlin and Ken Bloom proved to be gifted storytellers in putting a spotlight on Blake’s unique and compelling life. A booked filled with details about Blake’s achievements in his profession, and his personal history.

With his life spanning nearly 100 years Blake observed and experienced changes in society – from the original ragtime era – back to a ragtime revival – vaudeville to Broadway to television to films – and as a recording artist in every form of media – piano rolls to streaming audio.

Blake was born in 1887 in Baltimore, Maryland, from poor and humble beginnings. His father was a former slave and his religious mother was an orphan. As a pianist he performed in brothels in Baltimore, and sometimes taking on legitimate engagements such as being a working pianist performing on the white vaudeville stage – and by 1921 – in collaboration with Noble Sissle – Blake authored a surprise hit on Broadway, Shuffle Along, breaking the racial barriers of the day. He is also is the composer of classics songs including “I’m Just Wild About Harry”.

And as often is the case – everything old is new again – and Blake was in fashion, out of fashion, and then back in fashion culminating a notable career until his death in 1983.

The important year in Blake’s story was in 1915 when he met a talented lyricist, Noble Sissle – and then moving to New York in 1916 to pursue his career. The first collaboration by Blake and Sissle was in 1915 “It’s All Your Fault” which was written for Sophie Tucker – and detailed where the efforts of Noble and Sissle to network with the top musicians in New York City during a time period when music was flowering.

It was onward to Blake’s vaudeville period where Blake found himself performing stereotypical songs and performances of them which presented formidable challenges – with the addition of prejudice when it came to the payment of black artists.

The 1920’s was a period of a great economic boom, and social change which enabled blacks to improve their economic status – and also made an impact on New York’s culture. It was in that atmosphere that laid the groundwork for the production and success of Shuffle Along. And in this biography there is a history and the many details of Shuffle Along’s journey to Broadway.

Among the details of Shuffle Along’s journey included Blake’s affair with Shuffle Along’s leading lady, Lottie Gee, and the great names of the past who joined Shuffle Along’s family including Josephine Baker and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.

However the next Blake and Sissle collaboration, Chocolate Dandies, was not a major success as it was felt that black musicals were not as trendy as they had been – and were losing their appeal. Both Blake and Sissle suffered financial losses after Chocolate Dandies and differences between this successful pair would emerge as Sissle wouldn’t agree to close the show to reduce the losses.

Survivor that he was Blake continued to work during the Great Depression and began a partnership with lyricist Andy Razaf, and also bringing back Shuffle Along with revisions and a new title, Shuffle Along of 1933. It seemed that black theater survived the 1930’s in spite of financial problems, and theatre productions left stranded by agents and producers.

Blake got through the 1930’s and the period after World War II working for the Federal Theatre Project – finding a new lyricist partner in Milton Reddie – worked for the USO and brought Shuffle Along to the stage again to entertain the troops – and after the war there were revivals of Shuffle Along that were not financially successful nor critically well received. Blake also got by with new projects and with renewed interest in his music, he turned his efforts towards recording and concert performances.

And as for racial barriers, Carlin and Bloom stated that “working prejudice to your own ends was no sin to (Eubie) Blake, who realized that his first responsibility was to entertain his paying customers.”

Blake was honored on Broadway in 1978 with the opening of Eubie!, a musical revue that celebrated his music and the lyrics of his collaborators which was conceived and directed by Julianne Boyd with choreography by Billy Wilson and Henry LeTang – and starring among others Gregory and Maurice Hines – which I remembered as a remarkably entertaining theatrical event. Unfortunately it was not a financial success nor was the national tour that followed.

As Blake kept a collection of his contracts, royalty statements and other financial documents Carlin and Bloom had a huge number of primary source materials to allow them to tell Blake’s story. This biography of Eubie Blake is filled with exhaustive detail, a fascinating story – and on a parallel basis also providing a history of the music scene in New York in the early 20th century. With that in mind, Eubie Blake – Rags, Rhythm, and Race is an interesting and absorbing read and also a reference book on the development of the careers and music of black composers and musicians in the 20th century.

Fame – 30th Anniversary UK Tour

September 25, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Based on the livestream performance being presented by the Shows Must Go On series of Fame The Musical, it may live forever – as exemplified by the 30th anniversary UK tour. This is not a musical that has become a classic as it toured the United States and but only found an off-Broadway home for itself in 2003 for a brief run -- but was never seen as a success in this part of the world. However Fame has been performed internationally, in high schools, colleges, and community productions in the United States, and has managed to broaden its audience.

Based on the 1980 film about a group of students and their experiences at New York’s High School of the Performing Arts, it was adapted for the stage by Jose Fernandez (Book), Jacques Levy (Lyrics), and Steve Margoshes (Music) and the only song included from the film is the title song. There is also a new story, characters renamed and transitions between scenes that make more dramatic sense than the touring production of Fame that I had seen in Toronto in 1998. Similarly there is little or no connection with the television series that was adapted from the film version.

The story is set in the 1980’s as the promising, and anxious, new students arrive at the High School of the Performing Arts to begin their journey with the goal of becoming professional performers – but also artists. Driven by task master teachers these students are also making their way through the process of growing up – facing life crises, adjustments, competition, and ultimately comradeship that probably would have taken them through their lives.

In this revival directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, the characters are clarified through the lyrics of the songs they sing, and the actors are all casted in roles based on their strengths as performers.

Two standout performances were given by Mica Paris as one of the High School’s teachers, Miss Sherman, in particular singing “These Are My Children”, and Stephanie Rojas as the sympathetic Carmen, who leaves the High School to pursue a professional career before she is prepared and dies of a drug overdose – her exuberant performance of the title song is one of the highlights of this touring production of Fame.

There are also notable performances by Jorgie Porter as the stuck-up ballerina Iris, Jamal Crawford as the naturally talented Tyrone, Keith Jack as Nick, Mollie McGuire as Serena, and Albey Brookes as the comical Joe Vegas.

Fame is a musical of the time it takes place in and the references to entertainers, clothes, and the arts scene in New York might be puzzling for today’s audiences. But this production is filled with high energy which is aided by Nick Winston’s focused direction and energized choreography.

Curve Leicester – My Beautiful Laundrette

September 10, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Curve Leicester, in the United Kingdom, is offering free livestream theater performances of plays that have been performed at this theatre in the recent past. These livestreams are of archival videos but exemplify the high quality of theater productions that are presented at the Curve and in the major regional theatres in the United Kingdom.

Catching my attention was the livestream of a stage version of the film, My Beautiful Laundrette, a successful film that premiered in 1985 with a screen play by Hanif Kureishi, who has adapted this stage version. At the time the film premiered the plot mirrored the conflicts between the British and their immigrant counterparts – mostly those who were first generation British with parents emigrating from Middle Eastern and South Asian countries – during the disruptive Margaret Thatcher era. This stage version is just as relevant today as the United Kingdom is still grappling with these same problems decades later.

In My Beautiful Laundrette, British Pakistani, Omar (played by Omar Malik) transforms his uncle’s laundrette into a successful business. This all comes about when Omar’s father seeks to secure Omar’s future by having Omar’s uncle initiate him into the business world. After being harassed by a gang, Omar recognizes a school friend, Johnny (played by Jonny Fines) as a gang member, and their previous friendship allows for the situation to be diffused. Love blooms between Omar and Johnny as they renovate the launderette forming a bond between two people who are as different as they could be.

Although the focus of My Beautiful Laundrette is on the relationship between Omar and Johnny, the play explores the dynamics of Pakistani families, gender equality, and fitting into British life -- adjusting but not adjusting – and also combatting racism – and a world that is changing around them. Family dynamics also play a part as Omar’s father and uncle are pressuring him into marriage – and all seem oblivious to the differences in the new land that they have chosen to live in. Business, business, business – and money – are what is spoken about.

Enhancing this stage play – and the cultural clash – is the music by Tennant/Lowe of the Pet Shop Boys, and the able direction of Nikolai Foster – and the performances of the excellent actors in the two key roles in the play – as well as the performances of the supporting actors.

Besides the link of Kureishi as the screen play writer of the film version of My Beautiful Launderette, another link is Gordon Warnecke, who played the role of Omar in the film – and in this stage version portrays the role of Omar’s father.

Although the story in decades old, this stage version of My Beautiful Laundrette provokes thought in regard to how much progress we have made in regard to solving the many problems that plague our society.

Ballet in the Cold War – A Soviet American Exchange

By Mark Kappel

Ballet in the Cold War by Anne Searcy, published by Oxford University Press, examines the cultural exchanges between the United States and the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War – in particular examining the Bolshoi Ballet’s American tour in 1959; American Ballet Theatre’s Soviet Tour in 1960; the Bolshoi Ballet’s American Tour in 1962; and the New York City Ballet’s Soviet Tour in 1962 – and as an Epilogue, which mentions cultural interchanges between the United States and Russian in the early part of the 21st century.

Cultural exchanges between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War were propaganda experiments with specific goals. Russian ballet companies’ tours were funded by its government, were set up by private booking agencies (particularly Sol Hurok) and in contrast the tours for American ballet companies in the Soviet Union were set up with the assistance of private artistic intermediaries, American government officials (primarily the State Department), and private citizens in the mix. These tours were aimed to support economic and political efforts from nation to nation but as Searcy states, “to make their mark on this diplomatic, economic, and military chess board”.

Clearly both the Soviet Union and the United States saw the use of exposing the admirable aspects of their cultures abroad as an effective propaganda tool.

Ballet in the Cold War focuses on the spider webs of the cultural and political agreements that made these exchanges possible between the United States and the Soviet Union, the government bureaucracies that were employed to make them possible, and express and represent the cultures of each country on these tours – to win hearts and minds. As in the instance of countries entering into such agreements in the early part of the 21st century, the goal is for these cultural exchanges is bypassing governments and their political and economic points of views – aiming directly at the people of each nation.

The tours during the Cold War also reflected the artistic divergence that occurred in the ballet world in the Soviet Union with changes in the training of the dancers, introducing gymnastic movement in the choreography, and in the Soviet Union the arts were also used domestically for propaganda purposes even to the point of changing the endings of well-known 19th century classics and re-writing history through the plots of newly-commissioned full-length ballets. In contrast in the United States there was a diversity of training, and ballet companies were developing Americana ballets which were created to present American exceptionalism based on its own stories – while also moving in the direction away from narrative ballets to abstract ballets.

In her description of the Bolshoi Ballet’s first American tour in 1959 there is analysis of the choreographic attitudes and persuasions represented in the “new” full-length ballets that were presented. Included in the repertoire were two 19th century classics, Swan Lake, and Giselle, and the two “Soviet ballets”, Romeo and Juliet, and The Stone Flower. Searcy analyzes the librettos of both ballets and in the book are labeled as “drambalets”, and emphasizing that Prokofiev’s music for both ballets were composed for narrative purposes, and included leitmotifs in the score.

Also it appeared that American dance critics did not take to these new “Soviet ballets” and their choreography, and instead focused on the strengths of the dancers.

This first American tour grew into a social and political event with tickets selling well and attracting celebrities as the Bolshoi Ballet offered curiosities and snob appeal – also the human interest stories of the Russian dancers taking in the tourist spots in New York including a performance of Broadway’s West Side Story.

If nothing else the Bolshoi Ballet’s American tour in 1962 did not change the hearts and minds of American dance critics. In particular there was the controversy over including the ballet, Spartacus, as part of its tour repertoire and analyzing the ballet for its propagandist values. But the Bolshoi Ballet sold tickets – these tours were Hamilton-like events and curiosities.

In contrast American Ballet Theatre’s tour of the Soviet Union in 1960 presented how the Soviet government bureaucracy could dictate repertoire, forming a unique triangle of negotiations with Lucia Chase of American Ballet Theatre, the State Department and Russia’s Goskontsert – representing propaganda and artistic politics. Many of the ballets danced during the tour could be described as those that were born of the Americana ballet movement in the United States with the purpose of establishing an American counterpart to the repertoires of Russian ballet companies – creating “classic” ballets employing the music of American composers and American stories – and incorporating vernacular American dance. And as the Bolshoi Ballet performing in the United States, American Ballet Theatre was a novelty in the Soviet Union, an “event” and its tour was greeted with a range of reviews – but also appreciative audiences.

The New York City Ballet’s Soviet tour in 1962 seemed to be interpreted as a major artistic event in which Balanchine came back to the Soviet Union – to re-conquer that part of the world after pursuing his artistic career elsewhere. Critics debated Balanchine’s artistic philosophy and with the exception of Balanchine’s Americana ballet, Western Symphony, the repertoire was dominated by Balanchine’s neo-classic ballets.

In examining the facts and politics behind these tours, there seems to be an over analyzation concerning decisions about the aspects of these tours including repertoire, styles of ballet, and how the dance critics in both parts of the world reported on these performances. This is not to mention the social and historical contexts in which the ballets presented were most important in how much of a shock they may have been on these tours – but not much different as Soviet choreographers had the opportunity to observe the work of Western choreographers during company tours. And also there were the examples of American choreography in American films.

Searcy has made the effort to be exhaustive in her research, but the comparison of apples and oranges, which company was better than another, which choreography was better than another – and the same comparison of the dancers -- can be obscured by the artistic walls that were torn down as a result of these tours.

Teatro Colon – The Nutcracker

August 24, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Rudolf Nureyev first staged his version of The Nutcracker for the Royal Swedish Ballet in 1967 and in 1971 it was restaged for the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. This production was frequently seen in New York during Nureyev’s heyday as an international guest artist dancing in his production of The Nutcracker with the Royal Ballet, the Deustsche Oper Berlin, and the Paris Opera Ballet.

Unfortunately Nureyev’s production of The Nutcracker is rarely seen these days and it was opportune for many reasons that the Teatro Colon offered a livestream performance of its own production on August 24, 2020.

As his source material Nureyev drew from Vasily Vainonen’s Mariinsky Ballet production of The Nutcracker and Nureyev’s vision was to focus the story on Clara’s dream – not always a pleasant one which culminates in the sparking Waltz of the Flowers in the Second Act. But as in any small child’s dream, Clara (danced by Macarena Gimenez) associates the many divertissements in the Second Act with her family members making this dream a very personal connection. And distinguishing this production of The Nutcracker from others, it is one dancer who plays the dual roles of Herr Drosselmeyer and the Prince (danced by Maximiliano Iglesias), a dual role that Nureyev created for himself – making himself the hero of his own version of The Nutcracker.

Nureyev does rearrange the scenes in his The Nutcracker with the First Act ending with the Snow Scene, and the Battle Scene appearing in the Second Act before the Spanish, Tea, Marzipan, Russian, Arabian Dances, and Waltz of the Flowers climaxing in a unique version of the Grand Pas de Deux, which is truly a test of the principal dancers as they dance Nureyev’s complicated and decorative choreography.

As the designer of the costumes and scenery, Nicholas Georgiadis enhances Nureyev’s conception with his elaborate and colorful designs.

At a time when in many countries in this world, there won’t be performances of The Nutcracker this year, the Teatro Colon’s livestream of this holiday entertainment is most welcome.

Victorians on Broadway

By Mark Kappel

The Victorian Age in Great Britain was a time of social and economic change as Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, influenced social morays, and were proponents of scientific endeavors and advancement, yet at the same time, there was more than a bit of hypocrisy in regard to social behavior – and there were the social and economic consequences of the Industrial Age.

In looking back on recent Broadway musicals – at least those in the latter part of the 20th century – it is notable how many of them were based on Victorian novels, stories and memoirs – The King and I, Oliver!, Sweeney Todd, and Jekyll and Hyde – among them.

In Victorians on Broadway by Sharon Aronofsky Weltman – published by the University of Virginia Press – Weltman explores this very question. Was this development a trend and what British literature written between 1837 and 1886 – including those of Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, and Robert Louis Stevenson – were adapted to the musical stage. But foremost was how the Victorian literature was transformed and revised to weed out the prejudices of the Victorians, channel Charles Dickens in their adaptations, and find their feet on the stage with a sense of twentieth century American values.

Examined is how much does the Broadway musical find its roots in its precursor genre – the Victorian melodrama – as well as classic stories – and reflected how the theatre creative teams’ goals were to find a way to tell these stories in an effort to make then more appealing to an audience that had romanticized this time in history – or were simply using these reworks as a marketing tool as most audiences would be familiar with these titles that they had read during their school years.

Among the musicals analyzed was the 1943 musical, One Touch of Venus, based on the Victorian novel, The Tinted Venus, which represented a revaluing of Victorian literature – and in this instance Americanized the plot. In the course of describing One Touch of Venus, its antecedent was analyzed through versions of the source material and using Virginia Woolf’s definition of “middlebrow” as a jumping off point. The point was that One Touch of Venus was looking forward and backward at the same time.

It is Weltman’s contention that during the second half of the 20th century, that the need to affirm Americanisms dissipated and it was easier for Americans to appropriate British culture. An example of this was The King and I – from 1951 – which retained 19th century settings through Victorian prisms to reflect American concerns about imperialism, slavery and religion. In the British musical, Oliver!, which sanitized the antisemitism in the musical’s original source, Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, the challenge was to solve the dilemma of how the character of Fagin might be portrayed to make him more palatable to contemporary audiences. Yet the subplot of Nancy being battered by the ugly villain Bill Sikes still speaks to audiences of today.

Another Dickens story that has been fashioned into a Broadway musical is Rupert Holmes’ The Mystery of Edwin Drood – Dickens’ unfinished mystery novel – which was constructed as a musical within a musical taking place in the theatrical environment of a Victorian Music Hall – embracing immersive theatre – and requesting the audience to act as a jury to choose the murderer among other plot points – with each performance having a different ending depending upon the audience’s choices.

Weltman analyzes other adaptations of Drood to film and television, accepting the fact that dramatic license is allowed because it would be impossible to know what Dickens had intended to conclude his mystery novel. Yet at the same time, as in all of his novels, Dickens journaled social and economic conditions of the time – and Dickens’ thoughts were translated by Holmes in Drood.

There was a similar analysis of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, a musical theatre piece that straddles the definition of a Broadway musical and an opera. It is Weltman’s view that Sondheim and his collaborator Hugh Wheeler made the story more Victorian by injecting Dickensian even though the tale’s antecedents which represented Sweeney Todd as a villain and murderer – the primary antecedent being “The String of Pearls”. However Sondheim’s musical is closely based on Christopher Bond’s version of Sweeney Todd and Sondheim/Wheeler recreated Todd as a victim making the story a tragedy and injecting the themes of social injustice. The original production of Sweeney Todd’s designs also set the story during the Industrial Revolution and how Victorian norms and social injustices were acerbated during that time period.

And then there is Frank Wildhorn’s Jekyll & Hyde, adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, as the final result of many adaptations and its appeal for its sexcapades, murder – and a bit of science fiction. And Paul Gordon’s adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre which was adapted for the Broadway stage in the grand operatic manner. And not for the better in terms of further elucidating the original stories that the musicals were based on.

In spite of the source material not all of the musicals mentioned achieved the status of a “Broadway Hit”, and after all Broadway is a commercial enterprise.

Weltman’s overview is that “Victorian” and “Dickensian” are euphemisms reflecting what Broadway musical creatives drew from the stories of the period that they adapted for Broadway. Perhaps not being entirely familiar with that period of British history and its diversity, that the work of Charles Dickens was what an audience could hang its hat on. But then again these musicals were not history lessons, they were entertainments based on stories that were known universally – and dramatic license was taken in order to make them stage worthy.

Also Weltman seems to describe Broadway musicals as “middlebrow” entertainment but, of course, that could be argued by the fact that Broadway was the source of American popular music – and then there is the musical sophistication of the greats who have written for Broadway including Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and so many others.

But Weltman does approach this material from a different point of view than other analysts have and it is worth the time to consider it all based on her exhaustive research.

Teatro Colon’s Le Corsaire

July 26, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Teatro Colon continues to make available free livestreams of its ballet performances, and on July 26, 2020, Teatro Colon presented Anne-Marie Holmes’ production of Le Corsaire, a production of this ballet that has been danced by many ballet companies around the world including American Ballet Theatre.

The ballet, Le Corsaire, is based on a poem by Lord Byron that romanticizes pirates who kidnap a Greek Princess, who is then swept away to be a member of a Pasha’s harem. She is ultimately rescued by a band of pirates – with the rescue accomplished with a lot of braggadocio and swash buckle. The ballet is filled with pyrotechnic dancing, spectacular scenic effects – including a shipwreck -- and a bit of tongue and humor – and definitely lots of dancing.

There are many set pieces of interest including in Pas de Deux in Act I and the Odalisque trio, then in Act II the virtuoso Pas de Deux – which in this production is danced as a Pas de Trois – and the Jardin Animee divertissement in the Third Act.

In this performance the role of Princess Medora was danced by Nadia Muzyca, with her pirate protector, Conrad, danced by Federico Fernandez. Jiva Velazquez as Ali (all notable for their virtuoso dancing in the Act II Pas de Trois), and also in excellent support were Maximiliano Iglesias as Lankendem, Emanuel Abruzzo as Birbanto, and Emilia Peredo Aguirre as Gulnare.

However most notable is how the Teatro Colon dancers portray the character roles in a naturalist acting style and with earnest commitment – most notably Julian Galvan as the Pasha.

All in all Le Corsaire makes for a great show – and Teatro Colon dances and presents the ballet with gusto.

Kaye Ballard – The Show Goes On

July 15, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Most documentaries about entertainment personalities only scratch the surface – and often the subjects of the documentaries are not participants or cooperative in revealing their lives’ adventures to the public. Fortunately the documentary, Kaye Ballard – The Show Goes On, directed by Dan Wingate, is a candid reflection of a versatile entertainer who may now be marginally known to the public but deserves the acknowledgement of her talents and her contribution to the Broadway theatre and other forms of entertainment.

Catherine Gloria Balotta hailed from Cleveland, Ohio, and transformed into Kaye Ballard when she began her career working as a band singer – touring with Spike Jones – and then moving on to Broadway where she was particularly noted for appearing the original cast of the musical, The Golden Apple. She did appear in other Broadway musicals – most notably Carnival, The Pirates of Penzance, and created the leading role in Molly -- and even in a few movies – and she toured in musicals such as Gypsy and Minnie Boys – but didn’t seem to receive acknowledgement for her contributions to Broadway.

She was also known for her performances in such New York nightclubs as Bon Soir and The Blue Angel, and composers, who would become the leading lights of Broadway, wrote special material for her nightclub acts. She introduced such songs as Bart Howard’s “Fly Me To The Moon” and John Kander and Fred Ebb’s “Maybe This Time” as well as being known for her tour de force interpretation of “Lazy Afternoon” in The Golden Apple. And she was a comic, a singer, a musician a talk show personality, and frequently appeared on television variety shows and game shows.

However she may be best known for her television series, The Mothers-In-Law, and featured roles in other television series.

Having seen her as Hattie Walker in the Paper Mill Playhouse’s revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies, and making the song, “Broadway Baby” her own in 1998, and in her own one-woman cabaret show, Hey Ma, I’m Kaye Ballard in the intimate Promenade Theatre in 1984, Kaye Ballard was a great entertainer.

The documentary also takes note of her almost opportunities. She toured in Gypsy but never got to do it on Broadway, missing out on movie roles and other stage roles – she was praised for her record album of Fanny Brice songs when the musical Funny Girl was being developed but wasn’t considered for the role of Fanny Brice in that legendary musical, and it was rumored that she was to have been in final consideration to star in Hello, Dolly! But those are the what-ifs.

We lost Kaye Ballard in 2019 at the age of 93, but we see her larger than life in Kaye Ballard – The Show Goes On with interviews and anecdotes – and many television clips. Laudable are the many luminaries in the entertainment business who sing her praises in this documentary – which I think sets the record straight.

English National Ballet Dances Cinderella In The Round

July 8, 2020

By Mark Kappel

In what is to be the last transmission of its livestream series, the English National Ballet presented its production of Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella, in a performance that was restaged to be performed at the Royal Albert Hall – in the round. This livestream was presented on July 8, 2020.

Christopher Wheeldon created his version of Cinderella as a co-production of with the Dutch National Ballet – premiered in 2012 -- and the San Francisco Ballet – which the San Francisco Ballet premiered and performed in New York in 2013 -- and the English National Ballet acquired this production in 2019. The ballet was choreographed to Serge Prokofiev’s score with a libretto provided by Craig Lucas, and enhanced with scenery by Julian Crouch, and Basil Twist creating the puppetry.

The collaboration of these creatives went back to the original sources for the story of Cinderella which provided a back story for Cinderella’s relationship with her mother. A young Cinderella is seen playing with her mother and father only to experience her mother’s death – which is presented in juxtaposition to the royal palace life experienced by Prince Guillaume and his friend Benjamin as children.

Familiar in this production of Cinderella is seeing Cinderella buckling under the thumb of her Stepmother Hortensia (danced by Tamara Rojo) also living with her two stepsisters, Edwina (danced by Emma Hawes) and Clementine (Katja Khaniukova) – and with Cinderella’s father rather ineffectual. Prince Guillaume comes into Cinderella’s life when he decides to explore his kingdom incognito swapping his clothes with his friend Benjamin (danced by Jeffrey Cirio).

However how was Cinderella to obtain her opportunity to meet Prince Guillaume again at the ball – which is made possible not by a Fairy Godmother – but with the assistance of four masked and dark-colored costumed men who act as a Greek Chorus, support Cinderella, and make a little of the magic in this story.

The remainder of the new libretto follows the fairy tale and the ending is familiar.

Wheeldon creates many choreographic episodes and the seasonal divertissements although not all of the dancing moves the narrative forward – in many respects the transformation of Wheeldon’s Cinderella to fit the in-the-round staging at the Royal Albert Hall was a positive as compared to the proscenium stage version giving it a larger space to perform the ballet.

Any production of Cinderella focuses on the dancers playing the title role, and in this instance Prince Guillaume. These roles were solidly performed by Alina Cojocaru in the title role and Isaac Hernandez as Prince Guillaume – in a partnership that was genuine and supportive.

Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella is a very different approach to this familiar story, and English National Ballet’s performance of the ballet in the playground of the Royal Albert Hall gives Cinderella an added twist.

Stuttgart Ballet Presents Work by Martin Schlapfer

July 4, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Continuing in its livestream performance series, the Stuttgart Ballet is currently presenting a new work choreographed by Martin Schlapfer, artistic director of the Vienna State Opera Ballet, which was premiered by the Stuttgart Ballet in February 2020.

Martin Schlapfer had danced with the Basel Ballet, and has been the artistic director of two ballet companies in Germany -- Mainz and Dusseldorf -- and will begin his commitment to the Vienna State Opera Ballet later this year. He has rarely choreographed dance pieces for companies other than the ones he has directed, and Taiyo To Tsuki, was his first ballet he had created for the Stuttgart Ballet.

Taiyo To Tsuki is choreographed to Franz Schubert’s Third Symphony and Toshio Hosokawa’s Ferne Landschaft III: Seascapes of Fukuyama, and is a large ensemble work. However the work is a meshing of two parts which are also reflected in the two musical pieces that the ballet is choreographed to.

The first part of the ballet, which is choreographed to Schubert’s music, is a choreographic hybrid of classical ballet, contemporary ballet, and some modern dance, and yet is random responding to the joy in in Schubert’s music. The ballet stops in its tracks when there is a stark change in mood – mostly of impending doom – upon the introduction of Hosokawa’s modern music. The dancers dance solos in anguish or are grouping together hoping to support and console each other from a force they can’t control and in the final moments, the dancers are looking up to what might be the impression of a gloomy sky.

Schlapfer’ Taiyo To Tsuki does bring out the best in the Stuttgart Ballet’s dancers who are participants in an ensemble cast including Hyo-Jung Kang, Miriam Kacerova, Anna Osadeenko, Rocio Alernan, Jessica Fyfe, Daiana Ruiz, Veronika Verterich, Vittoria Girelli, Fernanda De Souza Lopes, Friedemann Vogel, David Moore, Roman Novitzsky, Danielle Silingardi, Adrian Oldenburger, Martino Semenzato, Matteo Miccini, Timoor Afshar, Christopher Kunzelmann, and Moacir de Oliveira.

San Francisco Ballet Ends Its Livestream Season With Its Opening Night Gala

By Mark Kappel

June 30, 2020

The San Francisco Ballet concluded its livestream series on June 30, 2020, with a presentation of the company’s Opening Night Gala which took place on January 16, 2020. It is a common practice for ballet companies to present fund-raising galas but this was a unique opportunity to experience a gala that would be presented by one of the major ballet companies in the United States – and only seen live if you were lucky enough to be in San Francisco to see it in person.

The program items for this gala included the familiar and also a few premieres – and excerpts from ballets that are in the San Francisco Ballet’s repertoire. There were a few classical ballet excerpts and pas de deux on this program but the theme that dominated was contemporary ballet.

The Opening Night Gala opened with the Men’s Regiment from George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, an Americana ballet that is danced to music by Sousa. This is one of the few instances when Balanchine utilized a male corps de ballet in this manner – Lucas Erni led this excerpt with the appropriate swagger.

Following was one of the world premieres on the program, Val Caniparoli’s Foreshadow, a work inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina with Tiit Helimets as Vronsky, Elizabeth Powell as Kitty, and Jennifer Stahl as Anna Karenina. This was not a literal story ballet but a very contemporary approach in its presentation and its choreography, in which these three important characters were represented in an abstract manner – portraying the emotions fixed on the conflicts between them.

British choreographer David Dawson has choreographed a full-length production of Swan Lake which makes minimum references to Marius Petipa’s original choreography and in which the dancers are presented in simple costuming as well. On display in this performance was the White Swan Pas de Deux from Dawson’s Swan Lake – danced by Sofiane Sylve and Carlo Di Lanno – which had allusions to the original but was mostly expressed in contemporary ballet choreography.

Esteban Hernandez and Max Cauthorn danced the quirky and comic, Jockey Dance, choreographed by August Bournonville, which showed off both of these dancers’ abilities as virtuosos and their comic talents.

A company premiere was Danielle Rowe’s For Pixie an expressive and emotionally raw duet choreographed to Nina Simone’s rendition of “Wild Is The Wind” with Dores Andre and Joseph Walsh expanding their artistic horizons in this modern dance piece.

Traditional gala pieces included in this Opening Night Gala were Le Corsaire Pas de Deux danced by Misa Kuranaga and Angelo Greco, Victor Gsovsky’s Grand Pas Classique danced by Wona Park and Wei Wang, and the Balcony Scene from Helgi Tomasson’s Romeo and Juliet danced by Mathilde Froustey and Joseph. Walsh. The performances of the dancers sparked all three of these pas de deux.

Another world premiere was Myles Thatcher’s 05:49 which was choreographed to words and music with a projection of a digital clock as a backdrop counting down the seconds and minutes. Thatcher’s choreography advanced the idea of conflicts in the relationship of two people well danced by Sasha De Sola and Benjamin Freemantle.

Culled from the San Francisco Ballet’s repertoire were a Pas de Deux from Justin Peck’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming danced by Sarah van Patten and Henry Sidford, and Yuan Tan and Vitor Luiz dancing a Pas de Deux from Yuri Possokhov’s The Bells, the latter choreographed to the Second Movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonata No. 2 In both pas de deux relationships were explored as well as the interpretation of the music.

An addition to the program was a solo choreographed for Yuan Tan by Yuri Possokhov to commemorate Tan’s 25th anniversary with the San Francisco Ballet. Performed in a studio only with an older woman, Su Zhang, present, the piece was an exploration of Victor Osadchev’s music, and a reflection of the difficult times we are living in at present.

Closing this program was the Finale from the Diamonds Act from George Balanchine’s Jewels – triumphantly led by Sasha De Sola and Tiit Helimets but saluting the entire the company – the end of this rare experience in being able to see one of the San Francisco Ballet’s annual gala evenings.

Bridge Theatre Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

June 26, 2020

By Mark Kappel

In continuing its free livestream series, NT Live is presenting a performance of the Bridge Theatre Company’s production of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, one of the Bard’s most popular comedies, as seen on June 26, 2020.

The Bridge Theatre Company’s revival is directed by Nicholas Hytner and reflects his personal touch. His production is performed in contemporary dress, with contemporary references incorporated into Shakespeare’s text, current music recordings, and a bit of a gender bender which offers a few surprises. Also this is an immersive theatre experience with audience members very much a part of the performance and interacting with the actors on stage.

The first few moments of A Midsummer Night’s Dream present Duke Theseus expressing his views on the marriages of what could become mismatched lovers, Helena, Hermia, Lysander and Demetrius – while concurrently Theseus is planning his wedding to Hippolyta. We find some lovers more persistent than others – or in some instances, desperate.

In the Fairy Kingdom, Titania and Oberon are battling over who will be the custodian for an Indian boy, and in this instance that is where Hytner explores Shakespeare text in a different manner and offers a few surprises. The written text for Oberon is now spoken by Titania, and the written text for Titania is now spoken by Oberon. In the course of events it means that Titania who is then in control of pulling a trick over Oberon, and it is Oberon who lands up in bed with Bottom, who has been transformed into a donkey. When Oberon and Bottom wake up, it is a double surprise – and a major surprise that they have landed up in bed together. This surprise only reinforces Puck’s words, “what fools these mortals be”.

With the assistance of Titania, the mismatched lovers are properly connected to each other, Titania and Oberon reconcile, Theseus marries Hippolyta, and it is at their wedding celebrations that the Mechanicals present their play which is infused with contemporary references and rouses the audience at the end of the play. The circus atmosphere of this production reveals itself not only with Cirque du Soleil acrobatics but also the banter with the audience.

In this production the same actors play both Titania and Hippolyta – differentiated with skill by Gwendoline Christie -- and Oberon and Theseus with humor and charm by Oliver Chris. Both show their command of the stage, as does David Moorst as Puck, when on the ground or suspended above – and also notable is the good-natured Bottom as played by Hammed Animashaun.

I am more of a traditionalist when it comes to productions of William Shakespeare’s plays, but if you are interested in a different perspective of one of Shakespeare’s best comedies, Nicholas Hytner has directed a production that is definitely worth a look.

Pacific Northwest Ballet Dances Balanchine’s Dream

June 25, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Pacific Northwest Ballet’s finale for its livestream season is George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream which was first performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet in 1997, staged by Francia Russell, with fanciful new designs by Martin Pakledinez.

Balanchine choreographed very few narrative ballets, and relatively fewer full-length narrative ballets, and his ballet adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a reflection of Balanchine’s unique approach to the use of music and story-telling. Balanchine’s two-act version encapsulates the exposition in the first act, and the second act is a wedding celebration that is reminiscent of the wedding acts in Marius Petipa’s 19th century classics.

Employing Felix Mendelssohn’s familiar music and giving his Dream a German gothic veneer, Balanchine tells the story of the battle between Titania and Oberon over a Changeling Boy, and when Titania refuses to give up the Changeling Boy, Oberon proceeds to use trickery to get his way. Oberon’s scheme is to use the essence of a flower which will trick Titania to fall in love with Bottom who has been transformed into donkey. When Titania realizes what has happened, she makes up with Oberon and the Changeling Boy is placed into Oberon’s custody.

However there is also the subplot of mismatched lovers in which Oberon employs Puck to match up the lovers appropriately and with all of the problems resolved, Theseus proposes marriage to Hippolyta, and the wedding rituals are held as Act II begins. Act II then is primarily a divertissement including all of the wedded couples and an additional couple dancing a special pas de deux as part of the celebration.

There are a great many principal roles in Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Kyle Davis as Oberon is confident and regal, as is Laura Tisserand as Titania (well partnered by her Cavalier, Joshua Grant), and then there is the jittery and sometimes incapable Puck danced with humor by Jonathan Poretta.

Also notable were Benjamin Griffiths as Lysander, Lindsi Dec as Helena, William Yin-Lee as Demetrius, and Rachel Foster as Hermia -- as the mismatched lovers - Dylan Wald as Theseus, Elle Macy as Hippolyta, and Lesley Rausch and Jerome Tisserand in the Act II Pas de Deux.

A performance of Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a company effort and Pacific Northwest Ballet brought life to Balanchine’s Dream.

English National Ballet – A Different Production of Manon

June 24, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Continuing in its livestream series, the English National Ballet presented a performance of Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon on June 24, 2020 with a little bit of a twist.

The English National Ballet tours a great deal in the British provinces and performing a ballet such as Manon with complicated scenery is not practical. When acquiring Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon in 2003, the Royal Danish Ballet commissioned a minimalist design from Mia Stensgard, which is now serving the English National Ballet’s ability to tour Manon. The English National Ballet acquired Manon in 2008. Besides performing Manon on tour the English National Ballet has also performed its production of Manon in London – allowing a comparison with the Royal Ballet’s original production – which premiered in 1974 – and with new dancers to interpret the principal roles in the ballet.

The story of ballet is that of a young woman, Manon, who is recruited to be a courtesan by her brother. However Manon becomes infatuated with a young student, Des Grieux, and the plot thickens when Manon betrays Des Grieux, then portrays her brother, and ultimately Manon’s brother is shot and killed after his arrest for crimes. Manon, herself, is complicit in those crimes and her fate is to be condemned to prison camp in Louisiana. Accompanied by Des Grieux, he attempts to save Manon once again after she kills the goaler after he has made unwanted advances, and Des Grieux and Manon attempt to escape through the Louisiana swamps where Manon meets her death.

For Des Grieux love is blind, and filled with misguided passion.

MacMillan was very influenced by figure skating when he created the choreography for Manon and that influence is very much in evidence in the passionate pas de deux danced by Manon and Des Grieux. Although the story of Manon is the loss of innocence, and making mistakes of her own choice, it is a tragedy.

In dancing the title role in English National Ballet’s production of Manon, Alina Cojocaru, is reprising a role she also danced with the Royal Ballet where Manon was premiered in 1966. In comparing her performances in this ballet dancing it with both companies, Cojocaru’s performance is much freer in the English National Ballet’s production -- and far more detailed and emotionally expressive. Joseph Caley shows his ardency and passion as Des Grieux as a wonderful partner and foil for Cojocaru’s Manon. Jeffrey Cirio is appropriately sinister and shows his avarice as Lescaut, and Katja Khaniukova as Lescaut’s Mistress is coy. Throughout the ballet you can see how the dancers transform these characters through their dancing and portrayal of the characters.

Sadly, what are huge distractions are the costume and scenery designs by Mia Stensgard which at times are too abstract and do not depict historical accuracy, nor the atmosphere of each locale. Fortunately MacMillan’s ballet, Manon, survives these distractions.

English National Ballet Dances Song of the Earth

June 17, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Continuing its livestream series, the English National Ballet is presenting Kenneth MacMillan’s enigmatic work, Song of The Earth, choreographed to Mahler’s music of the same name. The livestream of this ballet premiered on June 17, 2020.

MacMillan had hoped to create Song of the Earth for the Royal Ballet, but the Royal Opera House rejected the idea of the use of Mahler’s music for a ballet. However MacMillan persuaded his colleague, John Cranko, then artistic director of the Stuttgart Ballet, to commission Song of the Earth, where it premiered in 1965 – and in a bit of irony, the Royal Ballet acquired Song of the Earth in 1966 not long after the Stuttgart Ballet world premiere.

Mahler set to music ancient Chinese poems which contemplate life, and MacMillan interpreted these themes in his ballet represented by a man and a woman with a Messenger of Death hovering over their lives. In MacMillan’s interpretation of Song of the Earth, The Woman loses The Man to death but The Woman, The Man, and the Messenger of Death are united in the end. These themes are choreographically represented in abstract form with the dancers costumed in simple designs. Of the three principal dancers only the Messenger of Death is costumed in black.

The English National Ballet acquired Song of the Earth in 2017 and in this performance the role of the Man was danced by Joseph Caley, the role of the Woman was danced by Tamara Rojo, and Jeffrey Cirio danced the role of the Messenger of Death. The emotion of Mahler’s music kept these dancers afloat emotionally in this metaphorical work.

MacMillan’s Song of the Earth is an acquired taste but nevertheless seeing new dancers in the principal roles of the ballet and what they bring to it is of great interest.

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s The Hired Man

June 15, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch is one of many small theatre companies in the United Kingdom and is currently livestreaming its recent production of the musical, The Hired Man. This livestream performance premiered on June 15, 2020.

The Hired Man is based on a novel by Melvyn Bragg (who has written the book for this musical) focusing on turn of the 19th century rural England – Cumbria to be specific – exploring the world of his grandfather who began working as a young teenager and served in World War I. With a score by Howard Goodall, this musical, which had first premiered in 1984, has taken up a life of its own.

The Hired Man focuses on two periods in the life of the married couple of Emily and John – the first one early in their marriage when John is hired out to work for a local landowner, and their marriage is put in jeopardy by Emily’s affair with one of village’s residents, Jackson. The second one is during the years immediately before, during, and after World War I, a period of time when John has given up farm work and has pursued a better paying job as a coal miner. John volunteers to serve in World War I – and his son soon follows in his footsteps as a miner and then volunteering for the war effort. The impact from the war to end all wars results in a shattering impact on this hardworking family.

Emily and John find their way through life supporting each during the best times and the worst of times – and also find support from John’s family.

Director Douglas Rintoul’s concept for The Hired Man is that of an intimate experience for the actors on stage and the audience – further enhanced by most of the actors who also play musical instruments – they play the score and provide the accompaniment for the actors.

The Hired Man’s score has music that evokes the atmosphere of where the story takes place with lyrics that often tug at the heartstrings and are emotionally expressive.

Lauryn Redding playing the leading lady role of Emily and Oliver Hembrough, as John, Emily’s husband, represent the heart of The Hired Man bringing home the emotions and aspirations of the working people that they portray who are struggling with the problems of everyday life. Also notable were Lloyd Gorman as Jackson, Samuel Martin as Isaac, and TJ Holmes as Seth.

The Hired Man represents the aspirations of Everyman, and is moving – and also entertaining.

Nottingham Playhouse Revival – The Madness of George III

June 11, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Alan Bennett explored fictional biography in his play, The Madness of George III, which examined a part of King George III’s reign and his battle with mental illness – what seemed to be the inability of George’s dysfunctional family, members of the British Parliament, and his hand-kissing courtiers to cope with George’s condition.

The Madness of George III was given its premiere by the National Theatre in 1991, and under the auspices of NT Live, the Nottingham Playhouse’s recent revival of this play is being presented in livestream performances beginning on June 11, 2020.

Bennett’s play is a mix of modern-day politics being overlaid on an historical occurrence pointing out the farce, the humor, and disruption of what these important historical incidents caused. Also this play is taken control of by the actor who plays King George III, as was the case with the originator of the role, Nigel Hawthorne.

Something is rotten in Great Britain when King George III begins to be exhibiting symptoms of mental illness – and also the stresses of ruling a country that was having its political and economic problems – and the major loss of the American colonies.

Bennett has written a sharp and targeted satire about governments’ political bungling and picturing the King and his wife, Charlotte, in a generally happy marriage referring to themselves Mr. and Mrs. King. However it becomes clear that King George is behaving even stranger than he usually behaves – described as the cork is too tight for the bottle – overseen by doctors who are not sophisticated enough to understand the psychological implications of the King’s illness and who also have their have their own political agenda which is to enable the Prince of Wales to be named Prince Regent and rule the country in place of King George III. That is until Dr. Willis comes along at the recommendation of one of the King’s courtiers who attends to the King’s psychological, as well as medical needs – and although not cured he is capable enough to function in his role as King.

In the Nottingham Playhouse’s production the role of King George III has been taken by Mark Gatiss with Debra Gillett playing George’s complicated wife, Queen Charlotte, and Adrian Scarborough playing the role of George’s physician Dr. Willis. Gatiss gives a virtuoso performance as the King. Gillett plays Charlotte in a wily manner, and Scarborough quietly and patiently projects Dr. Willis’ ability to handle the impossible problem of the King’s madness.

Equally as notable were Nicholas Bishop playing Prime Minister William Pitt as a persistent politician, and Wilf Scolding as the Prince of Wales as a bit of fop – and not particularly intelligent – and not an ingenious political opponent for the supporters of King George III

What is remarkable is that The Madness of George III is play for a time when there is political chaos and there is a populace trying to cope and understand why and how the political chaos has come about.

Stuttgart Ballet Presents Cranko’s Other Side

June 11, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Choreographer John Cranko is best known for his full-length narrative ballet and after presenting two of Cranko’s full-length narrative ballets in livestreams, the Stuttgart Ballet had presented Initials R.B.M.E. and on June 11, 2020 presented Cranko’s Concerto for Flute and Harp.

Choreographed to Mozart’s music of the same name, Cranko created this neo-classical ballet in 1966 and was last danced in New York by the Stuttgart Ballet back in 1979. It was refreshing to see this academic and classical ballet danced to the beautiful strains of Mozart’s music with Cranko’s special touch.

Cranko decided to choreograph this ballet at a time when the Stuttgart Ballet was rehearsing Peter Wright’s production of Giselle and he wanted to create a work for the male dancers that would not be used in Giselle. Therefore one of the unique aspects of Concerto For Flute and Harp is that the ballet has an all-male corps de ballet.

The focus of Concerto For Flute and Harp is Cranko’s clever use of the all-male corps de ballet with the dancers moving in and out of place to partner the two principal ballerinas in the piece – this was a splendid use of partnering. Overall the choreography has great simplicity and elegance – and always musical. It is choreography that matches well with Mozart’s music.

The cast was led by Alicia Amatriain and Friedeman Vogel with Ami Morita and David Moore in support – all excellent dancers in the classical idiom.

Especially grateful to the Stuttgart Ballet for arranging a livestream of this neglected Cranko ballet.

Perm Opera Ballet Presents Giselle

June 3, 2020

By Mark Kappel

On June 3, 2020, the Perm Opera Ballet is presenting a livestream performance of the company’s current production of Giselle, which dates back to 2008. “Edited” by Tatiana Legat, its choreographic sources are Jules Perrot, Jean Coralli, and Marius Petipa, with the libretto written by Theophile Gautier and Jules-Henri Saint-George, and music composed by Adolphe Adam.

Giselle is representative of the Romantic Era of ballet in the early 19th century and the story reflects the values of that time. Women are placed on pedestals by men, but actually men often do not treat women well – and in the instance of Giselle, it is an aristocrat who wrongs a young peasant girl, an indictment of the aristocracy.

Count Albrecht disguises himself as young peasant and romances a young peasant girl, Giselle in a small village. Giselle is also Hans’ object of affection – he being a local gamekeeper – and he discovers Albrecht deception and reveals it to Giselle and his fellow villagers. This revelation leads to Giselle’s death, and in the spirit world in Act II of this ballet, Giselle reveals herself to Albrecht as a spirit and protects him from the avenging Wilis, women who are jilted brides, and Giselle, in her generosity, forgives Albrecht for his betrayal.

For the dancers portraying the principal roles in Giselle it is the mastery of the Romantic style that is the main focus. However, their goal is also to bring these characters to life.

Although Polina Buldakova plays Giselle a little too self-knowingly, she gives a poignant performance, while Kirill Makurin’s Albrecht gives a few hints throughout Act I about who is through his demeanor and in demeaning Hans and his own servant – somewhat revealing that he is an aristocrat. Both Buldakova and Makurin bring out the spiritual moments, and empathy in the second act through their dancing and their acting.

Elena Khvatova is a suitably cold Queen of the Wilis while Sayron Pereira is an appealing and sympathetic Hans. Lyaisan Gistatullina and Denis Tolmazov danced the Peasant Pas de Deux in an appealing manner.

The Perm Opera Ballet is presenting here a traditional production of Giselle, with reverence to the ballet’s roots and the time period in which the ballet premiered. As many companies present versions of Giselle that try to resolve the ballet’s enigmas without much success, the Perm Opera Ballet’s Giselle is unique.

Perm Opera Ballet – La Fille Mal Gardee

June 1, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Most ballet audiences have often seen Frederick Ashton’s version of La Fille Mal Gardee, a ballet, based on one of the oldest ballets still being performed which had choreography from the original Russian production by Marius Petipa, but using the original scenario created by Jean Dauberval -- for his production in 1789 -- and music by Ferdinand Herold which had been orchestrated by John Lanchbery.

However, there are other versions of this ballet, and the Perm Opera Ballet presented a livestream performance of its production which was choreographed and staged by Kirill Shmorgoner. This livestream performance was viewed on June 1, 2020 and an opportunity to scrutinize a different, and just as entertaining as Ashton’s familiar version.

In the Perm Opera Ballet’s La Fille Mal Gardee the scenario is that of Colin who is romancing a village girl, Lise, but Lise’s mother, Marceline, who owns a farm, is hoping for a better match for her daughter with Nicaise, who is the dim-witted son of a large landowner. Although all is arranged for Lise and Nicaise to be married, Nicaise catches Lise and Colin together, and the marriage is called off. However, in the end, Marceline blesses the marriage of Lise and Colin – and all ends happily.

Shmorgoner follows the blueprint of Marius Petipa’s version – and in fact credits Petipa with the choreography for the Clog Dance, and also credits Alexander Gorsky for the Act I Pas de Deux. The score is composed by Peter Hertel with the addition of a section of music composed by Leo Delibes for the score of Coppelia, which is used for the finale in this version of La Fille Mal Gardee. Whatever the ingredients, the results are the same as Fille is a ballet with lots of charm and is also engaging.

Elizaveta Domracheva as Lise and Ivan Surodeev as Colin portrayed and danced their roles with technical and comic skills. Also, Ivan Sidelnikov as Marceline, and Prokhor Zelenin as Nicaise provided even more comic elements.

Perm Opera Ballet has provided an opportunity to see an alternative version of a familiar classic – but is a classic in its own right.

Teatro Colon Presents The Merry Widow

May 31, 2020

By Mark Kappel

All is not well in the mythical country of Pontevedro, and that is the heart of Franz Lehar’s comic operetta, The Merry Widow. Ronald Hynd transformed this popular operetta into a full-length ballet for the Australian Ballet in 1975 – and since -- this version of The Merry Widow has been performed all over the world.

Ronald Hynd and Robert Helpmann combined forces to fashion a libretto for The Merry Widow which is danced to a score orchestrated by John Lanchbery and Alan Abbott featuring the tunes and melodies from Lehar’s music from his operetta.

Teatro Colon of Buenos Aires, Argentina presented a livestream of its production of Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow on May 31, 2020.

As stated The Merry Widow begins with the dread and worry being experienced by Pontevedro’s Ambassador to France that Pontevedro is on the verge of bankruptcy and they are panicked in trying to find a solution to the country’s problems.

They come up with the scheme to pick a suitor for the hand in marriage of Pontevedro’s wealthy widow, Hannah Glawari, to keep her money in Pontevedro and make certain that the country’s government can remain solvent.

They focus on one particular eligible bachelor, Count Danilo, who had a brief flirtation with Hanna when they were young. But she was a peasant girl at that time and was not suitable for a match with an aristocrat of Pontevedro. However, their romance is rekindled in The Merry Widow, and although there are hurdles along the way, it all ends happily.

Hynd makes sure that the light comedy in The Merry Widow shines through, there is lots of dancing, lots of familiar music from Lehar’s score, and he also draws the characters well.

The Merry Widow suits the Teatro Colon well in terms of its style and elegance. But as all in full-length ballets – especially those that are comedies – the success of the ballet weighs on the shoulders of the principal dancers.

In this performance, Marianela Nunez, principal dancer of the Royal Ballet, appears as a guest artist in the role of Hannah with her Danilo being Alejandro Parente, an excellent comic actor and strong partner. This partnership brings an endearing and romantic quality that the ballet requires.

There is also a sub-plot in The Merry Widow, the Ambassador’s Wife, Valencienne and the Ambassador’s Aide, Camile, are having an affair, and Camile Bocca as Valencienne and Maximiliano Iglesias as Camile provide the technical feats and the extravagant comedy in the ballet.

The Teatro Colon’s performance of The Merry Widow was an outstanding one and fortunate that the Teatro Colon is making it available for the world to see on livestream.

Miami City Ballet Presents Its First Livestream – Firebird

May 30, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Many American ballet companies have arranged to have their performances presented as free livestreams. Miami City Ballet is the latest of those companies to do just that – and did so with its livestream performance of Firebird, a version choreographed by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, with new costume and scenery designs by Anya Klepikov, here viewed on May 30, 2020.

The original version of Firebird, choreographed by Mikhail Fokine, was premiered by the Diaghilev Ballets Russes – with a commissioned score by Igor Stravinsky. Many choreographers have tackled this score, recreating or inventing stories to fit the music.

Balanchine created his first version of Firebird in 1949, and in 1970 he revived Firebird with Marc Chagall designing new costumes and scenery, and Jerome Robbins contributing new choreography for the monsters’ dance. Balanchine made further revisions in 1972 and 1980 primarily to accommodate new designs for the title role. Also Balanchine chose to use the suite rather than the full score for Firebird.

The Miami City Ballet has acquired the latest version of the Balanchine/Robbins production of Firebird which is straightforward in its story-telling.

Prince Ivan is seen hunting in the forest and comes upon the magical Firebird. In exchange for being set free, the Firebird bestows one of her feathers – to be used to call upon the Firebird if Prince Ivan needs her assistance. That assistance is called upon when Prince Ivan falls in love with one of the princesses under the spell of Kastchei The Wizard, and Prince Ivan calls upon the Firebird to help him free his princess. The ballet ends in a wedding creating a beautiful tableau.

Although Balanchine’s choreography is neo-classic in nature, he does preserve the Russian inspiration in the story – most particularly in the folk dances in the ballet.

The role of the Firebird is a challenge for a dancer as the dancer must distinguish the Firebird from the better-known Swan Queen, and Nathalia Arja is able to do just that. This is her kingdom and she rules. Chase Swatosh as Prince Ivan characterizes the Prince as somewhat selfless and chivalrous at the same time, and Jordan-Elizabeth Long is an elegant Princess. Reyneris Reyes is suitably threatening as Kastchei The Wizard.

When the Miami City Ballet has performed in New York the company has chosen the repertoire to be simpler in design and it was invigorating in many ways to see the company dance in a story ballet for a change.

Royal Ballet – The Cellist

May 29, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Although not shown in the New York area as part of its cinema screening series, the Royal Ballet has offered a free livestream of Cathy Marston’s The Cellist on May 29, 2020.

Marston’s choreography has been showing up in repertoires of major ballet companies quite frequently of late. What all of her dance pieces have in common is her interest in story-telling – somewhat uncommon among choreographers of today. Marston’s choreographic vocabulary is modern dance with a slight nod to contemporary ballet – which doesn’t always meld together – but hints of Antony Tudor and Agnes de Mille.

Marston has been choreographing and re-staging works for many ballet companies in the United States and the United Kingdom, and The Cellist, was her mainstage Royal Ballet debut.

The central character in this dance piece is Jacqueline du Pre, a world-renowned cellist who was struck down by multiple sclerosis at a young age. The world witnessed this tragedy and also that of du Pre’s husband, Daniel Barenboim. Even in du Pre’s shortened career it was well known how important music was in her life.

In The Cellist, Marston has created a triangle of sorts – The Conductor (the placeholder for Barenboim), The Cellist (the placeholder for du Pre) and The Instrument (the placeholder for the Cello) symbolizing music as the driving force in their lives – even du Pre’s music is represented with the manipulation of vinyl records by the dancers, and the dancer playing the role of The Instrument is costumed in a shirt with strings on it.

Du Pre’s closeness with her family is depicted in The Cellist at the beginning of her life and also at the end of her life fashioned in a libretto created by Marston and Edward Kemp. Music was provided by Philip Feeney integrating sections of familiar works that du Pre played during her career.

In The Cellist Marston has isolated several clever images using the cast of dancers – including the dancers as an orchestra and an audience of du Pre’s admirers.

One was moved by the performance of Lauren Cuthbertson as The Cellist, and the partnering and expressiveness of Marcelino Sambe as The Instrument – and the empathetic portrayal of The Conductor by Matthew Ball. Also of special notice was Emma Lucano portraying The Cellist as a young girl.

Overall, The Cellist is a thoughtful, moving and sympathetic piece with ample experimentation – and congratulations to the Royal Ballet management for taking the chance on the choreographer, and the subject matter.

English National Ballet Dances Derek Deane’s Swan Lake

May 27, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Back in January of this year, the Shanghai Ballet danced Derek Deane’s production of Swan Lake at the David Koch Theater – a production of Swan Lake that Deane had originally staged for the English National Ballet in 1997.

The English National Ballet has included Deane’s production of Swan Lake in its livestream series capturing a performance in 2018 with Jurgita Dronina as Odette/Odile and Isaac Hernandez as Siegfried.

Deane’s pedigree is from the Royal Ballet and his production follows the structure of recent productions of Swan Lake danced by the Royal Ballet. The story is clear in the Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov choreography and in his production of Swan Lake, Deane allows for the choreography to present the narrative.

One of Deane’s innovations is the prologue in which it is depicted how Odette is transformed from human form to a swan by Von Rothbart, and in an effective piece of theatre craft, the transformation is clear and clarifies the mystery of how Odette is trapped by Von Rothbart’s spell and needs Siegfried to vow his love to her to break that spell.

Siegfried is seduced by Odile, Von Rothbart’s niece disguised as Odette, and ultimately this ballet ends in the tragedy of both Odette and Siegfried drown themselves in a lake, thereby breaking Von Rothbart’s spell over the swans. This is a story that is mythical and also defines both good and evil.

In this performance Dronina manages most of the technical challenges in this dual role and presents straightforward characterizations of Odette and Odile, and Hernandez depicts a rather innocent Siegfried and displays himself as a good partner. Also attractive were Daniel McCormick, Rina Kanehara, and Alison McWhinney in the Act I Pas de Trois, and James Streeter as the malevolent Von Rothbart.

The swan corps de ballet is also a “star” unto itself in most performances of Swan Lake and the corps de ballet in this production certainly did shine.

Refreshing to see a traditional and unadorned production of Swan Lake – somehow the traditional tells the story very effectively, and fortunately the English National Ballet is dancing a production of Swan Lake that seems to be more unique with every year as stagers and choreographers often tinker with the story at hand by making arbitrary changes.

Pacific Northwest Ballet Dances Swan Lake

May 24, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Although more and more American ballet companies are getting on board in regard to presenting livestream performances, few of them are presenting full-length ballets. The companies, for the most part, are choosing to represent themselves with contemporary ballet dance pieces – and double bills of that same genre of dance.

For its most recent livestream presentation Pacific Northwest Ballet is putting on view its production of Swan Lake, credited to Kent Stowell, with the Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov choreography included in this production, staged by Francia Russell, which had its premiere in 2003.

Notable for its evocative scenery designs by Ming Cho Lee, there is an interpretation that is revealed in this production of Swan Lake which is that Siegfried is not the brooding and tragic prince presented in most productions of Swan Lake. In this production Siegfried dances an optimistic solo in the middle of what is Act I and although Siegfried’s mother threatens him with the ultimatum that he must marry a Princess to be chosen from Princesses at a ball, Siegfried seems to be taking this obligation in stride. This Siegfried is not Hamlet on the Lake, is reverential, and less passionate.

In meeting Odette in the first Lakeside Scene, Siegfried is surprised but doesn’t seem to show urgency, and although he easily betrays Odette in being duped by Odile (Baron Von Rothbart’s daughter disguised as Odette) once again there is not the feeling of tragedy and loss when he returns to the lake in the hope of Odette forgiving him. This production ends with Odette once again falling under the spell of Baron Von Rothbart (played with a minimum of menace by William Yin-Lee) and remaining a swan, while Siegfried grieves for the emptiness he will face in his life – but more like Albrecht in Giselle rather than Siegfried in Swan Lake.

Stowell provides some new choreography in his production of Swan Lake and one odd change is transforming the Russian Dance into a “Persian Dance” – performed instead of the Polish Mazurka in the Ballroom Scene, and there is also the intrusive Jester – danced with all of the virtuosity that the role requires by Kyle Davis. Also notable is the well-danced traditional Act I Pas de Trois danced by Leta Biasucci, Angelica Generosa, and Benjamin Griffiths.

Seth Orza is an elegant Prince Siegfried, and as mentioned also reverential, and an excellent partner. Noelani Pantastico, as Odette/Odile, doesn’t always differentiate those two very different characters in her dancing and acting while dancing the dual roles with technical aplomb.

Pacific Northwest Ballet’s production of Swan Lake is simple and straightforward – and academic -- which might be better served with more narrative detail as only the outlines seem to be there but not with as much substance as I would have preferred.

Perm Opera Ballet Presents A Program Of Works By British Choreographers

May 23, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Perm Opera Ballet has engaged many Western European choreographers to work with its dancers. For its latest presentation the Perm Opera Ballet is performing a triple bill of dance works choreographed by British choreographers which had its livestream premiere on May 23, 2020.

Opening this program is Frederick Ashton’s Les Patineurs, which was given its world premiere in 1937 by the Vic Wells Ballet, and its Perm Ballet premiere in 2014.

Choreographed to music composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer, with iconic designs by William Chappell, Ashton depicts a Victorian skating party in Les Patineurs – stylish and including virtuosity as well.

The style came from Ekaterina Poleshchuk and Oleg Kulikov in the White Pas de Deux, with the virtuosity supplied by Kirill Makurin in the Pas de Trois joined by Lyaisan Gisatullina and Ekaterina Pyatysheva.

Although the dancers did not perfectly capture Ashton’s style or the sharp execution required by Ashton’s choreography, the Perm Opera Ballet dancers danced Les Patineurs with the appropriate spirit.

The middle dance piece was Douglas Lee’s When Snow Was Falling, his second creation for the Perm Ballet which was given its premiere in 2015. British-born Douglas Lee had been a principal dancer of the Stuttgart Ballet and is now pursuing an independent career as a choreographer.

For When Snow Was Falling, Lee uses music by Bernard Herrmann (his film scores for Fahrenheit 451 and Twilight Zone) which creates a mysterious and grim soundscape for Lee’s equally grim choreography. Lee’s choreographic vocabulary in this piece is that of contemporary ballet – with the ladies in pointe shoes – with modern dance choreography as a ghostly presence – with random movement as the signature. Moody and circumspect, this ensemble work channels a hint of William Forsythe and Jiri Kylian, and brings out the Perm Opera Ballet dancers’ talent for dancing such choreography.

When Snow Was Falling was danced in earnest by the cast of Lyaisan Gisatullina Larissa Moskalenko, Anna Pushvintseva-Poistogova, Alexander Taranov, Roman Tarkhanov, Ivan Tkachenko, and Taras Tovstguk.

Kenneth MacMillan’s Winter Dreams, given its world premiere by the Royal Ballet in 1991, closed this triple bill program. Having had its Perm Ballet premiere in 2014, in this ballet MacMillan presents vignettes in which the characters in Anton Chekhov’s The Three Sisters are defined and drawn. It was not MacMillan’s purpose to literally tell the story in The Three Sisters but to make allusions to this familiar tragic comedy.

MacMillan chose to create this nostalgic work to Tchaikovsky piano music and traditional Russian music played by musicians on the stage.

The solos are choreographed as inner dialogues and the pas de deux are intended to reveal emotions and conflict. In spite of MacMillan’s inspired efforts, the characters are not consistently fleshed out. However, the Perm Opera Ballet dancers sort out the relationships in Winter Dreams by instinct.

Albina Rangulova (Olga), Polina Buldakova (Masha), and Anna Terentieva (Irina) bring the three sisters to life in the ballet’s naturalistic choreography and also emphasize the ballet’s few comic moments.

What is common in all of these ballets is that snow falls at some point – a clever way to link these ballets together in this program of dance.

Streaming Musicals Presents Marry Harry

May 22, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Having had its off-Broadway premiere by the York Theatre Company in 2017, Streaming Musicals presented – as a livestream – the film adaptation of the chamber musical, Marry Harry on May 22, 2020.

Marry Harry is a romantic musical comedy about two late bloomers who meet by chance in the East Village. They fall in love in less than 24 hours – get engaged – and in the course of springing this all on their single parents, it all becomes fuzzy and uncertain. In the end there is the feeling that the boy and girl will get together but that is also uncertain.

With a clever book by Jennifer R. Manocherian, and a score by Dan Martin and Michael Biello that hits all of the emotional buttons, Marry Harry tells its story in an empathetic and low-key manner – with characters all of us can identify with.

Structurally Marry Harry focuses on the relationship of Sherri (played by Diane Phelan) and Little Harry (played by David Spadora) who seem trapped in the plans laid out for them by their single parents, Francine (played by Veanne Cox) who is Sherri’s mother, and Big Harry (played by Paul Salvatoriello) who is Little Harry’s father. Both have their own businesses – Big Harry is the owner of a family restaurant where Little Harry is a cook – but has ambitions to be a chef.

Both Sherri and Little Harry have had relationships and ambitions that are packed in their emotional baggage. However, it seems they were destined for each other. There is also a chorus of Voices (Jesse Manocherian, Tony Melson, and Kim Steele) who comment on the action and offer advice to all of the characters who are drawn with clarity by these wonderful actors.

Under the adept direction of Bill Castellino, the nuances in Marry Harry are made evident and one has the opportunity to enjoy the ride.

Perm Opera Ballet Entertains With Don Quixote

May 20, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Perm Opera Ballet of Perm, Russia, has been actively involved in making available livestreams of performances of the company’s extensive repertoire.

Presented on May 20, 2020 was a livestream of the company’s current production of Don Quixote, which premiered in 2004, and was staged by Yuliana Malkhasyants based on the Alexander Gorsky production of Don Quixote, plus additional choreography by Anatoly Simachev and Naum Azarin-Messerer.

Although Don Quixote is the name of the ballet, the story in the ballet version is his happening upon a small village in the midst of his quest to find his own true love, Dulcinea.

The plot focuses on the romantic pairing of Kitri, the daughter of an Innkeeper, and Basilio, one of the locals, and how their romance is interfered with by Kitri’s father who prefers a match with a local aristocrat, Gamache, but the Don meddles and defends Kitri’s match with Basilio, and ends with the marriage of Kitri and Basilio with the Don’s blessing and Kitri’s father’s blessing. And this ballet is a comedy yet structured as many Marius Petipa ballets are with exposition in the first act, a vision scene in the second act, and a wedding celebration in the third act. But as the plot of this ballet is rather thin, it is up to the dancers to outline the characters and dazzle in dancing the virtuoso choreography that showcases them.

In this performance the pairing of Polina Buldakova as Kitri and Kirill Makurin as Basilio serve up the dazzle and the laughs, and still have more to give in terms of the virtuosity required in the Third Act Grand Pas de Deux. However, there are also notable performances from Egor Shitikov as Espada the Matador, Anna Pushvintseva-Poistogova as the Street Dancer, Ekaterina Poleshchuk as Mercedes, Tomone Kagawa as Queen of the Dryads, and Ekaterina Pyatysheva as Cupid.

To bring off the comedic elements in Don Quixote you have to have capable character dancers as well, and in this performance they were Alexander Sokolov in the title role, Evgeny Gromov as Sancho Panza, Ivan Vinichenko as the hapless and abandoned suitor, Gamache, and Sergei Kreker as the over protective father, Lorenzo, the Innkeeper.

If you haven’t seen the Perm Opera Ballet before these livestreams will certainly give you an introduction to a ballet company that is not well known on the international ballet scene.

Dutch National Ballet Tribute to Hans van Manen – Part Two

May 16, 2020

By Mark Kappel

In continuing its livestream series on May 16, 2020, the Dutch National Ballet presented the second of its livestreams paying tribute to Hans van Manen, one of the company’s most influential artistic leaders and choreographers.

This program opens with Sarcasm, choreographed to music by Prokofiev which received its premiere in 1981. In Sarcasm van Manen depicts the conflicts of a warring couple – the male participant of the couple is a bit vain and a show-off, and the female counterpart in the relationship watches her male counterpart rant – and ultimately gets her say with a bit of taunting – and in the end some mutual understanding.

van Manen’s choreography expertly captures human body language effectively and here it is danced with the necessary earnestness by Anna Tsyganakova and Constantine Allen.

Following Sarcasm is Two Gold Variations, which had its premiere in 1999, and is choreographed to Jacob ter Veldhuis’ Goldrush Concerto. Just as in Sarcasm, in Two Gold Variations, van Manen examines the conflicts between men and women in groups and also in isolation. It is a woman who opens the piece and it is also a woman who closes the piece – in between the female/male couples arrive to participate in the large ensemble dance one at a time participating in energetic and emerging group dances which imply conflict and resolution.

The cast of Igone de Jongh, Jozef Varga, Young Gyu Choi, Pascalle Paerel, James Stout, Erica Horwood, Semyon Velichko, Milena Sidorova, Edo Wijhen, Wendeline Wijkstra, Roman Artyushkin, Tess Sturmann, Mathew Pawlicki-Sinclair, and Floor Eimers portray those conflicts and meet the technical demands of van Manen’s choreography.

This program ends with a short documentary on the rehearsals, and the making of van Manen’s Without Words – as well as short excerpts from the ballet itself – but most important it is watching van Manen in a laboratory interacting with the dancers and creating choreography for his own work.

The Dutch National Ballet succeeds for a second time in providing a showcase for an influential choreographer.

Stuttgart Ballet Dances Another John Cranko Signature Work

May 14, 2020

By Mark Kappel

John Cranko did not choreograph very many plotless ballets but one that was significant was his ballet, Initials R.B.M.E. This ballet was a tribute to some of his favorite dancers who were in Stuttgart when he was forming and fashioning the future of the Stuttgart Ballet. On May 14, 2020 this ballet was presented in a livestream of a recent performance by the Stuttgart Ballet.

The initials in Initials R.B.M.E. represent Richard Cragun, Birgit Keil, Marcia Haydee, and Egon Madsen whose talents inspired Cranko when he was creating his best-known narrative ballets. This plotless ballet was choreographed to Brahms’ passionate Piano Concerto No. 2. With the personal tributes to these dancers as his concept, and Brahms’ music what resulted was Cranko’s calming and comforting choreography which showed off the dancers he honored and is still proving an equally pleasing showcase for current Stuttgart Ballet dancers.

Notable in Cranko’s choreography for Initials R.B.M.E. are the fluid and intriguing patterns for the corps de ballet – yet classical and academic at the same time – punctuated by groups moving in and off the stage to support the principal dancers in each movement.

The group of Stuttgart Ballet dancers who led each movement of this ballet added their own interpretation to this tribute ballet. Adhonay Soares de Silva provided the flash in the R movement, Elisa Badenes led the B movement, Alicia Amatriain led the M Movement, and more of an onlooker than anything else, Moacir de Oliveira led the E Movement. All of these dancers appeared in all of these movements, and the ballet looked as fresh as it was when it was seen in New York for the first time in 1973.

Astana Opera Ballet – Coppelia

May 14, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Astana Opera Ballet of Kazakhstan is currently directed by former Mariinsky Ballet principal dancer Altynai Asylmuratova. In what seems to be an effort to inform the world about the company and the repertoire that is being danced, there are several livestreams of the company’s performances that have been made available for free viewing.

The one of interest to me was the company’s performance of Roland Petit’s Coppelia, here staged by Luigi Bonino. Petit staged his production of Coppelia for the Ballet National de Marseille when he was director of the company – and that company performed Coppelia in New York in 1980.

Petit has embraced the story in the ballet but has made some revisions by re-planting the story in a small military outpost in France with lots of soldiers and the local village girls flirting with them and enjoying their company. This version of the ballet still focuses on the up and down relationship of Swanhilda and Franz with Franz becoming infatuated with the toymaker’s doll, Coppelia.

However, in this version Dr. Coppelius has been styled into a sophisticated man about town with his own infatuation for Coppelia. In fact, he sets up a dinner for himself and Coppelia – and ultimately dances with her in the style of a golden age Hollywood musical – with Dr. Coppelius being transformed into a Fred Astaire. All ends happily but this version of Coppelia is very French and that atmosphere is accentuated by the costume and scenery designs by Ezio Frigerio.

The roles of Swanhilda and Franz include more tongue in cheek humor than in traditional versions, and Petit’s choreography lends itself to more displays of virtuoso dancing.

Shugyla Adepkhan makes for a charming Swanhilda giving a wonderfully comedic performance, and Arman Urazov as Franz showcases his attempt to be a man of the word while also being a member of a community in a small French village. Both Adepkhan and Urazov are up to the virtuoso dancing that Petit requires.

Rustem Seitbekov’s Dr. Coppelius is suave and debonair rather the older characterizations of Dr. Coppelius seen in other versions of this ballet. He is a wonderful character dancer, expertly captures the style of Hollywood musical dancer, and makes the character of Dr. Coppelius sympathetic and also a bit tragic. In fact, Petit’s ends the ballet with Dr. Coppelius left alone with the scattered parts of his doll, Coppelia.

Petit’s Coppelia is, if nothing else, a brilliant example of how the elements of theatrics and entertainment can be combined to please an audience and also make them feel that experiencing it also means they are being exposed to a an equally vivid art form.

Also, the Astana Opera Ballet is a ballet company worth a look see!

Mariinsky Ballet: Raymonda

May 11, 2020

By Mark Kappel

During these weeks when livestreams of dance, music and theater performances have been presented in abundance, the Mariinsky Ballet has been livestreaming selective performances from its own archives.

One of them is the company’s production of Raymonda, which was livestreamed on May 11, 2020, a full-length ballet that is not in the repertoires of a large number of ballet companies.

Raymonda’s story takes place in Hungary during the Crusades. The Princess Raymonda is preparing for her wedding to Jean de Brienne. However, Abderakhman, a visitor from the Middle East, arrives at court and expresses his infatuation with Raymonda. Raymonda is somewhat flattered and also frightened at the same time – and because of that inner conflict she eagerly awaits the return of Jean de Brienne. At court Jean de Brienne confronts Abderakhman about his advances towards Raymonda and as her defender his action succeeds in banishing Abderakhman from the court – and a wedding celebration follows.

The Mariinsky ballet’s current production of Raymonda was staged by Konstantin Sergeyev in 1948, streamlining the story that is presented in this ballet. It is the choreography of Marius Petipa which is flavored with Hungarian folk dance and also flavors Alexander Glazunov’s music which was splendidly conducted by Valery Gergiev for this performance. Raymonda is a ballet in which the grand manner is a key ingredient in how the variations and ensemble dances are presented and performed.

Overall Raymonda is a joyous ballet and also presents many technical challenges – particularly for the dancer dancing the title role.

In this performance it was Viktoria Tereshkina taking on the title role and met all of the ballet’s challenges. There were not any technical hurdles she couldn’t manage. The same could be applied to Xander Parish dancing and playing the romantic hero, Jean de Brienne, and equally Konstantin Zverev as Abderakhman with menace and a bit of charm.

However, the Mariinsky Ballet’s production of Raymonda seems anachronistic, stuck in the Soviet era. That would also describe Simon Virsaladze’s costume and scenery designs.

But it is the dancing and the music that are the important ingredients in Raymonda, and in those respects, the Mariinsky Ballet’s production of Raymonda succeeds.

Dutch National Ballet Dances Swan Lake

May 10, 2020

By Mark Kappel

For the next two weeks the Dutch National Ballet is making available a livestream of the company’s current production of Swan Lake. This production was staged by former Dutch National Ballet artistic director, Rudi van Dantzig, with the assistance of Toer van Schayk who choreographed the Spanish, Neapolitan and Hungarian Dances in Act III, and also designed the costumes and scenery. van Dantzig’s Swan Lake was given its premiere in 1988, and was recently danced by the Hungarian National Ballet in New York.

Although the blueprint of this production of Swan Lake leans in the traditional direction, there are some revisions that van Dantzig has made not only in the choreography but also in the plot. Instead of Benno, Siegfried’s companion is renamed Alexander, and it appears throughout the production that the relationship between Siegfried and Alexander is more than friendship which adds to the drama when Siegfried is forced into making a decision about a bride he must marry. Also, it is Alexander who walks downstage holding Siegfried’s body after Siegfried has been drowned in the lake by Von Rothbart culminating in the dramatic conclusion of this version of Swan Lake.

Besides Toer van Schayk’s choreographic contributions, van Dantzig also included a Pas de Six (superbly danced by Vera Tsyganova, Jared Wright Jingjing Mao, Martin ten Kortenaar, Floor Eimers, and Timothy van Poucke) which is featured towards the beginning of Act III, and Odile appears in a short dance supported by a bevy of male dancers just before the beginning of the Black Swan Pas de Deux. Both Odette and Odile appear in the conflict between von Rothbart and Siegfried in Act IV as well – and that double image certainly emphasizes the psychological aspects of this ballet.

It is von Rothbart – cleverly and menacingly played by James Stout -- who propels the drama in this production of Swan Lake in both of the lakeside scenes, and at the end of the ballet, it is von Rothbart who commands the lake to overflow thereby killing Siegfried, and itis Alexander who grieves over Siegfried’s dead body.

Swan Lake often takes flight through the performances of the dancers in the principal roles. In presentation Maia Makhateli is a poetic Odette and a calculating Odile, quite deliberately delineating these characters in the choreography as handed down from Marius Petipa, and also through her acting skills. Daniel Camargo is both striking and empathetic in the role of Siegfried, and excellent partner. And the Dutch National Ballet’s corps de ballet adds a great deal portraying the swans, and also in the Act III national dances.

All of these elements add up to a performance of Swan Lake that communicates emotionally with an audience.

Broadway, Balanchine and Beyond – A Memoir – Bettijane Sills

By Mark Kappel

Bettijane Sills is perhaps best known as a soloist with the New York City Ballet during what might be described as the company’s golden age. However, she also worked on off-Broadway and Broadway theatre stages, and after her dancing career had ended in 1972, she turned to teaching.

In Broadway, Balanchine and Beyond – A Memoir – published by the University of Florida Press – and written with Elizabeth McPherson – Sills is quite frank in describing her experiences in both her professional and private lives – particularly in pondering her experiences working in the rarified world of the New York City Ballet.

Described are Sills’ experiences working as a child actor in New York City, working with the New York City Ballet with George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Lincoln Kirstein at the helm guiding the company during her dancing career, and her personal life and yet another career as a teacher.

In her memoir Sills reflects on her great admiration for Balanchine in particular even though her professional experiences and her personal experiences with him had their contradictions.

Balanchine was Sills’ artistic father and also an influence on her personal life, complaining and expressing his concerns about her weight and not being a supporter of a dancer’s right to make private life choices that would be normal. And she didn’t have that “normal life” until after she left the New York City Ballet, got married and had a child.

Sills’ father was a musician, and her mother was stage struck and encouraged Sills to pursue a career in the theatre from a young age. All the while she also remembered her parents’ bickering and her mother’s high expectations for her. However, she pursued her education – both academic and in the arts – and caught the attention of the New York City Ballet’s artistic management which resulted in her being given a contract with the company.

Sills provides detailed descriptions of the styles and class content given by her many ballet teachers – including George Balanchine – and also provided a detailed account of her participation in the New York City Ballet’s first tour of the Soviet Union – the reaction of the audiences to the company and to Balanchine’s ballets – and also the travel and accommodations arrangements and problems.

However far more interesting were her descriptions of the ballets in which she created roles – particularly the differences in working with George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins as choreographers – and also how she coped with Balanchine’s indifference to her, and how he arbitrarily favored her at one moment and didn’t at another.

Sills described her problem with weight and binge-eating, and it appears that her being in Balanchine’s favor depended upon whether she was the perfect body type that Balanchine wanted for the New York City Ballet. Balanchine showed his disfavor to her by taking away roles or not using her in new roles depending upon his attitude concerning her weight problems.

Sills realized Balanchine’s obsession with youthful dancers – and that total allegiance to him was necessary – and then his arbitrary prejudice that for female dancers marriage and babies were not to be part of their lives. Although Sills described Balanchine’s control over the New York City Ballet as being a benign dictatorship there were moments when Balanchine was not benign.

After her career in dancing with the New York City Ballet, Sills turned to teaching and developed a philosophy of teaching – which is to provide a dancer with the basic foundations of training in all styles of dance – and ballet training is not meant to be safe and comfortable.

If nothing else Sills’ memoir is frank and revealing, and for any dancer, with the goal of being a professional in mind, would learn a great deal from Sills’ thoughts and fears.

English National Ballet Performs Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo and Juliet

May 6, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The English National Ballet (then known as London Festival Ballet) commissioned a new production of Romeo and Juliet from Rudolf Nureyev which was premiered in 1977, and subsequently was performed in New York by London Festival Ballet in 1978 and La Scala Ballet in 1981. And on May 6th 2020 this production was livestreamed for a worldwide audience.

Primarily created as a vehicle for himself, yet Nureyev’s version focuses mostly on Juliet and her internal struggles dealing with her family loyalties, and her infatuation with Romeo. No doubt because Nureyev often danced 8 performances a week in the productions of the ballets he staged or created, they went from the extreme of enlarging the male principal roles in the ballets or reducing them. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is often a bystander watching the action rather than being involved in the intensity of the story being told.

It had been said that Nureyev sought out a Russian translated version of Shakespeare’s play before adapting a scenario for his production. The purpose of which was go to back to the text of the play for inspiration and adapting the libretto. Certainly, there are influences from Russian ballet productions of Romeo and Juliet and those productions he danced in the West. Nureyev saw Verona as a place suffering from the plague which is symbolized by the cart of dead bodies that appear at the beginning of the ballet.

Also, Nureyev adds his own further commentary on living in Verona when the street robbers throw the dice indicating that life is a gamble and is at the mercy of fate. And Nureyev seemed to portray the warring families as a conflict between political and social classes.

In telling his version of Romeo and Juliet, Nureyev presents the story in a cinematic fashion which focuses are some of the plots more intensely than others.

Nureyev’s Romeo is a bit amorous, and out for a good time – while Juliet is much a child. Although she imagines the ghosts in her past helping her to decide what she must do, it is her innocent idea of love that influences her decisions.

This production of Romeo and Juliet is clear in its story intentions but is not a treasure trove of choreography. The choreography tends to be awkward and choppy, and it was a time when Nureyev seemed to be influenced by the modern dance choreographers whose work he was dancing in himself at the time – including Martha Graham in particular whose influence very much there in the choreography for the Act I Cushion Dance – and also a bit of Jose Limon’s The Moor’s Pavane in the dance of Juliet, Paris, and the Capulets in Juliet’s bedroom. Also, the choreography does not enhance the narrative detail in this version of this well-known ballet.

However, Nureyev does make a definitive statement when he ends his Romeo and Juliet with the families reconciling in their grief.

As in any performance of Romeo and Juliet, the principal dancers carry the day. In that sense Alina Cojocaru as Juliet and Isaac Hernandez as Romeo held their own emotionally and drawing their characters in a production that didn’t always showcase these dancers at their best. Also notable was the performance of Cesar Corrales as Mercutio who brought his comic talents to the role but also added a little menace to the character.

This was an opportunity to see a performance by a company that hasn’t performed in New York in decades and one looks forward to more livestream performances by the English National Ballet.

National Ballet of Japan Dances Manon

May 6, 2020

By Mark Kappel

More livestreaming opportunities continue to present themselves but a unique performance was offered by the National Ballet of Japan dancing Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon.

MacMillan’s Manon was premiered by the Royal Ballet in 1974. Based on Prevost’s novel, MacMillan choreographed his ballet to music by Massenet.

The story is that of a young woman, Manon, who is exploited by her brother, while also experiencing a somewhat innocent love for a young student, Des Grieux. It is the story of Manon and Des Grieux making their way through the corruption and exploitation of French society – and the attempts of Manon and Des Grieux to break the cycle – that leads to tragedy.

From the moment that Manon meets Des Grieux it becomes an affair of the heart with sparks culminating in their Bedroom Scene Pas de Deux – one of several of MacMillan’s spectacular pas de deux in this ballet. However, Monsieur GM persuades Manon join him for a life of wealth and luxury which she readily agrees to – and her relationship with Des Grieux becomes an afterthought.

However, Manon and Des Grieux meet again in a Paris salon and their attraction takes over their decision-making. After Des Grieux is accused of cheating at cards, he and Manon run off together but our tracked down by Monsieur GM who kills Manon’s brother and arrests Manon.

Thereafter Manon is sent off to exile and prison in Louisiana. Des Grieux follows Manon to Louisiana and after he kills Manon’s jailer, they escape to the Louisiana swamps where Manon meets her tragic death.

In Manon MacMillan sets the appropriate tone in his choreography for every dramatic moment and here the dancers of the National Ballet of Japan lend interpretations of their own.

Yui Yonezawa provides an impulsive interpretation of the title role as she evolves from a young innocent to a sophisticated manipulator which an audience can still empathize with. Vadim Muntagirov a guest artist from the Royal Ballet, is the perfect anti-hero who shows his genuine love for Manon and follows Manon as she walks the path towards her tragic end.

Yoshito Konishita, playing Lescaut (Manon’s brother), was particularly effective in his drunken solo in Act II and in his pas de deux with his Mistress (played and danced by Yuri Kimura with a little deception as well as conceit).

All of these dancers portrayed these characters in a forthright and engaging manner which complimented their accomplished dancing.

Dutch National Ballet Dances The Work of Hans van Manen

May 2, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Dutch National Ballet continues its livestream series with the first part of its tribute to one of its most influential artistic directors and choreographers, Hans van Manen. van Manen made inroads in creating a neo—classical style of his own and although his works are not performed as often as in the past, the Dutch National Ballet is preserving his legacy.

On May 2, 2020, the Dutch National Ballet presented three works of van Manen’s which reflected a survey of his work.

The opening piece was his Trois Gnossiennes choreographed to music by Satie which featured a lone couple (Igone de Jongh and Jakob Feyferlik) with the assistance of three piano movers who move a piano – with a pianist – in different parts of the stage, changing the space in which the dancing takes place. van Manen’s choreography is simple, musical and understated which is a van Manen signature, and subtly danced here by de Jongh and Feyferlik.

In contrast was Solo, an energetic and energized piece for three male dancers who execute van Manen’s virtuoso choreography – danced to music by Bach. Juanjo Arques, Sefton Clarke, and Felipe Diaz, were up to the virtuoso requirements in van Manen’s piece providing an excellent showcase for them.

Ending this short program of dance was van Manen’s Adagio Kammerklavier one of van Manen’s signature and classic pieces choreographed to Beethoven’s music of the same name. For three couples (Anna Ol, Artur Shesterikov, Anna Tsygankova, Daniel Camargo, Igone de Jongh, and Jozef Varga), this is a display of classic adagio dancing and beautifully danced by this cast. Adagio Hammerklavier is a chestnut as it dates back to 1973 but the piece stands up very well over time.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to see van Manen’s choreography before and you wish to become familiar with his older pieces and recent ones, the Dutch National Ballet is providing an excellent showcase to view these master works.

Stuttgart Ballet Dances Onegin

May 1, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Arguably the work that put John Cranko on the map as a choreographer was his unique ballet adaptation of Alexander Pushkin’s narrative poem, Eugene Onegin. Cranko created his first version in 1967 -- and then revised that version in 1969 – and since reached heights of popularity all over the world. What might seem to be a passionate melodrama is an involving piece of dance theatre.

Cranko’s ballets are rarely transmitted to a worldwide audience and it was very encouraging that on May 1, 2020 the Stuttgart Ballet’s current production of Onegin was presented on livestream.

Onegin, the ballet, focuses on Eugene Onegin, an aristocratic and diffident friend of young Lensky, who is a poet, and is affianced to Olga of the Larina Family. Onegin and Lensky visit the Larina Estate, and Onegin makes the acquaintance of Tatiana, Olga’s older sister. Tatiana becomes fascinated by this sophisticated gentleman, and sends him a letter with her thoughts of affection which are received by Onegin with disdain. Onegin initiates a flirtation with Olga which ultimately leads to a duel in which Onegin kills his friend Lensky.

Many years letter Onegin is invited to a party at the home of Prince Gremin, who has since, married Tatiana, and it is there that Onegin realizes what he lost. He tries to persuade her of the honesty and transformation of his affections but is rejected by Tatiana.

Cranko’s tell this story with his particular style of using organic choreography – and a few tricks of theatre craft -- and with an orchestrated score made up of music composed by Tchaikovsky which is seamlessly woven together to the point that it seems like this music was especially composed for Cranko’s ballet.

In Onegin Cranko created two dramatic pas de deux danced by Tatiana and Onegin – one coming from her imagination in the Letter Scene at the end of Act I -- and the other is reality in which Tatiana rejects Onegin. They are both emotionally stirring.

In this performance, which goes a few years back, the title role is danced and portrayed with understated arrogance by Friedemann Vogel. Elisa Badenes is charming as Olga – and is appropriately overwhelmed that her harmless flirting with Onegin could cause such a tragedy as Lensky’s death. David Moore is a boyish Lensky and Jason Reilly is distinguished as Prince Gremin.

Alicia Amatriain, dancing the role of Tatiana, owns the dramatic arc in Onegin as she transforms herself from an uncertain young woman to a confident spouse of a Prince and asserts herself boldly in rejecting Onegin’s advances.

Adding much to this performance in a supporting role was Marcia Haydee as the Nurse.

The emphasis in presenting an effective performance of Cranko’s Onegin is that it has to be beautifully danced – which it was in this performance – but also that the dancers have to fully portray complicated characters – which it also was in this performance.

This was a wonderful opportunity to see the Stuttgart Ballet dance this Cranko classic as the company hasn’t toured in the United States for decades.

What Do We Need To Talk About?

Public Theater

April 29, 2020

By Mark Kappel

During the past ten years, the Public Theater has presented Richard Nelson’s reflections on the Apple Family, a liberal American family living in Rhinebeck, New York. The Apples seem to be the people we turn to to conemplate the important matters of the day when a crisis or disaster comes up.

The Apple Family had not appeared on a stage since 2014, and no doubt Richard Nelson, as play wright and director, thought that the Apples were needed again in another time of crisis to explain and express the emotions generated by the current state of affairs – not only in the United States but also around the world – trying to cope with the corona virus.

In reuniting with the Apple Family in What Do We Need To Talk About?, we not only catch up with the members of the Apple Family but also, they are seen connecting in conversations on Zoom, the current conduit of choice for families and friends to communicate with each other during this pandemic crisis.

Members of the family include teachers, and an aide to Governor Cuomo, and they talk about their fears, loneliness and loss through their own stories about themselves, family members, and the world at large. And in What Do We Need To Talk About? Nelson presents an intimate conversation in an intimate manner as we ease drop on the Apples as they converse on our computer screens while isolated in our homes.

The cast of Jon De Vries, Stephen Kunken, Sally Murphy, Maryann Plunkett, Laila Robins, and Jay O. Sanders, bring the Apples to life as they describe what it is like to accomplish and cope with some of the typical tasks in our lives in this new and confused atmosphere filled with extra stress and protocols -- and try to bring us to some conclusions about what we are experiencing.

In a paraphrased sentence quoted from this play, “The world seems to be ending just when we are arriving.” Although this is referenced to describe the younger generation facing the world at this time of a pandemic, it applies to all of us, and Richard Nelson expresses our fears, our concerns, and leaves us all to resolve them in a compelling manner.

Dutch National Ballet Dances Coppelia

April 25, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Continuing its series of live stream presentations, on April 25, 2020 the Dutch National Ballet provided a worldwide opportunity to see Ted Brandsen’s production of Coppelia which the Dutch National Ballet had premiered in 2016.

Brandsen’s Coppelia is not a traditional version although the libretto follows the broad outlines of this 19th century classic’s story. Sieb Posthuma and Francois-Noel Cherpin have created designs that have placed this story in a cartoonish atmosphere in the 20th century with the location of the story moving from toymaker Dr. Coppelius’ workshop to a cosmetic surgeon’s clinic where Dr. Coppelius transforms women – through improving their body parts – into new women and making them more appealing to men. This all in a town dominated by a sports school and a juice bar for suitable social networking. In fact, the Coppelia doll has been transformed into a blonde bombshell that is operated with a remote control.

The story of Coppelia actually focuses on the relationship between Swanhilda and Franz (here costumed with a t-shirt with the letter “F” on it), and how Franz’s infatuation with Dr. Coppelius’ doll, Coppelia, gets in the way of his relationship with Swanhilda. However, when Swanhilda and her friends make their way into the “salon” they find that the object of Franz’s affection is a doll, Swanhilda decides upon the unkind prank of switching herself into the guise of Coppelia the doll, comes alive, and creates havoc for Dr. Coppelius. However, in the salon Swanhilda and Franz come upon the many other dolls in the salon, and also reveal Dr. Coppelius’ “treatments”.

Although Swanhilda and Franz escape Dr. Coppelius and his assistant, Anna Marx, Dr. Coppelius intrudes upon the wedding celebrations of Swanhilda and Franz hoping that he could again convince Franz to marry his Coppelia doll.

In Brandsen’s version of Coppelia it is the getting there that is intriguing using simple contemporary ballet choreography and a bit of modern dance, assorted interesting characters among the people in the village with striking visual images – and a needed antidote to the worries of the world in this comedy and send-up.

Great credit must be given to Daniel Camargo as Franz and Igone DeJongh as Franz and Swanhilda for their sympathetic portrayals of their characters as well as Vito Mazzeo as Dr. Coppelius, and Vera Tsyganova as Anna Marx, who play their over-the-top characters without being too over-the-top.

Many other choreographers have approached this classic giving it a more comptemporary interpretation – among them Heinz Spoerli, Roland Petit, and Maguy Marin – and if nothing else Brandsen’s approach is somewhat unique and highly theatrical.

La Scala Ballet Dances Le Corsaire

April 21, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The La Scala Ballet’s most recent livestream presentation is that of Anna Marie Holmes’ staging of Le Corsaire, a production that was originally staged for the Boston Ballet in 1997 and is in the active repertoire of American Ballet Theatre among other ballet companies the world over. La Scala’s production dates back to 2018 when this particular livestream was filmed.

Le Corsaire is one of the 19th century classics that has had a long road to being accepted as part of the standard ballet repertoire and being produced by ballet companies in Western Europe and also in North America. It is a bit of a hodge podge with a score by multiple composers (Adolphe Adam, Cesare Pugni, Leo Delibes, Riccardo Drigo, and Peter von Oldenburg) and is based on a poem written by Lord Byron about pirates who capture a princess, who is subsequently kidnapped by other pirates -- and another band of pirates rescue the princess.

Included in the ballet is a shipwreck, swordfights, and set choreographic pieces that are less familiar than those in other 19th century full-length ballets, and also requires elaborate scenery and a large company of dancers.
Le Corsaire had its La Scala premiere in 1826 and it is only recently that Le Corsaire has returned to the company’s repertoire. This production’s overall staging is somewhat traditional and based on a production staged and choreographed by Konstantin Sergeyev. There is a great deal of virtuoso dancing, and stagers of Le Corsaire exercise the prerogative of including the traditional Le Corsaire Pas de Deux (danced only by Medora and Ali) or the Pas de Trois (danced by Medora, Ali, and Conrad).

Le Corsaire tells the story of happenstance when Medora and Gulnare are sold to be part of the Pasha’s entourage but the leader of a pirate band, Conrad, falls in love with Medora and takes her to his own pirate lair. This is where Lankendem is persuaded by Birbanto to betray Conrad, and is involved in a plot to kidnap Medora. Conrad follows in pursuit to the Pasha’s palace and executes a plan to free Medora and they escape on a ship. Throughout the ballet there is lots of dancing and presents a challenge for all of the principal dancers to dance their way through their roles and act through them as well.

Holmes chose to include the original version of the Pas de Trois in Act II of Le Corsaire which makes this well-known piece of choreography the showstopper that it is but also much more effective in conveying the story that is told in this ballet.

There were no guest artists in the principal roles in this livestream presentation which included Nicoletta Manni as Medora, Timofez Andrijashenko as Conrad, Martina Arduino as Gulnare, Marco Agostino as Lankendem, Antonino Sutera as Birbanto, and Mattia Semperboni as Ali. All of the dancers were equal to the requirements of their roles which included both dramatic and comic acting.

Luisa Spinatelli designed complicated costumes and scenery for La Scala Ballet’s production of Le Corsaire.

La Scala with all of its resources included in this production of Le Corsaire results in a unique production of this ballet – and presenting an opportunity to see this rarity in the 19th century classical repertoire.

La Scala Dances Rudolf Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty

April 18, 2020

By Mark Kappel

As more and more ballet companies wish to have a connection with their audiences – and expanding their audiences at the same time – the ballet companies have been rising to the occasion in these difficult times to make available livestreams of past performances without any fee.

La Scala is now making available a livestream of their June 26, 2019 performance of Rudolf Nureyev’s The Sleeping Beauty. This was significant as Nureyev staged his first version of The Sleeping Beauty for La Scala in 1966, and the production has been danced by La Scala on an intermittent basis. This version is a revival that took place in 1994 which was staged by Florence Clerc and has new designs by Franca Squarciapino.

As in all of his productions of the 19th century classic Nureyev had a particular view of the narrative content, and including sequences in them that he knew from his experience dancing in these ballets with the Mariinsky Ballet, the Royal Ballet, and others. What is notable in this production of The Sleeping Beauty is that narrative elements are effectively conveyed through mime sequences even though some of the characters are not as finely drawn as they should be.

The Lilac Fairy is played as character part, Carabosse is played by a female dancer – in this performance effectively portrayed by Beatrice Carbone – but all of the familiar elements of the story and well-known choreographic sequences are included. And this particular production of The Sleeping Beauty is grand in many dimensions in terms of designs, and the number of dancers.

The principal dancers dancing the roles of Aurora and the Prince were superbly effective from a technical point of view, presenting the proper style that is required for the choreography, and also acted well. There is a story to be presented even though it is only a fairy tale.

Polina Semionova danced the role of Aurora in praiseworthy technical style and the effectiveness of expressing the wonderment that a 16-year-old might experience at all that was happening around her. Semionova was ably supported by her Prince, Timofey Andrijashenko. Also, a highlight was the Bluebird Pas de Deux danced by Vittoria Valerio as Princess Florine and Claudio Coviello as the Bluebird.

At times Nureyev’s musicality can be inconsistent and erratic but this production was conceived, designed, staged, and danced in the grand manner defining how The Sleeping Beauty should be danced and presented.

Stuttgart Ballet Dances John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet

April 17, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Stuttgart Ballet has been making available performances of its repertoire in livestreams during the corona virus crisis, and recently presented a livestream of a recent performance of John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet.
Cranko originally created a first version of his Romeo and Juliet for La Scala in 1958 and then created a new revised version for the Stuttgart Ballet in 1962.

What distinguishes Cranko’s version of Romeo and Juliet from others is the organic choreography he included, the earthiness of Italy in the characterizations of the major players in the story, and telling the story in a concise manner. The ballet is trimmed to its essentials and the story is told at a fast pace while also including the important plot points. Besides the economic language of the choreography, Cranko’s infused his version of Romeo and Juliet with theatricality, and is also enhanced by Jurgen Rose’s stunning and authentic costumes and scenery.

The Stuttgart Ballet’s dancers bring a great deal to the performances of narrative ballets in general and in this livestream of Romeo and Juliet, that is emphasized by Elisa Badenes and David Moore who beautifully dance and portray the doomed and tragic young lovers with Robert Robinson bringing the villainous Tybalt some humanity -- and there is the witty quirky interpretation of Mercutio by Marti Fernandez Paixa.

In this particular livestream of Romeo and Juliet there is the luxury casting of Marcia Haydee as Juliet’s Nurse, Reid Anderson as Lord Capulet, and Egon Madsen as Friar Laurence.

In the past the National Ballet of Canada, the Joffrey Ballet, the Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, the Washington Ballet, and the Pennsylvania have been the North American ballet companies which have given Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet a special place in their repertoire. But otherwise is rarely performed in this part of the world. Therefore, this livestream is a wonderful opportunity to see Cranko’s vision of Shakespeare’s tragic tale.

Stuttgart Ballet Dances Mayerling

April 11, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Continuing its series of live streams, on April 11th, 2020 the Stuttgart Ballet presented Kenneth MacMillan’s intriguing full-length ballet, Mayerling, which had its company premiere on May 18, 2019. Created for the Royal Ballet in 1978, Mayerling has not been danced by all that many other ballet companies because of its requirements for a large company of dancers – and the subject matter is a bit obscure.

Mayerling concerns itself with the real-life double suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and his mistress, Baroness Mary Vestera. This real-life political drama is heightened by the many women in Rudolf’s life, the kind of meaty and dramatic story that the Stuttgart Ballet has been known best to perform.

Mayerling’s score is an orchestration of music composed by Franz Liszt – orchestrated by John Lanchbery – and for this production there are new designs by Jurgen Rose.

What distinguishes Mayerling as a ballet is the fact that the focal role in the ballet is that of a male character – a role that combines drama, emotional swings, and dancing that reflects the stature of the leading character, Crown Prince Rudolf.

Mac Millan was at his best in these full-length dramatic ballets – particularly in choreographing the emotionally driven pas de deux – which culminates in this ballet with the double-suicide at Rudolf’s Viennese hunting lodge, Mayerling - but in its progression from the very beginning of the ballet. Also, Mayerling requires a large company of dancers as more often not there is pageantry and processions.

At this performance the role of the moody and despondent Crown Prince Rudolf was played and danced by Friedeman Vogel and the partner in the suicide pact, Mary Vestera, was played and danced by Elisa Badenes. These two dancers had enormous chemistry – and was apparent in all of the Stuttgart Ballet’s dancers in this ballet, the dancers had an affinity for MacMillan’s meaningful choreography.

This ballet also has many other exciting female characters including Empress Elizabeth (danced by Miriam Kacerova), Countess Larisch (dance by Alicia Amatriain), Crown Princess Stephanie (danced by Diana Ionescu), and Mitzi Caspar (danced by Anna Osadcenko). This performance was also highlighted by the cameo appearances of Marcia Haydee in the character role of Archduchess Sophie, and Egon Madsen in the role of Emperor Franz Joseph I. This was all a luxury of casting.

As the Stuttgart Ballet hasn’t performed in New York in years, this live stream presentation of Mayerling was an opportunity to see company’s dancers and the current repertoire that the Stuttgart Ballet has acquired in recent years.

Pride and Prejudice

April 10, 2020

By Mark Kappel

During this difficult time period when theatres and other performing arts venues are closed and not available to audiences, there have been arts organizations in the United States and Europe that have used the technology at hand to live stream performances and make them freely available to worldwide audiences.

From December 4, 2019 through January 4, 2020 Theatre Works Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, California presented a new musical version of one of Jane Austen’s classic novels, Pride and Prejudice, and with the cooperation of Streaming Musicals presented this musical based on Austen’s comic novel in a virtual premiere on the evening of April 10, 2020 through live stream technology.

On hand for this virtual premiere were co-hosts, Julie James, Laura Osnes, and Beth Leavel adding to this special event which also included interviewing cast members and members of the creative team for this musical.

This great novel has been adapted into films, television adaptations, stage adaptations, and ballets in the recent past. This version has been authored by Paul Gordon who has provided the music, the lyrics, and the book adaptation for this musical version of Pride and Prejudice – Gordon having already adapted other classic novels including Emma, Daddy Long Legs, and Jane Eyre to the musical stage. Also, an important member of the creative team is director Robert Kelly who guided this production to the stage.

As typical of the subject matter of many Austen novels, you are taken back to the Georgian period in England where women were admired but were not necessarily respected for their intelligence and competence by their male counterparts – and must depend upon husbands to support them in life. Also, the women are often wronged by men, and the classes – both economic and aristocratic – are at war with each other.

In Pride and Prejudice Austen has woven a tapestry of plot twists and has developed characters one can identify with and become close to. The focal point of the story is the up and down again relationship of Elizabeth Bennet, who comes from a family of modest means, and Mr. Darcy, a romantic figure of the British aristocracy – and both have an arc in the story where they evolve in understanding each other despite of pride and prejudice often getting in the way.

Gordon has focused on the important events in telling the story of the eccentric but forthright Bennet family with Elizabeth Bennet acting as the narrator of her own story. One follows her rocky road in finding a marriage partner which is infused with Austen’s wit and how these estimable characters break through social conventions.

There are many notable and outstanding performances by the cast members of Pride and Prejudice including the earnest performance of Mary Mattison as Elizabeth Bennet, Justin Mortelliti as Mr. Darcy, Lucinda Hitchcock Cone as Lady Catherine, Taylor Crousore as Mr. Wickham, Brian Herndon as the bumbling Mr. Colins and Travis Leland as Mr. Bingley.

What can’t be emphasized more is that this was an opportunity to see the premiere of a new musical performed and presented by a respected American regional theatre, and kudos to Streaming Musicals for making this presentation happen.

Teatro Colon Dances Swan Lake

April 9, 2020

By Mark Kappel

An intriguing livestream opportunity came up with the April 5th, 2020 performance by the Teatro Colon Buenos Aires of Mario Galizzi’s production of Swan Lake. The Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires has an enviable history and currently this ballet company is directed by former American Ballet Theatre ballerina, Paloma Herrera.

This production of Swan Lake is based on the Marius Petipa/Lev Ivanov production but Galizzi has also inserted several theatrical conventions that are incorporated into most Russian productions of Swan Lake – and those conventions come from Vladimir Bourmeister’s landmark production of Swan Lake staged for the Stanislavsky Theatre Ballet.

Similar to Soviet productions of Swan Lake, Galizzi has also included the intrusive character of the Jester (danced by Emanuel Abruzzo) who provides comic relief, but also in this production, provides details of the narrative. Throughout this production the narrative is emphasized. Contained in this production of Swan Lake is the clever inclusion of a mysterious and elusive vision of Odile who appears and disappears from behind Von Rothbart’s cape during the Act III national dances – visually depicting Siegfried’s confusion between his ideal love, Odette, and his seducer, Odile, who has been disguised to look like Odette, and who succeeds in securing Siegfried’s vow of love. Also, in this production Odette and Siegfried end their lives being drowned in the lake, and are joined in the afterlife.

Besides Abruzzo, who successfully pulls off the pyrotechnics assigned to his character, Dalmiro Astesiano, brings to life the mysterious and cunning Von Rothbart, which is as much of a dancing part as a character part in this production.

Nadia Muzyca as Odette/Odile and Juan Pablo Ledo as Siegfried follow a sophisticated and understated path in portraying and dancing their characters. These dancers did not provide a flashy performance of these roles, but more subdued, which fit the general atmosphere and purpose of Galizzi’s production of Swan Lake.

This livestream presentation of the Teatro Colon’s production of Swan Lake provided an opportunity to see a ballet company that tours rarely, and I hope will provide free international access to its future livestream presentations.

Stuttgart Ballet Dances The Sleeping Beauty

March 25, 2020

By Mark Kappel

In an effort to make livestream feeds of performances available to worldwide audiences, the Stuttgart Ballet is offering a performance of Marcia Haydee’s The Sleeping Beauty which was given its world premiere in 1987, and presented at this performance in a revised version which was premiered in 2019.

The Stuttgart Ballet had danced a production of The Sleeping Beauty staged by Rosella Hightower – which was performed in New York – and then later this new production staged by Marcia Haydee after Marius Petipa which was performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Although Haydee’s production borrowed elements and staging from Hightower’s version, Haydee colored her version of The Sleeping Beauty in darkness and mystery – although her 2019 revision does return to a more traditional approach to this well-known 19th century classic.

The Sleeping Beauty tells the tale of Aurora who becomes the victim of the evil fairy, Carabosse, when Carabosse is not invited to Aurora’s christening. Carabosse vows to kill her on her 16th birthday she pricks her finger on a spindle – but the Lilac Fairy saves the day by reassuring all that Aurora will sleep for 100 hundred years and not be killed. She would be awakened by a Prince – and it is the Lilac Fairy who searches out that Prince when the time is right. The story is a classic one about good triumphing over evil.

In the course of telling the story, there are magnificent moments of classical ballet choreography including the set pieces of the Rose Adagio in Act I, the Vision Scene in Act II, and the Wedding Celebration in Act III.

Haydee’s production is notable for its amplifying the role of Carabosse who seems to be omnipresent throughout the ballet, and is portrayed in a more sinister fashion than in traditional productions of The Sleeping Beauty. Taking on this role in this performance was Jason Reilly who was appropriately sinister and frightening.

The third act divertissements include Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, Ali Baba and the Jewel Fairies, the White Cats, Puss n’ Boots and Little Red Riding Hood, and the Bluebird and Princess Florine, the culminating Grand Pas de Deux danced by Aurora and her Prince, and everything about this production is enhanced by the sumptuous designs by Jurgen Rose.

But it was in the actual performance of this ballet that the Stuttgart Ballet puts its best foot forward with the elegant Elisa Badenes as Aurora, and Friedemann Vogel as the Prince, and the floating on air performances of Agnes Su and Adhonay Soares da Silva in the Bluebird Pas de Deux.

This livestream performance – available on the Stuttgart Ballet’s web site – is an opportunity to see a ballet and a performance that would only be seen if you visited Stuttgart.

Bavarian State Opera Ballet Dances Jewels

March 22, 2020

By Mark Kappel

During this time period when the world is sheltering in place, arts organizations all over the world are making available free livestreams and video-on-demand performances. Among them was the Bavarian State Opera Ballet in Munich, Germany, which presented a livestream performance of George Balanchine’s Jewels on March 22, 2020.

The Bavarian State Opera Ballet has performed only once in New York – back in 1993 – and is now directed by Igor Zelensky, who had spent a portion of his dancing career with the New York City Ballet.

This particular performance of Jewels was that of the performance on April 11, 2019 and featured international guest artists.

When the New York City Ballet presented the world premiere of George Balanchine’s Jewels in 1967 it was considered – and still is considered – a major artistic achievement. Balanchine created a ballet in the neo-classic style that was a full-length abstract ballet only themed by the costume and scenery designs dominated by three tones of precious jewels. Balanchine was inspired by seeing such precious jewels in the window of Van Cleef & Arpels here in New York, and was also inspired by the ballet styles prominent in the early and late 19th centuries in Europe and his own brand of neo-classicism upon pursuing his choreographic career in the United States. An added enhancement in the creation of Jewels was how Balanchine was inspired by the music he chose for the ballet – creating a unique full-length ballet – without narrative or a story.

The first act of Jewels is Emeralds, which is inspired by the Romantic ballet of the early 19th century, and is choreographed to music composed by Gabriel Faure. As a reflection of Balanchine’s homage to this time period, in the choreography there are allusions to Giselle and La Sylphide.

Emeralds is led by two principal couples (in this performance danced by Prisca Zeisel with Emilio Pavan, and Jeanette Kakareka with Henry Grey) with a Pas de Trois, here danced by Antonia Mcauley, Vera Segova, and Dmitri Vyskubenko. As what is often named, the Walking Pas de Deux, Kakareka glides over the stage supported by her partner in the style of La Sylphide. After the culminating finale, all of the principal and soloist dancers offer a reverence to the period style.

Rubies follows choreographed to jazzy music composed by Igor Stravinsky – with choreography having an American edge and humor. The cast was led by New York City Ballet principal dancer, Ashley Bouder, with Osiel Gouneo as her partner – with Prisca Zeisel as the solo girl. Bouder and Gouneo had a wonderful playful banter between them and also a great deal of flair.

Ending Jewels is Diamonds, an homage to the Imperial Ballet in Russia at the end of the 19th century and danced to movements of Tchaikovsky’s Winter Dreams symphony. With allusions to The Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda and Swan Lake, the choreography evokes the grandeur of the period and also reflects a similar tone that Balanchine also created in other of his neo-classic works including Theme and Variations and Symphony in C.

Reflecting the necessary grandeur were the principal couple of Alina Somova and Vladimir Shklyarov.

For most ballet companies the Balanchine repertoire is an acquired taste and may not always be mastered. However, it is a worthy experiment in seeing how each company puts it personal stamp on this ballet and the interpretation of this ballet.

This production of Jewels was staged by Ben Huys, Patricia Neary, and Elyse Borne, and represented the final version of Jewels that Balanchine had re-staged for the New York City Ballet. For good reasons Jewels has become a staple of the repertoires of international ballet companies.

Scottish Ballet Returns to the Joyce Theater

Joyce Theater

March 10, 2020

By Mark Kappel

It took quite a few years for the Scottish Ballet to makes its New York debut and for that debut the company performed at the Joyce Theater in 2017. This return engagement at the Joyce Theater is from March 10-15, 2020, and unlike the repertoire for the company’s last New York engagement the repertoire is purely contemporary and modern.

The Scottish Ballet is presenting a double bill of cutting edge works collectively entitled, This Is My Body – which is the subtitle for one of the pieces performed as part of this program.

Opening this double bill was Sibilo, choreographed by Sophie Laplane, a member of the Scottish Ballet, who was appointed the company’s resident choreographer early this year. Created for 8 dancers, Sibilo is a comic and whimsical work choreographed to music composed by electronic DJ Alex Menzies.

The choreography is carefully plotted up to and including the twitching by the male dancers, and the intricacies of taking off and putting on the male dancers’ jackets, and the tandem movements by dancers in duets. Two of those duets started out with the couples peeling off from a group of dancers and were developed – but developed only briefly.

Laplane’s choreography is intricate, and replicated often in different segments of the piece. Overall Sibilo is an enjoyable showcase for choreographic craft which provided a needed balance on this double bill.

In contrast was the United States premiere of Angelin Preljocaj’s MC14/22 (Ceci Est Mon Corps) choreographed to a sound design by Tedd Zahmal. Inspired by Chapter 14 Verse 22 from The Gospel of St. Mark – The Last Supper -- when Christ breaks bread with his disciples and reveals his fate.

This piece for 12 male dancers depicts Christ’s story with the ritualization of washing bodies, showing affection, and meting out cruelty. The emotions are expressed in ensemble movements which are repeated but often lack the power and theatrical punch they might have had if the choreography had been more focused and pointed – and the cruelty presented seemed to be more emphasized than the inspirational moments.

The setting for Preljocaj’s biblical interpretation was a stage initially filled with steel and glass tables, and the male dancers were costumed in black skirts which seems to be the typical attire for male dancers in modern pieces in recent decades. Preljocaj’s choreographic vocabulary was executed at a slow pace and also strategized – all provocative.

As an audience member I felt I was intruding in rather than observing Preljocaj’s piece.

In this double bill there weren’t any pointe shoes in sight, and the pieces that were danced needed more focus and perhaps some editing. But notably both pieces were wonderfully danced by the members of the Scottish Ballet.

This was definitely a different aspect of its artistic personality that the Scottish Ballet is presenting in its current New York visit which is worth the effort to see and experience.

Ballet Vlaanderen Makes Joyce Theater Debut

Joyce Theater

March 3, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Better known in this part of the world as the Royal Ballet of Flanders, Ballet Vlaanderen is making its Joyce Theater debut from March 3-7, 2020.

Founded in 1969, and celebrating its 50th anniversary, Ballet Vlaanderen had represented itself as a classical ballet company performing versions of the classics as well as the works of European contemporary ballet choreographers.

However in the intervening years the company’s repertoire has been transformed and with the company now currently directed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, who took over the directorship in 2015, the company’s repertoire is now closer to the modern dance idiom than ballet. It was with this new artistic vision in mind that the company is representing itself during this New York engagement.

There were three dance pieces presented on this program opening with Akram Khan’s Kaash with choreography described as a merger of contemporary and Kathak dance. This piece with a libretto of sorts by Anish Kapoor represents a vision of Shiva which is also supported by the musical compositions by Nitin Shawhney.

Kaash is a Hindi word for “if” which conjures many possibilities. This ensemble work was open to question as the curtain went up while the audience was being seated with a lone male dancer on the stage with his back to the audience. The lights go down, and then up again, and Khan moves forward with his choreographic thoughts as he has created a ritualistic, energetic and exuberant series of ensemble dances with patterns that are simple and some that are complicated. But every dancer is integral in this work which moves at a fast pace. However this energetic dance comes to an abrupt halt within the final minutes – as the focus is primarily on one male dancer who dances in one spot on the stage – and then the piece ends. It seemed as though Khan miscalculated the ending.

The cast of Claudio Cangialosi, Brent Daneels, Daniel Domenech, Matt Foley, Lara Fransen, Claudia Gil Cabus, Zoe Hollinshead, Mikio Kato, Philipe Lens, Ruka Nakagawa, Nancy Osbaldeston, Astrid Tinel, Shane Urton, and Nicola Wills danced Kaash with the appropriate energy and filled the stage with that energy.

Cherkaoui was represented with a reinterpretation of a well-known work as titled, Faun, inspired by Vaslav Njinsky’s Afternoon of a Faun as a pas de deux. Choreographed to Claude Debussy’s familiar music, Nitin Sawhney is also a collaborator in channeling Debussy’s music. Here Cherkaoui has represented the themes in Afternoon of a Faun as a modern-day couple finds each other in a forest landscape, and in their attraction are constantly moving to the audio scape that is the foundation for this new interpretation of Afternoon of a Faun. On the stage was virtuoso dancing by cast members Philipe Lens and Nicola Wills which had much to be admired.

Concluding Ballet Vlaanderen’s program was Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue, a creation of Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite. Pite’s piece is a series of ten duets – divided among five dancers – Matt Foley, Lara Fransen, Philipe Lens, Teun Van Roosmalen, and Nicola Wills.

The duets were danced in a somber, dim, and dangerous atmosphere with both menace and despondency hovering over the dancers. Pite defines the mood and atmosphere in her choreography but her ideas did not seem to be developed to their final conclusions.

All of the works on Ballet Vlaanderen’s program would have had more impact if their beginnings, middles, and endings were more defined. However the dancers danced these works with earnest commitment and one is intrigued by Ballet Vlaanderen’s renewed artistic vision.

Bolshoi Ballet Dances Swan Lake

Symphony Space

February 27, 2020

By Mark Kappel

As part of Symphony Space’s series of ballet cinema screenings this season, the Bolshoi Ballet was represented with its production of Swan Lake on February 27, 2020.

The Bolshoi Ballet’s production of Swan Lake is a unique production of a 19th century classic from the Soviet era. Yuri Grigorovitch, choreographer and former artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet, staged this production in 1969 and revised this production in 2001. It has been danced by the Bolshoi Ballet for all of these years and has found a permanent place in the company’s repertoire.

This is not a traditional production of Swan Lake in that Grigorovitch has carefully made changes – moving music from one act of the ballet to another, The Evil Genius (as Von Rothbart is named in this production) has a major dancing role in the production as well as the added character of the Fool (as the Jester is named in this production), and the ballet has an ambiguous ending. The production is also danced in two parts, is streamlined – there is no scenic design representation of a lake -- and even with the narrative presented in a way that is not detailed, oddly it is easy to follow the plot even with its revisions.

Swan Lake is the story of the enchanted Swan Queen, Odette, who only appears in human form at night and is under the spell of The Evil Genius. Upon meeting Prince Siegfried near a lake, Odette is encouraged that Siegfried’s vow to love that the spell might be broken. However The Evil Genius disguises his daughter, Odile, to look like Odette and during the celebration where Siegfried is to choose a bride, Siegfried is fooled by Odile, and in thinking she is Odette, he swears his love to her, dooming Odette to a life as a swan. Unlike other Soviet era productions of Swan Lake that have happy endings, this revision ends with The Evil Genius taking control of Odette and Siegfried is left on stage to ponder his future.

This production is also conspicuous for its reduction of mime to tell the story, abstraction and impressionistic scenery in which a lake is not defined, the Evil Genius seems to be negative alter ego of Siegfried, the national dances are led by a princess who dances the choreography in pointe shoes, and Grigorovitch has also rechoreographed the variations in the Black Swan Pas de Deux and the entire fourth act of the ballet.

But this is a living and breathing production of Swan Lake. Besides Tchaikovsky’s enduring score, there is a great deal of dazzling and virtuoso dancing provided by the Bolshoi Ballet dancers. This is a ballet that the Bolshoi Ballet’s dancers to appear at their best.

In this performance the roles of Odette/Odile are danced by Olga Smirnova, poetic and solemn as Odette and sizzling as Odile, and the role of Prince Siegfried is danced by Jacopo Tissi, elegant as the Prince and an excellent partner, with Egor Gerashchenko as The Evil Genius, who held his own in his characterization and in his virtuoso dancing.

In this production Siegfried dances the Act I Pas de Trois and, in this performance, Tissi was complimented well by Daria Khokhlova and Elizaveta Kruteleva in dancing this virtuoso set piece. Also notable was Alexei Putinlsev as The Fool.

As always in so many of these Bolshoi Ballet cinema screenings conductor Pavel Sorokin brought out the best in Tchaikovsky’s symphonic ballet score.

City Center Encores Presents Mack and Mabel

City Center

February 22, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The City Center Encores first presentation of the new season is Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel, a gem of a musical, which hasn’t been seen on a New York stage since its original Broadway production in 1974. The City Center Encores is presenting performances of Mack and Mabel from February 19-23, 2020.

With a brilliant score by Jerry Herman and what has been described as a problematic book by Michael Stewart, the story presented in Mack and Mabel is that of the unhappy and tragic relationship between moviemaker Mack Sennett and one of Sennett’s protégées, Mabel Normand.

Presented in this musical are the glory days of the beginnings of the silent movie industry at Keystone Studios – the home for many silent film stars and the ensemble of the Keystone Cops -- which is also the backdrop for the burgeoning relationship between Mack Sennett and one of his stars Mabel Normand, which was not destined for a happy ending.

Pictured in Mack and Mabel is the workaholic and narcissistic Mack Sennett, who as a Svengali, transforms Mabel Normand – a waitress from Flatbush – into one of the great comedic stars of the golden age of silent movies. Their relationship, to begin with, is not perfection, and is worsened when Normand and Sennett drift apart as the kind of films they wished to make diverged.

Mabel is attracted to rival director, William Desmond Taylor, who provides her with opportunities to show off her dramatic talent but at the same time she willingly descends into a life controlled by alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately a life that Sennett might have had a hand in as pills enabled Normand to fulfill Sennett’s demands on her in making movies at a ridiculous and rapid pace.

Eventually Normand’s life spiraled downward at a point in her relationship with Sennett and she died of tuberculosis in 1930.

This is a bittersweet love story which is reflected in Herman’s score and Stewart’s book.

Without an overture to set the tone Mack and Mabel opens in the abandoned Keystone Studios where, Sennett, hard on his luck ponders the memories from his illustrious career and his relationship with Mabel Normand in flashbacks.

Starting from 1938 and looking back, Sennett remembers when Keystone Studios was founded, its move to Hollywood, his great successes, and how eventful his meeting with Normand had been and his regrets about how the relationship fell apart. In the closing moments of Mack and Mabel Sennett’s regrets are overpowering as he watches excerpts from Normand’s silent films – and Mack and Mabel doesn’t have a happy ending.

Although Mack and Mabel was not a hit in New York, it was in London with its original London production premiering in 1995 which featured a revised book. Mack and Mabel has been viewed as a musical with promise, a wonderful score, but has never seemed to evolve into a musical that might be worthy of a fully-staged revival. This City Center Encores presentation of Mark and Mabel has proved the doubters wrong.

In 2018 City Center Encores teased us with two highlights from Mack and Mabel as part of its Hey Look Me Over revue with performances of two songs from Mack and Mabel, “Look What Happened to Mabel” and “Movies Were Movies”.

And in those performances, and in this full concert version, the roles of Mack Sennett and Mabel Norman are being played by Douglas Sills and Alexandra Socha who give sympathetic and vocally powerful characterizations of these tragic lovers. These are “star” performances.

Just as notable were the performances of Lili Cooper as Lottie Ames, Ben Fankhauser as Frank, and Michael Berresse as William Desmond Taylor.

Other highlights from Mack and Mabel’s score – besides the aforementioned “Look What Happened To Mabel” and “Movies Were Movies” – include “I Won’t Send Roses”, “Tap Your Troubles Away”, and “Time Heals Everything”.

Director/choreographer Josh Rhodes unfolds the story of Mack and Mabel at a quick pace with appropriate dance numbers that also contribute to the narrative. Michael Stewart’s book, with revisions by Francine Pascal, is flawed in some places but does have many wonderful moments.

Jerry Herman’s music transports one – especially in the entr’acte before the second act – and a fitting tribute is when the orchestra plays that entr’acte and three portraits of Herman appear who seemed to be watching over the City Center Encores’ presentation of Mack and Mabel.

With Rob Berman as musical director helping to make this musical sing as well, I think that Jerry Herman would be happy and feel that City Center Encores did right by him in presenting Mack and Mabel with such care and joy.

Bob Avian – A Dancing Man

By Mark Kappel

Choreographer Bob Avian, who collaborated with Broadway legend Michael Bennett on his many successes on Broadway – and Avian achieving success on his own, tells his story in Dancing Man – A Broadway Choreographer’s Journey, with his writing partner Tom Santopietro, published by the University Press of Mississippi.

Although not his first job on Broadway, as he was a dancer first, Avian begins his book with his experience assisting Michael Bennett as an associate choreographer on the musical, Coco with music by Andre Previn, book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and starring Katherine Hepburn, who as it turned out couldn’t sing note nor dance a step. Coco was meant to be a musical recreation of the life of celebrated fashion designer Coco Chanel, and Coco proved to be a distressing, perplexing, frustrating trial by fire. And what was learned was that you do the job the best as you can – hope for the best – but show up and learn from the people you are working with.

Avian’s interest in dance began early in his life, then off to college in Boston where he also studied at the Boston Ballet School.

Avian traces his life in the theatre as he worked in summer stock, a dancer in Broadway musicals on tour. then on to dance captain positions and as assistant stage manner while working with Broadway luminaries – learning from them – preparing him for his experiences working with Michael Bennett in Henry Sweet Henry, and in many other musicals including the mega hit, A Chorus Line.

Quoting from Dancing Man, Avian’s perspective on his life in show business, and words to live by – “My philosophy about my career was simply to go through any door that opened up. If there’s an opportunity lying in front of you, take it. Don’t be scared of change. You never know where it will lead.”

That philosophy took Avian through his experiences working as a choreographer for television variety shows industrial shows, musicals that were break throughs in his career including finding some financial security after working on the Broadway musical, Promises, Promises.

Avian worked on many of the landmark and ground breaking musicals in the last few decades, including Company, Seesaw, Follies, A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, and Ballroom. On these projects he worked with Michael Bennett – and also was an astute observer of the experiences that Bennett had when he expanded his career to direct plays.

However Avian has had many successes on his own including the London production of Follies, Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard, Martin Guerre, Putting It Together with both Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett, and he also had the opportunity to re-visit past successes including revivals of A Chorus Line and Miss Saigon.

There are also wonderful stories about his work with the luminaries of Broadway, the sometimes frustrating and rewarding daily routines of working behind the scenes, and also the landmark musicals that he was involved with or worked on. All are fascinating look backs on his work, and also the craziness that he has come to terms with.Avian is incredibly frank in regard to his memories, his ups and downs, and the people he worked with, and he doesn’t have too many regrets which makes Dancing Man an interesting and entertaining read.

In spite of the unpredictable life that one has to face working in the Broadway world, Avian’s book is a reflection that he took life as it came, learned what he could and was able to apply what he learned in his future work which extended his career and also allowed him to be a major collaborator and creator on some of the most important musicals of Broadway’s golden age – and it is worth the time to read about his journey.

The Great White Way – Race and the Broadway Musical – Second Edition

By Mark Kappel

One of the great American art forms, the Broadway musical has been examined and analyzed as unique as it is in the book, The Great White Way – Race and the Broadway Musical, by Warren Hoffman and published by Rutgers University Press. In his book Hoffman examines the Broadway musical from the point of view of how American racial attitudes have been and are reflected in the plots, and its characters.

In his preface to this musical, Hoffman states that with more and more juke box musicals, and musicals based on popular movies, being produced on Broadway that we find ourselves facing backwards rather than facing forward which doesn’t leave much opportunity for change and less opportunity for creators of color to tell their new stories aimed at a new generation of theatergoers.

Hoffman believes that race identity is skewed along with the evolvement of so many social norms. American musicals are seen as a powerful and influential art form because musicals are a method of change in the society at large – while at the same time that musicals which reflect and teach progressive change have not been commercial successes.

Another aspect of the influence of musicals is that musicals are now part of America’s musical landscape. Even though New York City is the American theatrical hub musicals reach many more people on tour than in New York City – as well as in movie musicals and film versions of well-known Broadway musicals.

Musicals that deal with racial issues and the lives of outsiders are mentioned in this book and they include South Pacific, Flower Drum Song, West Side Story, Show Boat, and A Chorus Line. They are analyzed from different perspectives emphasizing the fact that musicals are creatures of their time or in some instances trapped by their time when it comes to depicting characters. Nostalgia or denial provoke Hoffman’s opinions in this book.

There have been other musicals that have reflected ethnic cultures including The Wiz and Raisin – which are examined in this book – and also what had been a trend of all-black casts in well- known musicals such as Hello, Dolly!, Guys & Dolls, and The Pajama Game – and what their effect might have been at the time – and non-traditional casting in general.

Efforts to respond to racial and ethnic stereotypes in Broadway musicals have resulted in revised versions of musicals including Flower Drum Song, Annie Get Your Gun, and a recent revival of Oklahoma among them as well as revising musicals to speak to a new generation.

There have been musicals produced on Broadway that have had subject matter that reflect diversity but it is Hoffman’s analysis that Broadway has yet to fully embrace diversity or taking risks. It seems that the non-profit theatre companies are more likely to take such risks.

Hoffman’s analysis is worth pondering.

Andrew Lloyd Webber Unmasked

Paper Mill Playhouse

February 15, 2020

By Mark Kappel

From January 30 -March 1, 2020 the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey, is presenting the world premiere of Unmasked: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

In this retrospective “concert for the theatre” Lloyd Webber has collaborated with Richard Curtis, best known as a screenwriter – particularly for his screen play for Love, Actually -- in creating a self-tribute, focusing on songs from his well-known musicals. The piece has also been guided by director/choreographer Joann M. Hunter.

The “Unmasked” in the title is the name of Lloyd Webber’s memoir of the same name, and in this presentation Lloyd Webber provides straight forward and honest comments, and anecdotes about his songs from his musicals -- comments that are presented in video interludes often with self-deprecating humor and fascinating facts about his music and others. Lloyd Webber has made the selection of which songs are to be sung, in their contexts and out of their contexts, although many of these songs come from his internationally successful musicals and can speak for themselves.

Along with Stephen Sondheim, Lloyd Webber is the master of the sung-through musical and his many contributions to musical theatre are included in this theatrical presentation – representing his wide range as a composer.

The format of this concert for the theatre is very similar to the format of the Roundabout Theatre Company’s tribute to Stephen Sondheim, Sondheim on Sondheim, with the video clips providing interesting and revealing thoughts about Lloyd Webber’s music, his prospective about his musical theatre pieces, and how they fit into the self-exploration of his work.

The songs are performed in the form of medleys – some of which are themed by the musicals they come from – some groups of songs that are themed using the songs’ lyrics. In most instances the songs are performed complete – some in dramatic context – and there were a few less well-known songs also included.

An appealing and talented group of singer/actors perform unique interpretations of Lloyd Webber’s music and among the highlights are Mamie Parris’ interpretations of “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” (from Evita) and “Memory” (from Cats), Rema Webb’s interpretations of “With One Look” and “As If We Never Said Goodbye” (from Sunset Boulevard) and Sunset’s title song sung by Jeremy Landon-Hays, Pie Jesus from Requiem as sung by Alex Finke, Mauricio Martinez in his dramatic and well-sung performance of “Gethsemane” from Jesus Christ Superstar, and the excerpts from The Phantom of the Opera sung by Alyssa Giannite and Branson Norris Murphy.

Also included is music from Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Aspects of Love, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, and the melodious, “Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life)” which was composed for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Notably clever is the presentation of one of the themes in Lloyd Webber’s Variations being played by cellist, Marta Bagratuni, who is manipulated by two dancers – a very clever dance element.

There is also a new song as the Act Two opener,” Here We Are on Broadway”, in which many of Lloyd Webber’s iconic characters are seen in their iconic costumes. And in the finale a second new song “The Song You Don’t Know” – a satiric song about the hope of yet another block buster hit by Lloyd Webber closing the show, and curtain calls are taken to “Stick It To The Man” from Lloyd Webber’s most recent Broadway hit, The School of Rock.

As it would be in any tribute or survey of a composer’s work is not only what was included but also what wasn’t included. Not every moment is well linked to each other or fits well in this presentation but it is performed by a very talented cast. Even if you are not a Lloyd Webber aficionado, Unmasked is an informative and entertaining “concert for the theatre”. You may make some musical discoveries and you may also appreciate that much more the contributions that Lloyd Webber has made to musical theatre as we know it.

Grand Horizons

Second Stage Company – Helen Hayes Theatre

February 5, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Second Stage Company is currently presenting a new play by Bess Wohl, Grand Horizons, which had its premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival last year. And the laughter will continue at The Second Stage Company only until March 1, 2020.

Grand Horizons is a clever and well-performed comedy bringing some hilarity to this Broadway season.

Grand Horizons is the story of Bill (played by James Cromwell) and Nancy (Jane Alexander) who have had what seems to be a 50-year ideal marriage. But soon after moving to a retirement community, Grand Horizons, Nancy announces that she wants out of the marriage.

Yet that perfect marriage is reflected in the first scene of the play where breakfast is cooked and served in a choreographed ritualized manner, and you might imagine that something is wrong rather than being right.

As the play develops one should have seen all of the warning signs that this marriage might have been in trouble – including regrets, affairs, and the lack of communication which the family members hadn’t noticed as they absorbed themselves in their careers, and in themselves, and they only saw the perfect parents, and responsible citizens.

Events are put into full drive as this shocking news turns the family upside down with this couple’s two grown sons Brian (played by Michael Urie) and Ben (played by Ben McKenzie) seemingly the most confused and bemused as the details are revealed. And the comedy is how these two sons cope with the obvious as well as the scenes in which Ben’s pregnant wife Jess (played by Ashley Park) who attempts to intervene in this family meltdown -- and the surprises provided by a few other eccentric outsiders, Brian’s new friend Tommy (played by Maulik Pancholy) and Bill’s latest fling, Carla (played by Priscilla Lopez).

Among the revelations are that Bill and Nancy have their own aspirations – Bill wanting to become a stand-up comedian, and Nancy who wants to have some freedom and space.

And what a surprise that a senior couple sharing 50 years of marriage would want to seek out re-discovery, independence, and want to start a new chapter in their lives. That is the premise for this intelligent and funny comedy.

Grand Horizons is not a rollicking comedy or even a door-slamming farce – but has enough humor in it to call it a comedy played masterfully by an excellent cast who make every role important and well-drawn. There are bits of The Golden Girls and Seinfeld that are antecedents but Grand Horizons is particularly effective in stressing the humanity in this family which is in crisis – real or imagined.

Under the excellent split-second direction by Leigh Silverman, Jane Alexander and James Cromwell as the senior citizen couple, as their two sons, Michael Urie and Ben McKenzie, along with Maulik Pancholy, Ashley Park, and Priscilla Lopez, they interact and play in this playground or romper room as everyone tries to cope with this incredible surprise – and delivering the merriment that the text of the play requires.

Plays such as Grand Horizons used to grace the stages of Broadway theatres on a regular basis in past decades – Neil Simon was one of the masters in writing such plays – but they have been long absent and sometimes everything old becomes new again. Although Grand Horizons may be a bit of nostalgia in terms of style and substance, such plays offer wonderful entertainment, an opportunity to laugh and to laugh at ourselves.

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

City Center

January 31, 2020

By Mark Kappel

For the third time Matthew Bourne’s ground-breaking production of Swan Lake is being performed at in New York – this time at the City Center from January 30-February 9, 2020.

Bourne’s production was premiered in London in 1995 and opened a Broadway engagement in 1998. This engagement by New Adventures is a return engagement to the City Center where Swan Lake had been performed in 2010. Seen on January 31, 2020, Bourne’s vision remains clear, highly theatrical – and thought provoking.

Bourne patterned his adaptation of Swan Lake’s plot with an overlay of the original ballet and the then current scandals within Great Britain’s Royal Family.

In this production of Swan Lake, the Prince (danced by James Lovell) is here seen as a timid man dominated by his controlling mother, the Queen (played by Nicole Kabera). The Prince has dreams about a male swan and pressures on him by his mother results in his contemplating suicide.

However before taking action the Prince comes upon the human of the male swan he has dreamed about who is escorted by an all-male corps de ballet of menacing swans, and the Prince comes back to life. The Swan (played by Matthew Ball – a guest artist from the Royal Ballet) dominates the Prince in a similar way as his mother.

This is where the story begins and all is played against the landscape of popular culture in Great Britain. Although he has a girlfriend (played by Katrina Lyndon) the Prince is attracted to the Swan perhaps trying to free himself from both his mother and royal obligations.

Far more surprises reveal themselves in the second part of this new vision of Swan Lake, when the male swan appears in a different role as The Stranger who arrives at the ball and attempts to seduce every woman in the ballroom – including the Queen. However just as in traditional productions of Swan Lake, there are princesses who are seeking The Prince’s hand in marriage from Hungary, Spain, Italy, and France, Romania, Germany, and Monaco.

The Prince feels betrayed by The Stranger’s behavior and falls into madness – and the ending will remain a mystery for the tragedy to be revealed when you have seen this unique production of Swan Lake for yourself.

The domination of the male swans is the focal point of this production of Swan Lake, and this unconventional approach is what makes Bourne’s re-interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet a unique dance and theatrical experience.

Beyond the novel configurations of the male swans in ensemble dances exhibiting them as exotic birds, there is also a wonderful parody of a classical ballet which just as comic as the reactions of the royal ballet to it. Bourne uses Tchaikovsky’s score as a film score and choreographs appropriately to it to integrate the dramatic moments of choreography and Tchaikovsky’s music. There is also a great deal of humanity and satire in this version of Swan Lake as well.

Bourne’s concept is enhanced by Lez Brotherston’s unique and appropriate costumes and scenery – and the performance of Bourne’s Swan Lake is also enhanced by the company’s dancers in diverse roles.

Matthew Ball is an elegant Swan, and sinister as The Stranger, and Andrew Monaghan successfully portrays the timid Prince – and Nicole Kabera is suitably manipulating as the Queen. Katrina Lyndon as the Prince’s Girlfriend often steals the show as an amusing party girl and is used to emphasize the fact that she is not a potential royal.

Now twenty-five years after its premiere, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake still has resonance and universality.

Bolshoi Ballet’s New Production of Giselle

Symphony Space

January 28, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Symphony Space is not only a host for theatre cinema screenings but also for cinema screenings of the Bolshoi Ballet. One of the most awaited new productions that has been premiered by the Bolshoi Ballet during the 2019-20 season is Alexei Ratmansky’s new production of Giselle which was screened at Symphony Space on January 28, 2020.

Giselle was premiered by the Paris Opera Ballet in 1841 with choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. Through the course of the 19th century Giselle was ultimately choreographed in a version by Marius Petipa for the Mariinsky Ballet in Russia which serves as the model for present day productions of Giselle.

Ratmansky has revived many of the well-known 19th century classics. He has made an effort to research past productions of these classics which is revealed in his restagings.

The question was how traditional this production of Giselle might be and what details, that have been lost over the years, would be included in this new production of Giselle. The answers to those questions were revealed when Ratmansky’s production of Giselle was premiered by the Bolshoi Ballet on November 21, 2019, and this cinema screening made it possible for people the world over to see Ratmansky’s new interpretation of Giselle.

Giselle’s libretto was adapted by Theophile Gautier and Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-George inspired by stories by Heinrich Heine and Victor Hugo. Giselle is the story of love and redemption but also a reflection of its times when women were placed on pedestals and were desired by all, but most often, were wronged by men. Giselle is about the abandonment of a young peasant girl by an aristocrat who is also engaged to a noble lady. The story is told through the eyes of the Romantic era which includes ghosts and spirits.

Giselle is a young peasant girl who is being romanced by a peasant boy, who is actually an aristocrat, Albrecht, who is affianced to the noble lady, Bathilde. Albrecht’s ruse is discovered by Giselle’s admirer, Hans, and that revelation pushes Giselle into madness and she dies heartbroken.

It is in the second act that Giselle is revealed as a spirit joining a community of spirits of abandoned brides, the Wilis, who wreak revenge on men in a forest in the dark of night. Upon Albrecht paying his respects at Giselle’s grave, Giselle’s spirit is revealed and she protects Albrecht from the avenging Wilis by encouraging him to dance until he is rescued by the sunrise.

One of the notable of revisions that Ratmansky has made is that the mime has been restored and was consistently acted by all of the principal dancers down to the members of the corps de ballet.

Ratmansky’s Act I was quite traditional. The significant changes came in the Act II’s forest scene. Ratmansky tried to create some theatrical effects that didn’t succeed all that well. One of them was having the Queen of the Wilis ride a scooter type vehicle to give the allusion that she was flying, and opening the act with a group of rustics – similar to the rustics in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream – who do not contribute much to the narrative except they seem to be drinking a lot and are near Giselle’s grave. When Hans arrives on the scene he explains why he is visiting Giselle’s forest grave and also encourages them to leave the forest as they might be victims of the Wilis.

Ratmansky has also restored the fugue – which he has choreographed. The Wilis dance an ensemble dance attempting to persuade Giselle to thwart her efforts to save Albrecht from being one of their victims.

Giselle’s spirit appears and disappears using the theatrical devices of trap doors which is clever stagecraft. However Ratmansky’s ending is an enigma. Albrecht breaks down crying in front of Giselle’s spirit which seems to be dissenting into a mound of earth very far from her grave – and it seems that Bathilde and her entourage intrude on Albrecht’s coming to terms with his grief and Giselle’s forgiveness – and the final tableau only infers that Albrecht keeps his promise to marry Bathilde but not explaining why.

Although Robert Perdziola’s designs were meant to be reverent to those by Alexandre Benois, they are impressionistic in perspective.

For the dancers dancing the principal roles in Giselle, the challenge is portraying these complex characters and also executing stylized choreography from the 19th century. These roles were meant to be interpreted which makes it interesting to see many different dancers to put their stamps on these roles, and in this production they are also imposed upon to fill in the narrative gaps.

Olga Smirnova in the title role is a sympathetic and compelling Giselle – dancing fluidly and stylishly and always in character. Artemy Belyakov as Albrecht is just as compelling as Smirnova’s Giselle. There was great chemistry between them.

Dancing the role of Hans (Hilarion in other productions) can be a thankless role but Denis Savin makes Hans human and one is convinced of his love of Giselle, and Angelina Vlashinets made a commanding and steely Queen of the Wilis.

Particularly the corps de ballet in the second act of this ballet is a character unto itself, and this is where the Bolshoi Ballet especially shone.

This performance of Alexei Ratmansky’s new production of Giselle as danced by the Bolshoi Ballet presents a different prospect of this classic ballet, and if anything else well worth viewing in order to see the Bolshoi Ballet dance so magnificently.

Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation

Theater at Saint Peter’s

January 25, 2020

By Mark Kappel

From January 17 through February 16, 2020 the York Theatre Company is hosting a limited engagement of Gerard Alessandrini’s Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation.

Alessandrini has cleverly been lampooning and harpooning the best of Broadway in his hilarious and pointed revues for several decades, and Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation takes aim at recent Broadway offerings as well as individual Broadway stars.

Setting the tone for Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation we see an out-of-town family deciding which Broadway musical to see – of concern is having a 13-year-old in tow and being aware that many of the current Broadway offerings may not be age appropriate for him as highlighted in “God, I Wanna See It 2019”.

For this edition of Forbidden Broadway Hadestown (featuring Immanuel Houston as an elegant Andre de Shields), Moulin Rouge, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, Tootsie, Beetle juice, The Prom, the Irish drama, The Ferryman, and Harry Potter are among the theatrical presentations that are targeted by Alessandrini.

Two of the more pointed parodies are the recent revival of Oklahoma! which is rechristened as “Woke-lahoma!”, and Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, re-christened in a parody of “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” from Kiss Me Kate transformed as “Brush Up Your Yiddish” in which there is the prediction that many classic musicals will be revived and performed with translations in languages other than English.

Alessandrini’s darts are accurate and pointed, but done so with affection -- and although it helps to be familiar with the musicals being satirized, it is not a requirement in order to enjoy Alessandrini’s barbs.

Alessandrini has collaborated with choreographer Gerry McIntyre and the wonderful cast of Immanuel Houston, Aline Mayagoitia, Chris-Collins-Pisano, and Joshua Turchin – with Fred Barton on piano.

Understudy Katheryne Penny took over the role she was covering as well as a few songs usually assigned to another cast member in the age old show business tradition that the show must go on. She was particularly notable as Renee Zellweger portraying Judy Garland.

13-year-old Joshua Turchin laments that he is an “Evan Has-Been” lamenting the future of the young recruits playing the title role in Dear Evan Hansen, and shows his talent for comedy in a parody from the musical, Tootsie. Immanuel Houston portrays Andre de Shields in a parody of Hadestown – and as Jennifer Holiday in Dream Girls. Aline Mayagoitia lampoons Bernadette Peters, and Chris Collins-Pisano has his comic moments portraying Bob Fosse, Harold Prince, Lin Manuel Miranda, and as Alex Brightman in Beetlejuice.

All I can do is hope that Alessandrini continues his tradition of writing and directing future versions of Forbidden Broadway, and also guiding the wonderful cast members who also keep up the Forbidden Broadway tradition.

For now whether you are a musical theatre fan or not, one should take the opportunity to see the latest edition of Forbidden Broadway.

Royal Ballet – The Sleeping Beauty

January 24, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Continuing its series of cinema screenings, the Royal Ballet will be presenting to American audiences one of the most beloved ballets of the 19th century classics – The Sleeping Beauty.

The Sleeping Beauty has been a signature work for the Royal Ballet having danced many different versions over the years – but all inspired by a production staged for the company by Nikolai Sergeyev – with traditions passed on from generation to generation.

The Royal Ballet’s current production of The Sleeping Beauty, which premiered in 2006 to honor the Royal Ballet’s founder, Ninette de Valois, is a collaborative effort supervised by former Royal Ballet artistic director Monica Mason, and Christopher Newton, with contributions by Frederick Ashton, Anthony Dowell and Christopher Wheeldon, This version of The Sleeping Beauty was inspired by the landmark Oliver Messel production that was performed by the Royal Ballet shortly after World War II. It was performed as part of an American tour which was a “hit” and established the Royal Ballet as a major international company. For this production of The Sleeping Beauty the original Messel designs were replicated under the supervision of Peter Farmer.

The Sleeping Beauty is based on Charles Perrault’s version of this popular fairy tale and in allegorical fashion the story represents the triumph of good over evil.

The Prologue of The Sleeping Beauty celebrates the christening of Princess Aurora and this celebration is marred by the arrival of the unhappy Carabosse who was not invited to this important event in the life of this fairy tale kingdom. Considered a major insult Carabosse casts a spell over Aurora that she may prick her finger on a spindle and die on her 16th birthday. Although Carabosse arrives in disguise at that birthday celebration to fulfill her plot, the Lilac Fairy’s power provides that Aurora will sleep for a hundred years and does not die. Aurora is to be awakened by a handsome prince – Prince Florimund. The Lilac Fairy conjures a vision of Aurora, and Prince Florimund follows the Lilac Fairy where Aurora is sleeping and awakens her. The ballet ends with a sumptuous and joyous wedding celebration in which many well known fairy tale characters participate.

This ballet is notable as it was Tchaikovsky’s second ballet score and his first in which he collaborated with the master choreographer, Marius Petipa. For both The Sleeping Beauty is considered their own masterpiece. Although the ballet tells the story of The Sleeping Beauty it is also a homage to Petipa’s benefactors – the Czar and the Russian aristocracy. The ballet is also noted for its ballet blanc vision scene in the second act and the many superb variations, pas de deux, and set pieces which provide major challenges for the principal dancers.

The Sleeping Beauty that is being screened had a surprise cast change in that Lauren Cuthbertson who was to have danced Aurora was injured and Fumi Kaneko took over the performance partnered by Federico Bonelli, with Gina Storm-Jensen dancing the role of the Lilac Fairy.

Both Kaneko and Bonelli danced with elegance and poise – and also with charm -- and exhibiting their ballet technique. Kaneko handled the technical challenges in the Rose Adagio with ease, and Bonelli was an excellent partner.

As The Sleeping Beauty is a company piece one had the opportunity to see many other notable performances such as Yuhui Choe as the Fairy of the Golden Vine (also known as the “Finger Variation”), Yasmine Naghdi and Matthew Ball in the Bluebird Pas de Deux exhibiting their great virtuosity, James Hay, Mayara Magri and Anna Rose O’Sullivan as Florestan and his Sisters, and Kristen McNally portraying the scary and compelling Carabosse.

This cinema screening of The Sleeping Beauty is a wonderful opportunity to see the Royal Ballet in its element dancing its signature ballet with an excellent cast, with sumptuous costumes and scenery – and there is also the wonderful score by Tchaikovsky.

As with all past and future Royal Ballet cinema screenings, more information about them can be obtained at rohcinematickets.com.

NT Live/Old Vic: All My Sons

Symphony Space

January 21, 2020

By Mark Kappel

Symphony Space played host for another NT Live and London’s Old Vic collaboration – in a cinema screening of a revival of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons – on January 21, 2020 – a play that wrestles with problems that are current and universal – and a production that premiered in London in 2019.

The tale that Miller’s tells in All My Sons is based on a true story of a plot involving a defense contractor conspiring with army inspection officers in approving defective aircraft engines for military use. The investigation during the Harry Truman presidency resulted in three Air Force officers being convicted of neglect of duty.

All My Sons takes place after World War II focusing on the complex intrigues of a family living in the Midwest. Joe Keller, the patriarch of the Keller family, is exonerated after he knowingly shipped defective aircraft engine parts to the military during World War II causing the deaths of military pilots. Keller placed the blame on his partner, Steve Deever, who is serving time in prison.

In defending his innocence in what is a crime of war profiteering, Joe rationalized that he did what he did for the financial survival of his family.

This production of All My Sons opens with newsreels of life and lifestyles in the United States in the 1940’s .Taking place in the Keller’s backyard, Joe and Kate Keller seem to have a life that most people would consider to be a success – the American Dream – with a more than modest home, a thriving business, and having had two sons. However their elder son, Larry, was lost in action during World War II.

During this idyllic afternoon Joe Keller’s past secrets catch with him, and open up wounds from the past unraveling the lives of the Kellers, and the Deevers.

Kate Keller is convinced that her elder son, Larry, was still alive but comes to grips with reality when her younger son, Chris (played by Colin Morgan) reveals his intentions to marry Larry’s fiancée Ann Deever (played by Jenna Coleman) who has her own secrets to reveal as she has kept to herself Larry’s fate for three years – and this marriage plan reveals to Kate Keller what has actually happened to her son.

It is Ann’s brother George (played by Oliver Johnstone) who reveals the past’s secrets after a visit with his father in prison – bringing along baggage that further fuels the conflicts between the Keller Family and the Deever Family, and the collateral damage that comes along with it including the proposed marriage of Chris and Ann.

In one afternoon the Kellers’ American Dream crashes and collides with their hopes and rationalization, and turns upside down the lives of all of the members of those feuding families – a metaphor for the comprises that have been made and the ambiguities of achieving the American Dream.

To his credit director Jeremy Herrin has brought out the relevancy of All My Sons to our times, warts and all, in a transparent and clear manner.

Playing Joe and Kate Keller are American actors Bill Pullman and Sally Field adding an earthy naturalness to this production – and both give absorbing and involving performances as they cope with the revelations and secrets that are contained in Miller’s intriguing play.

However the entire cast presents their characters in an honest manner and communicate their hopes, their fears, and disappointments that are revealed through the play.

Miller grappled with the same themes in one of his masterpieces, Death of a Salesman, and there are also allusions to Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Into Night.

Miller’s All My Sons tugs at the heartstrings, provokes an audience, and questions the American ideals of decency and mutual respect – and also reveals how these questions can divide a nation.

One cannot ignore that the themes in Miller’s All My Sons are universal and ever present. And this production of All My Sons heightens and clarifies these themes.

The Shanghai Ballet Offers A Second Cast in Swan Lake

David Koch Theater

January 18, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Shanghai Ballet offered a second cast in its series of performances of Derek Deane’s production of Swan Lake at the David Koch Theater on January 18, 2020.

Deane’s production offers the opportunity for a variety of interpretations of the principal roles in Swan Lake to be seen and be successful – and seen even a more positive manner because of the high level performances of the company’s dancers in featured and corps de ballet roles from the Cygnets in Act II to the national dances in Act III – all danced with polish, clarity, and spirit.

Observing individual and different interpretations of classic roles one can discover more details in a particular production of Swan Lake, and in this performance of Swan Lake, that is what resulted.

Dancing Odette/Odile was former San Francisco Ballet principal dancer, Maria Kochetkova, and Dawid Trzensimiech danced the role of Siegfried, a Polish born dancer who danced with the Royal Ballet and joined the Romanian National Ballet in 2014 – and is currently a First Soloist of the Polish National Ballet.

Kochetkova’s Odette/Odile has been seen in New York when she danced these roles with American Ballet Theatre. And in this production, as in American Ballet Theatre’s production, her Swan Queen remains aloof – particularly her performance of Odile is stately, cold, and evil. At this performance more narrative details were reveals as she responded to the interpretation of Siegfried as danced by the polished and elegant Trzensimiech. Trzensimiech’s Siegfried was empathetic, royal, and elegant, and both Kochetkova and Trzensimiech exhibited a clean exactitude in their dancing.

Also in this second performance of this production of Swan Lake it is obvious that the company’s corps de ballet is a character unto itself particularly emotionally involving in Act 4 as they appear in the mist and are solemnly joyful when Rothbart’s spell is broken.

As the Shanghai Ballet has many productions of the 19th century classics in its repertoire, I hope that the company will be returning to New York very soon and will dance one of the classics during such an engagement.

The Shanghai Ballet Dances Swan Lake

David Koch Theater

January 17, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The Shanghai Ballet, making its debut at the David Koch Theater from January 17-19, 2020, is the third major Chinese ballet company to be performing in New York in less than six months’ time.

The Shanghai Ballet, now under the direction of Derek Deane, danced a production of a full-length 19th century classic, Swan Lake, which was given its company premiere by the Shanghai Ballet in 2015. Although audience favorites visiting ballet companies do not consistently program the 19th century classics for their New York engagements. In the last few years, we have seen more visiting ballet companies include Swan Lake in their New York engagements which is a true test of a ballet company’s standard and is a showcase for all of the dancers in the company.

There have been several different productions of Swan Lake that have been performed in New York recently including those of the Hungarian National Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, and the Mariinsky Ballet – as well as our local resident ballet companies, American Ballet Theatre, and the New York City Ballet.

Derek Deane’s production of Swan Lake had been premiered by the English National Ballet in 1997, with designs by British designer Peter Farmer. This production has its British roots and is welcome considering the many productions of Swan Lake that have been performed in New York have had Soviet revisions or ornamentation, and it is refreshing to see the ballet in its traditional form without any extra decoration or a happy ending. Tchaikovsky’s ballet is, after all, a tragedy.

The story of Swan Lake focuses on Odette who has been transformed into a swan by Rothbart, an evil magician. Siegfried, after being commanded to seek a bride by his mother, finds his way into a forest near a lake, where Odette appears in human form. Odette and Siegfried fall in love at first sight. At a ball where Siegfried must select a bride, there is a surprise visitor, Rothbart with his daughter Odile disguised as Odette – who subsequently fools Siegfried , and Siegfried breaks his undying vow of love to Odette. Siegfried seeks out Odette at the lakeside and as it would not be possible for Odette to break Rothbart’s spell, Odette and Siegfried decide to leap into the lake – and drowning together – and they are joined in eternal love. In so doing Rothbart’s spell is broken and his power is destroyed.

Overall Deane’s production of Swan Lake is a traditional one which also has a clear narrative and recent revisions including Siegfried’s solo at the end of Act I, while also including the charming comic dance of Siegfried’s tutor and a young peasant girl, and the traditional White Acts, and the national dances, and Black Swan Pas de Deux in the Ballroom Act.

Where Deane’s production differs from others is that it has a magically staged prologue during which Odette is transformed from human form to a swan by Rothbart, and in this particular production the Shanghai Ballet is performing Swan Lake with 48 swans in its corps de ballet. As described it is a “grand production” which is reverential and traditional. But also filled with interesting dramatic details including the mime passages which push forward the narrative.

For the performance on January 17,, 2020 the roles of Odette/Odile and Siegfried were danced by Shanghai Ballet principal dancers, Qi Beingxue and Wu Husheng. Their Act II Pas de Deux was poetic and eloquent, and their Black Swan Pas de Deux was a wonderful display of virtuoso dancing. Beingxue meet the challenges of dancing the dual role Odette/Odile, and notably Wu Husheng was a sympathetic prince and a strong partner. Beyond their excellent dancing, as actors, they also conveyed the story superbly, in what was an involving performance.

As a company the Shanghai Ballet represented itself well in all of the soloist and corps de ballet roles in this production of Swan Lake dancing to animated musical tempi, and in the moment, successfully communicating the story in Swan Lake. This was a performance of Swan Lake that this classic ballet should have.

Royal Ballet’s Coppelia

Symphony Space

By Mark Kappel

The Royal Ballet’s holiday season has featured the ballet, Coppelia, rather than the annual performances of The Nutcracker. Coppelia is an equally appealing ballet and is seldom performed. Also the ballet is part of the Royal Ballet’s rich heritage. Fortunately the Royal Ballet’s production of Coppelia will now be seen in cinema screenings in the United States in the coming month and further information can be obtained at rohcinematickets.com.

Coppelia premiered at the Paris Opera Ballet in 1870, choreographed by Arthur St. Leon with a commissioned score composed by Leo Delibes. The story is culled from one of the many stories written by E.T.A. Hoffman – and the story is a reflection of the time when prototypes of robots were the focus attention at exhibitions in Paris – and then there was Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Coppelia was performed in Paris against the backdrop of the Franco-Prussian War and because even male dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet were conscripted for the French Army, the role of Franz was first danced by female dancer.

As with many of the 19th century classics, Coppelia was rechoreographed by Marius Petipa in his own version and presented at the Mariinsky Ballet in 1884 – but seemed to be a ballet that went out of fashion rather quickly and it is only in the last decade or so that Russian ballet companies are revisiting this entertaining classic ballet.

The Royal Ballet production has its roots in a production staged in 1954 by the Royal Ballet’s founder, Ninette de Valois, based on the Petipa version that was staged by Nicolai Sergeyev although the credit for this production also notes contributions by Lev Ivanov and Enrico Cecchetti among the choreographers. In Coppelia there is a perfect meshing of the music, and the choreography as the story is told in the dancing and also with mime. And also this production of Coppelia is dressed up with Osbert Lancaster's colorful designs.

The story of Coppelia is relatively simple, Swanhilda and Franz seem to be destined for marriage but Swanhilda questions Franz’s affections when Swanhilda sees him flirting with a girl on a balcony that is part of the house of an eccentric toymaker, Dr. Coppelius. Franz takes up his infatuation with this mysterious girl climbing a ladder up to the balcony. Swanhilda and her friends decide to take Franz to task for his flirtation and also play a trick on Dr. Coppelius after Swanhilda finds out that the girl sitting on the balcony is actually a mechanical toy. Swanhilda takes on the dress and movement of the mechanical doll, and fools Dr. Coppelius into believing that his beloved creation has been transformed into a human being.

Ultimately all is forgiven and all ends happily. But the fun is getting to that point. Delibes’ score is danceable and tuneful, and Coppelia lives up to its roots as a comic ballet.

The Royal Ballet presented some of its top dancers in the principal roles, Marianela Nunez dancing role of Swanhilda with spirit and suitable bossiness, Vadim Muntagirov is superb as a confused and love sick Franz, and Gary Avis is sympathetic as the doddering and wronged Dr. Coppelius, in a ballet that not only requires sparkling dancing but also comic timing and melancholy when appropriate. Also notable was Claire Calvert dancing the featured role of Aurora in the joyous wedding celebration in Act III of Coppelia.

The Royal Ballet, as a company, is seen at its best in this glorious production of Coppelia.

NT Live: Old Vic’s Present Laughter

Symphony Space

January 14, 2020

By Mark Kappel

NT Live’s cinema screenings include performances not only produced by the National Theatre but also performances produced by many other prestigious London institutional theatre companies.

On January 14, 2020 NT Live and Symphony Space hosted London’s Old Vic production of Noel Coward’s Present Laughter.

Present Laughter is often referred to as Noel Coward’s autobiographical play and is filled with self-deprecating humor, light comedy, and flare that were Coward’s signatures.

Present Laughter also showcases a panoply of odd characters – with each character unique in its own way.

In the Old Vic’s production of Present Laughter, Matthew Warchus has directed a rollicking revival of this play with a gender swap that informs the text and also presents a different slant on the characters in the play.
The focal point of this revival is Andrew Scott’s tour de force performance as the infamous egomaniacal actor Garry Essendine.

In Present Laughter Coward sets the scene in the 1930’s with Essendine readying himself for a theatrical tour in Africa, and finds his life becoming more complicated and out of control as he sorts out his relationships with his intimate and professional friends. Essendine pouts, prances about, and orders people around like a demented general. All of which is Essendine’s form of his own entertainment as he deals with his own loneliness.

Although the time period is in the 1930’s this revival has been updated in many respects for a contemporary audience.

In Present Laughter Coward examines the cult of celebrity, and self-indulgence although Essendine’s cutting remarks are recognized by his friends and members of his entourage with a wink and a nod. Essendine has the DNA of both Napoleon and Peter Pan as he rides roughshod over his friends. One cannot overemphasize that Essendine is an insufferable monster. Noted in the program notes – and revealing -- is that Essendine’s surname is an anagram for “neediness”. He is lonely and vulnerable for all of his bluster.

The aforementioned gender swap is that Essendine’s seducer, Joanna, is now swapped with Joe (played by Enzo Cilenti) which provides a unique balance to Essendine’s relationships with his estranged wife, Liz (played by Indira Varma) and his devoted secretary, Monica Reed (played by Sophie Thompson) – with all three of these roles played by all of the actors with suitable off and on ennui. The gender swap simultaneously changes the tone of Coward’s light comedy but also reveals ambiguities in the play – and also makes the play more complicated.

In Present Laughter, Coward presents a parade of assorted characters that march through Essendine’s drawing room including the rather eccentric Roland Maule (played by Luke Thallon), an aspirant playwright and a bit of a stalker, Helen Lyppiatt, a member of Essendine’s management team (played by Suzie Toase), Daphne Stillington, an off the wall fan of Essendine who is hoping for a theatrical career (played by Kitty Archer), Fred, the trusted servant, (played by Joshua Hill), Morris Dixon, Essendine’s manager (played by Abdul Salis), and Liza Sadovy playing both Miss Erikson and Lady Saltbun.

Scott’s performance as Essendine is the dramatic engine in this production of Present Laughter, a role he sparks with the energy of a firecracker, and the comic timing and the frantic tone of an agitated John Cleese.

However overall this revival of Noel Coward’s Present Laughter is a fresh and clever one injecting even more humor and life in one of Coward’s most amusing plays.

NT Live: Hansard

Symphony Space

January 11, 2020

By Mark Kappel

The NT Live cinema screenings have found a welcome home at Symphony Space in New York City, and on January 11, 2020, NT Live presented the cinema screening of the National Theatre’s production of Simon Woods’ Hansard which had premiered in London in 2019.

The definition of Hansard is the official report of all parliamentary debates and as you can well surmise that Woods’ play that juxtaposes political, and through the course of the play, Hansard, marital themes. Performed as a two-hander and the story told in only 90 minutes without an intermission, Hansard is a display of a strategic battle – politically and reflecting marital dynamics of a relationship of a politician and his wife – revealing their secrets, regrets, and problems as they finally erupt.

Hansard is set in 1988 at a time when Robin Hesketh (played by Alex Jennings), a junior Tory cabinet minister returns to his idyllic Cotswold home in his constituency, where he finds all is in chaos. This confrontation is set against the landscape of the many changes occurring in the United Kingdom during the period when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister. Thatcher promoted the removal of financial regulations, battled to the death with coal miners, and unions, and seemed to expose a lack of empathy and intolerance that had been in hibernation.

Everything comes to a boil when Hesketh’s wife Diana (played by Lindsay Duncan) begins her reunion with her husband and it doesn’t take long before verbal sparring is initiated -- evolving into a major marital and political battle as secrets are revealed – including secrets about Britain’s governing class.

Diana focuses on the 1988 Local Government Act which required that local authorities could not respond to homosexuality in a positive fashion – a particular concern of Diana’s that is revealed in the final moments of the play providing Hansard with a major emotional and dramatic wallop. But this is only one of Diana’s complaints among them being denied an opportunity to pursue a career of her own.

As the acerbic banter evolves in Hansard it is suggested that Hesketh might get down from his high horse and his worship of Margaret Thatcher – suggesting that Thatcher might have been persuaded to change her political views if she had seen a performance of Hedda Gabler, and read fiction so she might exhibit some empathy for the people she was serving.

In a world upended by political battles, embarrassments and scandals, Hansard focuses on what seems to be the never-ending chaos and uncertainty in the world we live in – although that chaos and uncertainty appears in a ghost-like fashion every decade or so.

In Hansard, Woods’ words reveal our current political landscape and the stress it has put on everyday life and relationships.

Simon Godwin has directed Hansard with respect for the text – and enhances the text. He successfully brings out the best in Duncan and Jennings making what could have been merely a talkfest rather than the political and emotional drama that it is. Hansard is sometimes predictable. However watching the master actors, Duncan and Jennings simply act triumphs over Hansard’s few flaws.

Fiddler on the Roof – On Tour

State Theatre

December 21, 2019

By Mark Kappel

As one of the presentations of the State Theatre -- in New Brunswick, New Jersey -- Broadway Series, is the national touring company of Fiddler of the Roof which is performing from December 20-22, 2019. This production of one of Broadway’s all-time favorites is based on a Broadway revival that premiered in 2015, with direction by Bartlett Sher.

Fiddler on the Roof is a significant collaboration with a score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, and a book by Joseph Stein. The original Broadway production premiered in 1964, a production with direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins, and since that time most revivals of Fiddler on the Roof have included Robbins’ contributions. Recent Broadway revivals have made changes adjusting to the point of view of different directors while trying to protect the integrity of this much-loved musical and also some reverence to Robbins’ whose influence over Fiddler hovers like a ghost.

In this production Sher makes a few adjustments in telling this story by Sholem Aleichem about the dairyman Tevye and his daughters which takes place in 1905 in the village of Anatevka. Sher’s modern twist is that it opens with a American tourist in appropriate parka who one perceives to be visiting his ancestral village of Anatevka and then transforms into Tevye, the story teller in Fiddler on the Roof – a story which is how generations of people, in no matter what culture, relate to coping with protecting tradition and how tradition might have to evolve with the outside world changing around them.

Also an added aspect of this revival is that Israeli modern dance choreographer, Hofesh Shecter, has fashioned a gloss over Robbins’ choreography with a modern dance and folk dance feel which is in contrast to Robbins’ signature style.

Fiddler tells the story of Tevye’s daughters breaking with tradition as three of them seek out marriage partners on their own without Tevye’s consent, and also Tevye’s friends and neighbors who are coping with pogroms causing disruption and devastation in their village. Ultimately their lives are turned upside down, and they must move from their little village dispersing in different directions to pursue their lives.

Tevye often speaks to God directly – piercing the fourth wall – asking for guidance as he tries to solve the problems of change being adverse to tradition. This is all accomplished with self-deprecating humor as Tevye’s dialogues with God don’t always produce the answers he needs. Tevye ultimately recognize that the passions and feelings between his daughters and their suitors hasten changes in tradition. Some breaks with tradition Tevye reluctantly agrees to and others he rejects.

This story is told through Fiddler on the Roof’s magnificent score which includes “Tradition”, “Sunrise, Sunset”, “If I Were A Rich A Man”, “To Life”, “Matchmaker, Matchmaker”, and “Sabbath Prayer” and enhanced with Sholem Aleichem’s self-deprecating humor and how the Jews living in their village of Anatevka get by with every day miracles, their faith, and having the courage as they struggle through life. They are survivors.

Productions of Fiddler on the Roof ride on the shoulders of the actor who plays Tevye. In this production it is Israeli actor Yehezkel Lazarov (who has in his background being a member of one of Israel’s leading modern dance companies, the Batsheva Dance Company) and is equally matched by Maite Uzal as Golde. Besides having wonderful voices, and perfect interpretations of their characters, they have a wonderful chemistry.

But this production has an embarrassment of riches throughout the cast including the sensitive interpretation of the role of Lazar Wolf by Jonathan Von Mering, Kelly Gabrielle Murphy as Tzeitel, Ruthy Froch as Hodel, Noa Luz Barenlat as Chava, the manic performance of Motel by Nick Siccone, and the sympathetic Perchik of Nic Casaula, and the comic Yente played with a bit of subtlety by Carol Beaugard.

In short this revival of Fiddler on the Roof is provocative and is a crowd pleaser.

Valentina Kozlova’s Dance Conservatory Presents The Nutcracker Winter Suite

Symphony Space

December 20, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Valentina Kozlova’s Dance Conservatory is presenting its production of The Nutcracker Winter Suite at Symphony Space for performances on December 20th and December 21, 2019. As in the past this production has been staged by Valentina Kozlova with the choreography after the original by Marius Petipa and Valery Vainonen, and is being danced by students from the VKDC the Studio which is based in Norwalk, Connecticut.

This presentation is not the full production of The Nutcracker but instead highlights from the ballet beginning with Act I’s Snow Scene and continuing on to the Act II national dances and the Grand Pas de Deux. There is a thread of narrative to link these divertissements together but nevertheless it is a suite of dances from this well-known ballet presenting challenging stage experience for these students.

As always these student dancers rise to the occasion in performance with excellent stage presence, confidence, polish, spirit and joy.

In noting polish and confidence at this performance Hungarian dancer Rajna Removic danced the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy with Justin Valentine as her Cavalier. Both dancers exhibited that aforementioned confidence and polish.

Also notable were Nikita Conn as Clara and Talia Hull as Marie, the Snow Pas de Deux danced by Serena Reed (partnered by Justin Valentine), and Arabian danced by Jillian Schubert.

For those who are familiar with The Nutcracker one can admire the progress that these student dancers have made from year to year, and for first timers it is a wonderful way to be introduced to this classic ballet.

York Theatre Company Celebrates Maury Yeston

Theater at Saint Peter’s

December 4, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The York Theatre Company is presenting the Off-Broadway premiere of a new musical revue celebrating the music of Maury Yeston in Anything Can Happen in the Theater: The Musical World of Maury Yeston, from November 26 through December 29, 2019.

Maury Yeston is being celebrated in this revue noting that his output is select but notable. Yeston has contributed both music and lyrics to Nine, Grand Hotel, Titanic, Phantom, and Death Takes A Holiday, and all of these pieces have a sophisticated and operatic quality – particularly Nine and Titanic which both won Tony Awards for Best Musical.

Director Gerard Alessandrini, author of the many Forbidden Broadway revues , puts the focus on both Yeston’s music and lyrics with the help of the excellent cast of Benjamin Eakeley, Jovan E’Sean, Alex Getlin, Justin Keyes, and Mamie Parris. Also plaudits to Greg Jarrett as musical director.

Included in this revue are several songs being heard for the first time and a song that was written just for this revue – and also integrates songs from Death Takes A Holiday, Grand Hotel, Nine, Phantom, Titanic, The Queen of Basin Street (an unproduced first attempt at a musical stage version of La Cages Aux Folles), In The Beginning and December Song.

The revue opens with “Anything Can Happen in the Theater” in which actors opine about the hazards of working in the theatre. Other highlights included Justin Keyes’ rendition of “Salt n’Pepper”, Benjamin Eakeley’s performance of “Guido’s Song” from Nine, Jovan E’Sean’s performance of “Mississippi Moon”, the performances of Alex Getlin and Mamie Parris of “No Women in the Bible” from In The Beginning, “I Don’t Want To Rock ‘n’ Roll” sung by Alex Getlin Jovan E’Sean, and Justin Keyes, a moving performance of “Unusual Way” from Nine by Mamie Parris, and the full company singing “Godspeed, Titanic” from Titanic.

All of the cast members capture the introverted emotional moments, and also comedic moments in these wonderful songs which were skillfully directed by Alessandrini.

Anything Can Happen in the Theater – The Musical World of Maury Yeston, is an excellent introduction to Yeston’s music – a reflection on Yeston’s varied songs performed by a spirited and talented cast.

Paper Mill Playhouse Presents Cinderella

Paper Mill Playhouse

December 1, 2019

By Mark Kappel

For this holiday season the Paper Mill Playhouse has opened a holiday gift with the stage version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella performed with a new book written by Douglas Carter Beane. This version of Cinderella had been presented on Broadway, not all that long ago in 2013, and the Paper Mill Playhouse is presenting Cinderella from November 20 through December 29, 2019.

Directed by Mark S. Hoebee with a Disney spirit, and with comedic wit, this Cinderella is yet another Paper Mill Playhouse success -- and marvelous family entertainment. All enhanced by the costume designs by William Ivey Long, and the scenery designs by Anna Louizos who are both responsible for a great deal of the magic.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella was envisioned as a television musical, premiering in 1956, which starred Julie Andrews, and has since been seen in other television versions over the years. There have also been multiple stage versions including one for the New York City Opera.

Beane’s interpretation of this musical reflects 21st century norms. Cinderella is not the victim of society or her stepmother, but is an activist of sorts, and she encourages her Prince, Prince Topher, to use his celebrity and his bully pulpit to do what is best for the people of his kingdom – a kingdom with cottages and a few castles, and dragons and other creatures in the forests.

Prince Topher (played by Billy Harrigan Tighe) is an expert in killing dragons, griffins, and giants but is unfamiliar with the everyday life in his kingdom. He is self-involved and easily persuaded by the “influencer” Lord Chancellor Sebastian (played by Christopher Seiber) who is also ruling the kingdom in a sinister manner behind the Prince’s back. Ella (as Cinderella is known here and played by understudy Erin Burniston) is proud of her peasant origins and is not only assertive, she is also her own woman and exceedingly smart. In spite of the production’s updated viewpoint of this vintage tale, there is still the rags to riches story in this imaginative production of Cinderella.

Ella lives with her stepmother Madame (played by Dee Hoty) who is haughty and ambitious, and Ella’s comic stepsisters, Charlotte (played by Angel Lin) who is an outsider trying to fit into society, and resorts to comedy to do so, and Gabrielle (played by Rose Hemingway) who has a closer relationship with Ella, and has a friendship with a local and determined political activist Jean-Michel (played by Andrew Kober).

And then there is the eccentric and mysterious Marie (played by Donna English) who transforms into the Fairy Godmother who makes Ella’s dream come into being with the traditional coach, horses, footman, driver, and the magical costume change from peasant dress to ball gown. And there is a ball when Prince Topher is convinced to seek a bride, complete with Richard Rodgers’ glorious waltzes and waltzing aristocrats swirling on the stage.

However in this version Cinderella doesn’t leave behind one of her glass slippers and after a time-consuming and frustrating search for Cinderella by Prince Topher he invites the ladies of his kingdom to a banquet in the hope that Cinderella would return to the palace. With the help of her step-sister Gabrielle and the Fairy Godmother, Cinderella returns to the palace, reacquaints herself with Prince Topher – and after Jean-Michel has the opportunity to air his grievances to Prince Topher and he swears his love to Gabrielle. This time when Cinderella leaves the palace, she does leave behind one of her glass slippers to enable Prince Topher to find her.

This new approach is presented with Beane’s tongue in cheek humor, sarcasm, wit, and physical comedy. Even telling this tale with this point of view the familiar songs in the score are present including “In My Own Little Corner”, “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago” , -- and as the Fairy Godmother, Donna English’s glorious rendition of “There’s Music In You” – and the penultimate romantic duet, “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?”.

The Paper Mill Playhouse has assembled a cast that can only be described as sensational from the principal roles to those of the supporting roles.

Erin Burniston in the title role portrays the innocence of Cinderella and her assertiveness at the same time – along with a wonderful voice to sing Rodgers & Hammerstein’s music. That also can be said for Billy Harrigan Tighe as Topher who evolves through this musical and becomes a royal for the 21st century. This is a royal couple with excellent voices and chemistry between them.

Outstanding performances come from other cast members in pivotal roles including Donna English as Marie, Rose Hemingway as Gabrielle, Dee Hoty as Madame, Andrew Kober as Jean-Michel, Angel Lin as Charlotte, and Christopher Sieber as Sebastian.
Even as “modern” as this adaptation of Cinderella is, it is partially set in the world of fantasy and reality as pumpkins still turn into coaches, and then there are Cinderella’s glass slippers.

The Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of Cinderella is an exceptional entertainment for all ages and appropriate for any season of the year.

City Center's Evita

City Center

November 21, 2019

By Mark Kappel

For its annual gala presentation the City Center has produced a re-thought and minimalist production of the musical, Evita, an operatic interpretation of the life of Eva Peron, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and book and lyrics by Tim Rice. Now at the end of its November 13-24, 2019 engagement, it is a production that is glorious and a must see.

First conceived as a concept album, Evita, was transferred to the stage for a premiere in London in 1978 with Elaine Paige in the role of Eva Peron, and Harold Prince as director – a production that was transferred to Broadway with Patti LuPone in the title role. Evita was revived on Broadway as recently as 2012. But this presentation of Evita is a re-thinking of this musical – which is still relevant and informative in our time.

Initially set in Argentina in the 1930s, a young Eva Duarte falls in love with a tango singer and persuades him to take her to Buenos Aires to pursue her career and fulfill her professional ambitions. Che, as the Narrator, tells the story of how Eva achieves her ambitions by sleeping her way up the ladder of success becoming a well-known actress.

With the right-wing coup in Argentina in 1943, Eva’s ambitions reach their heights as she attaches herself to the politically ambitious Colonel Juan Peron. The glamour pair succeeds in ensuring Peron’s election as President in 1946 with the Perons espousing a familiar message of nationalism in promoting the “New Argentina”.

In her role as first lady of Argentina, Eva Peron enhanced her position with her charity foundation, her efforts to secure women the vote as part of the adoption of universal suffrage in Argentina (which along with her husband as a power couple, she succeeded in doing in 1947 and casted her first and only vote on her deathbed), a controversial tour of Europe, and even toyed with the idea of running for the Vice Presidency of Argentina. She gives up the latter goal when it becomes known to her that she is suffering from a fatal illness.

Because of Eva’s connection with the “real” people of Argentina and her personal story of being an outsider yet wanting to assimilate into Buenos Aires’ high society, Eva Peron became an icon in Argentina, worshipped and adored, for her efforts to look after the concerns of the average Argentinean, Even though she was politically divisive, and even after her death in 1952, Eva Peron remains an icon to the present day.

Lloyd Webber and Rice give Eva Peron an operatic treatment with a score full of arias and choral pieces that present Eva Peron’s story in the grand manner. They have also created a role requiring an actress with “star quality” to play it.

Opening with “Requiem”, and the familiar “Oh What A Circus”, “On This Night of a Thousand Stars”, “Buenos Aires”, “I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You”, “Another Suitcase in Another Hall”, “High Flying Adored”, “Rainbow High”, to the grand heights of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, and the lamentable, “You Must Love Me”, the score embodies every aspect of Eva’s story – and her emotions.

Director Sammi Cannold – with the assistance of scenic designer Jason Sherwood – has created a stream-lined production of Evita with a view towards authenticity -- while also being an homage to Harold Prince’s original directorial concept.

In this production’s opening number, the stage is strewn with flowers and suspended over the stage is Eva Peron’s iconic “balcony dress”. Then one hears the sounds of a large orchestra. This sets the stage for an epic story to unfold. In an image of resurrection Eva Peron is there to observe the grief of the Argentinean people at her death, is confronted by Che for the divisiveness she had created, and then begin the flashbacks of young Eva Duarte reflecting her ambitions. It is in the midst of those reflections that there is a split-second flash, and the older Eva appears transformed with her confidence and her assurance.

As Eva Duarte climbs the social ladder, links up with Juan Peron, manipulates the media, and is seen rousing the crowds at political rallies, one grasps why Eva Peron became the icon she became in life and death.

Also one can’t help to be reminded that history does repeat itself.

In this production directed by Sammi Cannold, the role of Eva Peron is divided between two actresses, the young Eva portrayed by Maia Reficco and the older Eva by Solea Pfeiffer. That division provides a theatrical convention to observe how Eva matures into the ambitious icon that she became – and this production, coincidentally, also notes the one hundredth anniversary of Eva Peron’s birth.

Solea Pfeiffer gives a “star quality” performance in the title role – glamorous and elegant – and a singing voice that sings out like a bell and a bit of hell-raising. Maia Reficco also has many wonderful moments as the Young Eva, as does Jason Gotay as Che. Just as potent and confident are Philip Hernandez in the role of Magaldi, and Maria Cristina Slye as the Mistress – and a more than able ensemble cast.

This is a well-directed, well-thought-out, and glorious interpretation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Time Rice musical, Evita, which I hope will be seen many more audience members than what this City Center engagement can offer. Can’t emphasize more that this Evita is a must see!

Royal Ballet Dances Triple Bill

By Mark Kappel

The Royal Ballet is presenting a cinema screening in the United States which includes a survey of works commissioned and staged during the 1960’s. This period of time was seen by many as one of the golden ages of the Royal Ballet not only for the range of talent that the Royal Ballet engaged to choreograph new works for the company -- but for the dancers as well. This well chosen triple bill not only evokes nostalgia but is an example of how a triple bill of dance for a ballet company should be thoughtfully chosen with dance pieces to see for everyone in the audience.

Opening the program is Kenneth MacMillan’s Concerto, which MacMillan created for the Deutsche Opera Berlin during his tenure as artistic director of the company, and staged for the Royal Ballet in 1967. Choreographed to Dmitri Shostakovich’s spirited Piano Concerto No. 2, Concerto has often been described as MacMillan’s “Balanchine Ballet”.

MacMillan’s choreographic style here is neo-classic and provides a wonderful display of that style of dancing while at the same having created choreography that responds to Shostakovich’s music. The choreography is stunning in its simplicity. Structured in three movements the opening and closing movements are glorious and energetic, and the second movement is a quiet adagio that is elegiac in quality.

The Royal Ballet dancers were up to all of MacMillan’s challenges in all three movements of Concerto. The first movement is superbly led by Anna Rose O’Sullivan, and James Hay – a bouncy display of energy and virtuoso dancing. The adagio movement is eloquently danced by Yasmine Naghdi and Ryoichi Hirano, and the finale movement is led with spirit by Mayara Magri.

The middle ballet on this program is Frederick Ashton’s Enigma Variations, which Ashton choreographed for the Royal Ballet in 1968. Choreographed to Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Ashton created a biographical dance play which is inspired by Elgar’s music – music having its premiere in 1899 -- and his friends and acquaintances at a British country house gathering as they learn about the delivery of a telegram which describes the upcoming first performance of Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

Enigma Variations, a reflection of its time, focuses on Elgar himself and his intimates as they react to the good news and to each other in fleeting dance solos and mimed dialogues, and enhanced by the beautiful costumes and scenery designed by the masterful designer Julia Trevelyan Oman.

Christopher Saunders portrays Elgar himself, with Laura Morera as the empathetic Lady Elgar with Francesca Hayward as the amusing Dorabella, and Matthew Ball as the jaunty and confident Troyte. All danced with a distinct Ashton flair with the ballet coming to a satisfying end with a rousing finale and photographic tableau.

One of the crowning glories of 19th century era of ballet was Marius Petipa’s last full-length ballet, Raymonda, with its ravishing score composed by Alexander Glazunov. The plot of Raymonda is rather complicated and performing a full-length version of the ballet requires not only financial resources but also human resources.

At this Royal Ballet performance was the reappearance of Rudolf Nureyev’s staging of Raymonda Act III is danced with confidence and in the grand manner by Natalia Osipova and Vadim Muntagirov. All of the soloists and supporting ensemble also bring the necessary elegance that a performance of this ballet requires.

Notable is that the choreography reflects the national qualities and characteristics of Hungary – and a mix with 19th century ballet, and Act III is a wedding celebration which includes beautifully choreographed and danced Hungarian dances, and classical variations culminating in a joyous finale. All enhanced by Barry Kay’s elegant designs.

This is the repertoire that the Royal Ballet performed in New York frequently during the 1960’s and early 1970’s and all of these ballets are welcome returns to the company’s active repertoire.

Cinema screening dates and venues in the United States can be found at rohcinematickets.com.

The Royal Ballet Dances The Nutcracker

By Mark Kappel

This season the Royal Ballet’s cinema screening series includes a screening of the company’s production of The Nutcracker which is an encore presentation. Screenings of The Nutcracker will be seen in the United States on various dates, and the screening dates and venues can be found at rohcinematickets.com.

Peter Wright staged this version of The Nutcracker for the Royal Ballet in 1984 inspired by the research included in a book about Tchaikovsky’s ballets authored by Roland Wiley. Details provided by Wiley’s research is included in this production of The Nutcracker while also in keeping with the important story-telling aspects necessary in any 19th century story ballet and also danced in the spirit of the present day.

The story of The Nutcracker describes the coming of age of Clara, here danced by Francesca Hayward, who is inspired to dream holiday dreams and telling her story about being championed and romanced by a Nutcracker Prince – here named Hans-Peter, danced by Alexander Campbell, who battles an army of mice and takes her to the Kingdom of the Sweets which is ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The audience is taken to the Christmas Party in the Stahlbaum’s home and is entertained by Herr Drosselmeyer who provides magic, fantasy, and gifts, He guides Clara through the Battle of the Soldiers and the Mice, and then on to the Kingdom of the Sweets to observe and participate in the Act II divertissements -- and then awakes from her dream to realize that it might not have been a dream. All of this wonderful story-telling is enhanced by the joy of Tchaikovsky’s music, and the holiday card designs by Julia Trevelyan Oman.

Unique in this production of The Nutcracker is that Clara and her Nutcracker Prince are not mere observers to the divertissements in Act II but also dance in them. They become the heroine and hero in their story.

But what The Nutcracker is about is fantasy and entertainment, and the Royal Ballet’s production combines all of it with superb and stylish dancing.

In this cinema screening the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy is danced in a regal style by Lauren Cuthbertson, which is enhanced by the princely manner of her cavalier, danced by Federico Bonelli, who gives a master class in partnering. Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell are also charming, and there is a depth in the character dancing as exemplified by the performance of Gary Avis as Herr Drosselmeyer.

The Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is a holiday treat.

Colin Dunne In Solo Performance

Jerome Robbins Theater at the Baryshnikov Arts Center

November 14, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Colin Dunne, former star of Riverdance, and a celebrated Irish artist who has been expanding the possibilities of Irish dance, is performing in his own solo piece, Concert, in its American premiere from November 14-16, 2019, in a presentation by the Irish Arts Center at the Baryshnikov Arts Center.

Since leaving Riverdance Dunne has explored all dance forms and in expanding his dance horizons he has embraced modern dance and post-modern dance – and has also expanded his interpretation of music -- which is exemplified in his 50-minute dance, music, and spoken word piece, Concert.

Concert is inspired by the music of Irish fiddle player Tommie Potts who is best known for his 1972 album, The Liffey Banks. Dunne also collaborates here with director Sinead Rushe and composer/sound designer Mei Mercier in Dunne’s virtuoso piece.

Music, and the interpretation of music, is the one of the more important elements in Concert as Dunne’s choreography and performance reacts to an interpretation of Potts’ fiddle playing dancing in barefoot, in sneakers, and ultimately in the shoes traditional for Irish dancing. Dunne’s explores Potts’ unique relationship between music – and its rhythms – with the dance. Potts made the fiddle talk and Dunne’s execution of his own choreography also talks – herein lies the dialogue between Potts and Dunne. And their collaboration creates alchemy.

Technique is evident in Dunne’s performance -- as a different use of his body as well -- but it is the way he connects with the interpretation of the music that makes Concert as original and as unique that it is.

The performance of Concert by Colin Dunne reminds one again that there is a strong connection between a dancer and music – also that the dance experience is also a theatrical experience that entertains an audience and also provokes an audience. In all those aspects, Concert, makes for an engaging and joyous dance event.

Druid’s Richard III

Gerard W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College

November 12, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival is presenting a wide array of programming and is including performances by the Druid, an Irish theatre company, in the American premiere of its production of William Shakespeare’s controversial tragic/comedy, Richard III, in performances from November 7-23, 2019 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College.

Druid was founded by Garry Hynes, Mick Lally and Marie Mullen in 1975 and Hynes is the company’s current artistic director – and is the director of this production of Richard III. Co-founder Marie Mullen participates in Richard III as an actress portraying the dual roles of Queen Margaret and Lord Mayor.

Druid has frequently been seen in New York in performances at past Lincoln Center Festivals and it is fortunate that Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival is continuing the tradition of presenting this company in New York in imaginative theatre productions.

Shakespeare’s Richard III is a play filled with mystery, political intrigue, and political power, and usually put on the list of Shakespeare’s history plays. However there are many comic elements in the play, and also a great deal of irony.

Richard III, himself, has been portrayed in productions of the Shakespeare play about him as a crippled and murderous villain presenting an image in keeping with Shakespeare’s patrons’ point of view of this controversial ruler of England. Richard killed off people who were in his way in terms offering him a path to succeed to the throne of England. He met his demise in what was the conclusion of the War of the Roses in a battle on Bosworth Field at the hands of the Tudor heir, Henry, who became Henry VII. By marrying Elizabeth of York, Henry enjoined the warring families that had caused devastation uniting England and its monarchy – and in establishing the Tudor line that stretched for decades – ending with the reign of Elizabeth I.

To add to the intrigue of any current production of Richard III was the curious event, in 2012, when Richard III’s bones were found in a car parking lot and after research it was discovered that Richard III was not the crippled human being that he had been portrayed as in Shakespeare’s play – which was also one of several historical inaccuracies that are included in the play.

In Shakespeare’s Richard III we find ourselves in England during a period of civil war in the late 15th century. Richard’s brother, Edward, is the King of England but Richard wishes to ascend to the throne himself. Richard begins his plotting and scheming from the beginning of the play, and when Edward suddenly becomes ill Richard puts his plot into action to make himself King of England.

He plots the imprisonment and murder of his brother Clarence, then courts Lady Anne who becomes his wife – and imprisons Edward’s sons after Edward’s death. With the help of the Duke of Buckingham and further plotting against anyone who might be in his way, Richard is given the crown. However Richard is still insecure about his position and power, and murders Edward’s two sons and his own wife, Anne, and also schemes to marry the daughter of Queen Elizabeth -- Elizabeth being Edward’s widow.

Richard and the Earl of Richmond (the Tudor heir) meet on the battlefield at Bosworth and Richard is killed. Richmond is crowned king and marries Elizabeth’s daughter – thus uniting the warring families and providing the people with an era of relative peace, and flourishing of economic and political power in the Tudor era.

Although Richard is a self-proclaimed villain, Tudor propaganda further condemned Richard as a tyrant.

Richard is also played as a villain and plotter with visual examples of his brutal and ritualistic murders of his enemies. One of the key scenic elements of the play was a glass box with a skull that is suspended over the stage – and the play is performed on a starkly designed stage space. A key in all is that Richard employs others to do the deeds choosing their fates to survive by cooperating with Richard or reflect their principals and face fatal consequences. Also Richard is portrayed as a clever politician using modern means of getting his message out to the British public and also in his manipulation of his accomplices.

With that in mind one has to examine Shakespeare’s play itself and also how director Garry Hynes has interpreted this controversial king of England and how the company’s actors – including Aaron Monaghan in the title role – bring to life Hynes’ interpretation. In this respect Hynes has artfully directed this production of Richard III and emphasizes Richard’s political and manipulative prowess. This is all interpreted well by Aaron Monaghan as Richard, who sometimes with a wink and nod, expresses irony and wit.

The remainder of the cast was equally excellent and in some instances playing multiple roles. Among those notable cast members were Marie Mullen as Queen Margaret, Siobhan Cullen as Lady Anne, Rory Nolan as Buckingham, and Marty Rea as Clarence.

The Druid’s Richard III is a provocative and absorbing production of Shakespeare’s play – and certainly of the moment.

Past and Current Generations at the New York City Ballet

Symphony Space

November 11, 2019

By Mark Kappel

It is rare that the leaders of artistic institutions in New York speak to the institutions’ constituents. Symphony Space and Words on Dance presented a unique forum on November 11, 2019 – with the participation of Jonathan Stafford, artistic director of the New York City Ballet, Wendy Whelan, associate artistic director of the New York City Ballet, and moderated by Edward Villella, a former principal dancer of the New York City Ballet, and recently the artistic director of Miami City Ballet.

Represented on this panel were different generations of dancers at the New York City Ballet but all had similar experiences in terms of their dance education and their respect for the George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins repertoire that they had danced – and have also curated.

Before the forum began presented was a featurette focusing in on the accomplishments of Villella, Stafford and Whelan and one noted that all were destined for leadership in the ballet world.

With Villella as the questioner both Whelan and Stafford revealed facts about their dance education, their path to joining the New York City Ballet, the respect they had for their teachers, and what it has been like taking over the directorship of the New York City Ballet.

Whelan and Stafford explained how their relationship works and what tasks they have set out for themselves functioning as artistic partners for the New York City Ballet noting that one person could not direct the New York City Ballet and what a large organization it is today.

Both Stafford and Whelan mentioned they are now attending performances to seek out choreographers to work with the New York City Ballet’s dancers, and look forward to the hard decisions that they will have to make in their positions at the New York City Ballet.

As revealing as this chat was I hope that these chats will occur more often and that Stafford and Whelan will become confident in being able to reveal their artistic plans for the New York City Ballet in the future.

Congratulations to Words and Dance, founded in 1994 by Deborah Kaufman, for providing a forum for dance artists to share their professional stories, and what inspired and encouraged their lives in dance. Such forums are very useful in connecting these artistic leaders to the public and audiences that enjoy their organizations’ performances.

Utah Lyric Opera Presents An Enchanted April

Theatre Row

November 2, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Elizabeth Von Arnim’s novel An Enchanted April has inspired film and stage versions, and it has now inspired a new musical with book and lyrics by Elizabeth Hansen and music and lyrics by C. Michael Perry.

From November 1-16, 2019 this musical version of An Enchanted April is being sponsored by the Utah Lyric Opera at Theatre Row in a production directed with subtlety by Alice Jankell.

An Enchanted April is set in London in February 1922. Four women are desperate to escape their horrible memories of World War I and the repression of London – as well as the continuous and frequent days of rain. Even the images on the backdrop – umbrellas – emphasized the Londoners battle with rain and also the Edwardiana that is represented in this musical version of An Enchanted April.

In order to be relieved of the doldrums they face in London two of the ladies, Rose Arbuthnot (played by Christiana Cole) and Lotty Wilkins (played by Leah Hocking) initiate a friendship after never having spoken as members of the same ladies social club. In those conversations they reveal their wish to escape London and they also commiserate with each other about their troubled marriages.

Arbuthnot and Wilkins engage in conversations which motivate them to apply for further details about renting a castle in Italy. Both of minimum means and to reduce expenses, they recruit two other ladies who reply to an advertisement of their own, Mrs. Fisher (played by Alma Cuervo), and Lady Caroline Dester (played by Gene Sims) – and the four ladies couldn’t be more different in their outlooks on life and also their generational differences.

Peripheral characters are Lotty’s husband, Mellersh (played by Jim Stanek), a lawyer who seems to be oblivious to his wife’s contributions to their marriage, Rose’s husband, Frederick (played by Aaron Phillips) who is an author who writes racy novels, and young Thomas Briggs (played by Peter Reid Lambert) who is the castle’s owner, who develops romantic feelings for Rose.

Rose Arbuthnot, Lotty Wilkins, Mrs. Fisher, and Lady Caroline Dester, during this short time, let their hair down and in sharing their lives, these women find a new approach to life and a new view of life. And, in particular, Rose Arbuthnot and Lotty Wilkins evolve and appreciate the lives they have with their husbands – Mrs. Fisher finding a new lease on life – and Lady Caroline Dester deciding not to marry the man she is expected to.

This story is told with a witty book, and music and lyrics that evoke the period in which the story takes place. There are some moments when you might think of a play by Chekov or even Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, however this version of An Enchanted April has much of its own to offer – which is enhanced by the wonderful cast that is telling the story.

The Australian Musical – From The Beginning

By Mark Kappel

Although the Broadway musical is an American art form that has become an international phenomenon, there have been major contributions to this art form and major successes in all parts of the world. In the book, The Australian Musical -- From The Beginning by Peter Pinne and Peter Wyllie Johnston (published by Allen & Unwin) these authors describe the careers of the pioneers in the development of musicals in Australia up to the modern age, and also provide a detailed listing of all of the significant Australian musicals with creative team credits, casts, lists of songs, and comments by contemporary theatre critics – The A-Z of the Australian Musical.

Australians have been an enthusiastic audience for musicals which have been imported from Broadway and also from London’s West End, but there is a healthy appetite for musicals in Australia with Australian content that can trace its roots from the beginning of the 20th century.

There have been musicals composed and written by Australians that have included the contribution of Australian Oscar Asche to the international hit Chu Chin Chow which premiered in London in 1917 up to Tim Minchin, another Australian who has won acclaim for his musicals, Matilda, and Groundhog Day, and Eddie Perfect, who has been represented on Broadway with King Kong and Beetlejuice – and Peter Allen’s contributions to Legs Diamond, and the jukebox musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert based on a well-known Australian film.

As musicals in Australia date back to 1926 there have been many Australians who made contributions to the development of native Australian musicals including Kenneth Launcelot Duffield, the first composer of Australian musicals to achieve recognition in his native Australia in the early part of the 20th century, and a great many Australian women such as May Broke, Varney Monk, and Edith Harrhy who composed two musicals each by 1935. And back in 1920, black history was reflected in Australian musicals by Jack Fewster, and gay themes and love stories going back to 1972.

Whereas Jewish composers, lyric writers and book writers made important contributions to Broadway musicals, the Australian musical tradition didn’t reflect their own Jewish influences initially but is now catching up.

Many of Australia’s leading songwriters devoted aspects of their careers to the musical theatre, and many of them travelled to London and the United States to either pursue their careers in the musical theatre or as songwriters, and then returned to Australia to parlay what they had learned.

Also there has been a host of Australian musical stars that have been developed including those who have achieved international recognition – Hugh Jackman, Caroline O’Connor, Keith Michell, and Philip Quast among them.

No doubt the Australian preference for imported musicals inhabited the emergence of Australian musicals, but that has been balanced with a healthy Australian theatre scene, and the sophistication of audiences and audience interest in musicals which has now created a demand for native Australian musicals.

Also in the development of musical theatre in Australia, women played important roles from direction to creative to being entrepreneurial – more so than what developed in London and New York. Many of the earliest Australian musical writers also pursued their careers in London before returning to Australia to achieve further success in their native land. It is thought that the success of women in this endeavor was due to the fact that Australian women had won the right to vote earlier than in other nations and in doing so they were already taking risks and defying conventions.

The pioneers in the development of Australian musicals had their work produced in both amateur and professional productions all over the continent of Australia which emphasized the size of Australia as a country. It wasn’t until much later in the 20th century when there were commercial theater producers who tapped into the market for musicals with Australian creative teams, and based on Australian stories and novels.

But the consistency of the purpose of producing Australian musicals has been somewhat hit or miss – a hidden history which noted more failures than successes and not many of these musicals being seen beyond Australia’s borders.

The earliest Australian musical of interest was The Bunyip which was written by Ella Airlie and Herbert de Pinna as part of an all-Australian creative team and Australian context – even with Aboriginal songs and described as a “pantomime” when it premiered in 1926 – and a success with Australian audiences.

But the book points to the musical FFF, which premiered in Adelaide in 1920 with music by Jack Fewster and lyrics and libretto by Clement John De Caris represented the first professional production of an original musical comedy with an Australian story.

The story of musicals in Australia includes periods of drought from 1937 through 1960, and generally the struggles in getting musicals based on Australian history and stories produced in any of the major Australian cities. It wasn’t until 1959 that the first Australian television musical was authored by Peter Stannard, Peter Benjamin, and Alan Burke, entitled Pardon Miss Westcott.

In the modern age there was the London success of Robert and Elizabeth by Ron Grainer which starred Australians Keith Michell and June Bronhill – and Grainer went on to compose film scores including the score for To Sir With Love, and more successes by other Australian composers including Grahame Bon, and the partnership of Pinne and Battye who had multiple hits during their careers.

Also there is Nick Enright, who wrote the books for many successful Australian musicals including The Boy from Oz – notably because he studied at New York University and was influenced greatly by playwright Israel Horovitz during his New York sojourn.

However there have been other international hits that have had their roots in Australia such as Hot Shoe Shuffle and most recently the musical King Kong which arrived on Broadway only in the last year. There have also been Australian musicals that have been produced in New York’s off-Broadway community. Among them was for a recent New York Musical Festival, Jonathan Holmes’ Errol and Fidel, a musical with an Australian creative team that presented an odd story about Hollywood movie actor, Errol Flynn and his unique relationship with Fidel Castro – and another, Atomic, by the creative team of Philip Foxman, Danny Hinges, and Gregory Bonsignore.

In Australian Musicals From the Beginning, this story of Australian musicals is punctuated and pictured with photos and posters of historic Australian musicals as well as recent Australian musicals – and unfortunately too many of them that could be covered thoroughly in this book.

Also an interesting dance connection as one of the leading Australian composers for musical theatre, Tom King, was commissioned by Australian ballet dancer, Robert Helpmann (who would also be a member of the Royal Ballet and artistic director of the Australian Ballet) to compose a score for Helpmann’s first solo ballet, Business-a-la-Russe.

Having often listened to CD’s of Australian cast recordings of American musicals such as Chicago, Side by Side by Sondheim, and They’re Playing Our Song, they indicate that there is a market for these cast recordings not only in Australia but not as available on an international basis. Hopefully with the expansion of Australian audiences for musicals in general that these cast recordings will be distributed more widely.

However, in the meantime, The Australian Musical is an interesting read about the development of this art form in Australia, and what has been stated already, is a hidden history.

York Theatre Company’s Musicals in Mufti Presents Panama Hattie

Theater at Saint Peter’s

October 27, 2019

By Mark Kappel

To conclude this season’s Musicals in Mufti’s tribute to Cole Porter, the York Theatre Company is presenting Porter’s musical, Panama Hattie from October 26 – November 3, 2019.

Panama Hattie’s was one of four collaborations involving Cole Porter and Ethel Merman as well as the additional collaborators of Herbert Fields and B.G. DeSylva who wrote the book – and guided Panama Hattie to a Broadway premiere in 1940.

For this concert version with deft music direction by Deniz Cordell and the able direction by Michael Montel, Panama Hattie comes to life and this is an opportunity to see, hear and experience a musical that may not be considered for a revival but has much to offer including many highlights in its score.

The plot of Panama Hattie is very simple and uncomplicated. It all takes place in Panama’s Canal Zone in the 1940’s where a nightclub owner, Hattie Maloney is hoping to be the fiancé of Nick Bullett, one of the operators of the locks in the canal. He has a child and his plans to marry Hattie Maloney are not approved by Bullet’s supervisor at work. With the help of some American sailor friends, Maloney thwarts a German plot to blow up the Panama Canal and then finds herself celebrated as a hero and earns the permission of Bullett’s boss to marry her.

Although the book for Panama Hattie is a bit outdated and its one-liner jokes are somewhat lightweight – those jokes find their origins in the low comedy of burlesque and vaudeville -- Panama Hattie was an entertainment aimed at an audience that was facing the brink of World War II, and difficult economic circumstances, and the audience habit of going to the theatre was seeking inexpensive entertainment and diversion. And in that sense Panama Hattie was the antidote -- and there is also a Cole Porter score worth listening to. The score’s highlights include “Visit Panama”, “I’ve Still Got My Health”, “Let’s Be Buddies” , and “Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please”.

Klea Blackhurst as Hattie Maloney plays a great service to this material in her Merman delivery but yet individual in the way she portrays the character and sets up the comic elements in the plot.

Blackhurst is ably supported by Stephen Bogardus as Nick Bullett, and Simon Jones as Vivian Budd, as well as David Green, Jay Aubrey Jones, Lael Van Keuren, Garen McRoberts, Casey Shuler, Gordon Stanley, Joe Veale, Zuri Washington, and Anita Welch in playing varying roles – in particular young Kylie Juioka’s performance as Nick Bullett’s young daughter -- Juioka could sell her smiles and make a fortune.

This concert version of Panama Hattie is a welcome diversion with a re-introduction to another amazing Cole Porter score – and well performed by a superlative and well-match cast.

Houston Ballet Returns to the City Center

City Center

October 25, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The Houston Ballet is one of the leading American ballet companies yet performs in New York on a sporadic basis. In recent New York visits the company has performed at the Joyce Theater. This engagement from October 24-26, 2019 marked the return of the Houston Ballet to the City Center after not having performed at this venue in a full company engagement since 1985.

The Houston Ballet made its debut in Houston in 1969 and it has evolved artistically since then.

Now under the direction of Stanton Welch, the Houston Ballet represented itself in this engagement with contemporary ballet and dance pieces. Over the years the Houston Ballet has made a commitment to produce new works at a high rate. For this welcome visit the Houston Ballet presented a triple bill program which included two commissions and an acquisition. What they all had in common was that each choreographer has had works performed frequently in New York and were similar in style and tone.

The program opened with the first of the two commissions, Mark Morris’ The Letter V choreographed to Joseph Hayden’s Symphony No. 88 which was created for the Houston Ballet in 2015.

Morris’ choreographic reputation rests on his ability to interpret music with a keen ear and he lived up to that reputation for the most part in The Letter V – an ensemble piece that is musical, simple in choreographic language, and to the point. Morris’s choreography is staid and uncomplicated in the work’s ensemble sections but Morris’ unique choreographic style, voice, and energy does not emerge until the final movement of the work.

The dance piece that followed was the Houston Ballet’s acquisition of Aszure Barton’s Come In which was created for Mikhail Baryshnikov and Hell’s Kitchen Dance in 2006. This dance piece was acquired by the Houston Ballet in 2019, and was choreographed to atmospheric music composed by Vladimir Martynov.

Barton’s Come In was danced by a male ensemble of dancers all of whom are costumed in black and who executed distorted and subtle repetitive movement with uniformity – mostly hands and arms – which had a Noh and Kabuki-like energy – and replete with many false endings. Although beautifully performed by the excellent male ensemble, somehow Come In seemed to be incomplete and unfocused.

The third work on the program was also the second of the commissions that the Houston Ballet performed on this program. This was Justin Peck’s Reflections, choreographed to music by Peck’s frequent musical collaborator, Sufjan Stevens. In Reflections Stevens’ music is composed for two pianists who are present on the stage throughout the piece.

Reflections were premiered by the Houston Ballet in 2019 and the work has its influences from Jerome Robbins’ primarily – particularly his piano ballets – and the angularities present in George Balanchine’s ballets. The structure of Reflections included ensembles and duets, and the most successful sections in this ballet were the two pas de deux danced by Melody Mennite with Connor Walsh, and Karina Gonzalez with Charles-Louis Yoshiyama. Overall the choreography for Reflections was playful but offered few moments of strikingly inventive series of steps.

All of these dance pieces were superbly danced by the Houston Ballet’s talented dancers but I wish that there were dance pieces presented on this program that had a greater variety of tone.

However all of these pieces were enhanced by the presence of live music – and I hope that the Houston Ballet’s New York visits will be more frequent in the future.

American Ballet Theatre Performs A World Premiere By Twyla Tharp

David Koch Theater

October 22, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Entering the second week of its fall season, on October 22, 2019, American Ballet Theatre presented a world premiere work, Twyla Tharp’s A Gathering of Ghosts, created as a vehicle for long-time ABT principal dancer, Herman Cornejo, who is celebrating his 20th anniversary as a member of the company.

Choreographed to music composed by Johannes Brahms’ String Quartet in G Major, Tharp intended to present Cornejo as a host for a multitude of ghosts that were appearing and disappearing in a black space. Among those ghosts were Louis XIV (Blaine Hoven), Marie Antoinette (Stephanie Williams), Murasaki (Joo Won Ahn), North Wind (Calvin Royal III), Greased Lightning (Catherine Hurlin), Mme. De Stael (Aran Bell), Irene (Christine Shevchenko), and Proust (Wanyue Quiao) some well-known historical figures and others such as Murasaki a character in The Tales of Genji, and North Wind and Irene, characters from works written by George MacDonald – and some of them casted and costumed in a gender bender manner. These characters were also supported by consorts (Skylar Brandt, Zimmi Coker, Luciana Paris, and Cassandra Trenary).

But in the actual performance these theatrical conventions were not realized and what was the result was a rather predictable Tharp piece with her signature random steps and dances in duets and trios – with Cornejo displaying his virtuoso dancing throughout. Also what didn’t illuminate the message were Norma Kamali’s costumes, which were striking and original, but did not define who the “ghosts” were.

Framing Tharp’s work was the opening ballet, George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, a work that Balanchine created for American Ballet Theatre in 1947 as a vehicle for Alicia Alonso (who has recently passed on) and Igor Youskevitch, playing to these two dancers’ strengths. The ballet is danced to the fourth movement of Tchaikovsky’s Third Orchestral Suite with inspiration in the choreography and music from Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty. Theme and Variations was choreographed by Balanchine during a fertile period of creativity which also included another seminal work, Symphony in C.

The ballet at this performance was danced a la Petipa with the proper grandeur and musicality, with Devon Teuscher radiant in the ballerina role and Corey Stearns as her stalwart partner.

Closing the program was Alexei Ratmansky’s The Seasons, choreographed to Glazunov’s musical composition of the same name which American Ballet Theatre premiered during the company’s Metropolitan Opera House season earlier this year.

Divided into Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, with each section led by a principal cast, reflecting a work that has joy and spirit, and plays to the strengths of American Ballet Theatre’s dancers. The most distinct section of The Seasons is the Fall Pas de Deux which was given great nobility and elegance by Stella Abrera, who recently announced her plans to retire from American Ballet Theatre after this season. But all of the dancers in this ballet gave notable performances.

American Ballet Theatre Presents A Look at the Present and a Look at the Past

David Koch Theater

October 19, 2019

By Mark Kappel

American Ballet Theatre’s fall seasons have focused on triple bills highlighting dance works in a variety of styles. This year’s fall season at the David Koch Theater has kept up that tradition and there was also the addition of a particular focus on the work of female choreographers.

The program that American Ballet Theatre presented at the David Koch Theater on the afternoon of October 19th, 2019 included a nod to the future but also to the past.

The new was represented by Jessica Lang’s Let Me Sing Forevermore, a duet that Lang created for Catherine Hurlin and Aran Bell as part of their participation in the 2019 Erik Bruhn Competition and here danced by Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside. Let Me Sing Forevermore is choreographed to recorded songs sung by Tony Bennett, songs that would be considered part of the American Song Book which comprised songs composed by Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, and Bart Howard. With Bennett’s song stylings Lang created a piece reminiscent of Twyla Tharp’s Sinatra Suite in which random steps – organic in their nature – are responses to the music – Lang and the dancers, Boylston and Whiteside – played with the music.

But there were many more nods to the past on this program than what was new.

For this program American Ballet Theatre revived the original version of George Balanchine’s Apollo, a work that was given its world premiere by the Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1929. This revival was staged for the company by Victoria Simon and included the birthing scene which Balanchine eliminated in his revision of the ballet in 1978. The birthing scene depicts Leto giving birth to Apollo, and Apollo’s realization of what his role will be as the god of music. It is in the second scene of this ballet that Apollo is introduced to his muses Terpsichore, Polyhymnia, and Calliope, and they return to a metaphorical Mt. Parnassus in the end.

Balanchine’s choreography for Apollo is refined and notable for its simplicity, and the narrative grows out of the choreography and Stravinsky’s music.

This fall season’s revival of Apollo included many debuts in the principal roles. They were Calvin Royal III in the title role, Hee Seo as Terpsichore, Christine Shevchenko as Polyhymnia, and Zhong -Jing Fang as Calliope. The performances by these dancers in Apollo reflected why Apollo has stood the test of time and spoke well for the ballet’s future performances.

Also included in this program was Clark Tippet’s Some Assembly Required, a duet created for Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner in 1989, and here danced by Skylar Brandt and Roman Zhurbin. Tippet was exploring relationships in his short piece which is referenced in the title of this duet – relationships do not come with manuals – with organic choreography responding to William Bolcom’s quirky Second Sonata for Violin and Piano.

Closing this program was the company’s acquisition of Twyla Tharp’s Deuce Coupe, a major step forward in Tharp’s career when given its world premiere by the Joffrey Ballet premiere in 1973. Choreographed to the recordings of the Beach Boys and performed in front of a graffiti filled wall, Deuce Coupe was a dance piece of its era – created in a choreographic language of the era.

Unfortunately Deuce Coupe has not aged well over time and seems more nostalgic than current. However this valentine to the music of the 1970’s and the spirit of the 1970’s was well danced by the principal cast of Katherine Williams, Cassandra Trenary, Luciana Paris, Xuel An Lu, Blaine Hoven, and Thomas Forster.

Broadway Debut of The Lightning Thief

Longacre Theatre

October 11, 2019

By Mark Kappel

After entertaining audiences off-Broadway and on a national tour, The Lightning Thief has made its Broadway debut where it opened at the Longacre Theatre on October 16, 2019 for a limited engagement until January 5, 2020.

The Lightning Thief is based on a novel by Rick Riordan about Percy Jackson, the son of a mortal woman and the Greek god, Poseidon, a twelve year-old who has been given powers that are challenging for him to master. With Jackson a bit more grown up than a twelve year-old, this musical takes Jackson on his life journey fighting off monsters of all kinds and leads him to search for Zeus’ lightning bolt – which will prevent a war between the Greek gods.

Along for the journey are Jackson’s friends Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood, and they encounter many interesting characters along the way.

The Lightning Thief, a teen novel and a musical for a teen audience, is an enterprise created by book writer Joe Tracz and director Stephen Brackett, a team that produced another teen-oriented musical, Be More Chill -- and there are elements from that aforementioned musical in The Lightning Thief.

The Lightening Thief focuses on the experiences of outcasts which is a universal theme whether those outcasts are half mortal and half god or mere mortals. From the beginning The Lighting Thief jumps right into the exposition and plot in its fantasy tale. Percy Jackson, who has had his share of problems at school including his battle against dyslexia, having to change schools quite often, yet having supportive teachers, but finds kindred spirits at Camp Half-Blood where half humans and half gods are connecting with each other and supporting each other. Their sense of comradeship leads to Percy Jackson and his fellow campers, Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood to embark on a quest. On that quest they engage the characters and god-like forces typical in Greek myths. They even get lost in New Jersey and yet find their way to the underworld in Los Angeles. At the end of the quest, they find themselves and what goals they should pursue in their lives – life lessons.

It is often noted in The Lightning Thief that a hero’s life is never easy and these heroes are endearing and you find the best of ourselves in them – and even more so as performed by this wonderfully talented young cast.

With an effective and evocative rock score by Rob Rokicki, and an engaging book by Joe Tracz, The Lightning Thief is a joyful, and humorous tongue and cheek adventure that is entertaining and connects with audiences.
Notable in the cast are Chris McCarrell as Percy Jackson, Jorrrel Javier in the roles of Grover Underwood and Mr. D, Kristin Stokes as Annabeth Chase. They are supported ably by the remainder of the cast which included Ryan Knowles, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, James Hayden Rodriguez and Jalynn Steele who play multiple and varied roles in The Lightning Thief.

In this stage musical version The Lightning Thief is engaging and entertaining – a family friendly theatrical event. As The Lightning Thief is with us for only limited time keep it mind as a family adventure as it will entrance children and the child within adults.

City Center For Fall for Dance - Program 5

October 12, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Program 5, and the closing program of the City Center Fall for Dance Festival, was dominated by modern dance pieces with an added world premiere of a contemporary ballet piece for a bit of variety.

Opening the program was Canada’s Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal dancing excerpts from Dance Me, choreographed by Andonis Foniadakis and Ihsan Rustem, a dance piece celebrating the music of Leonard Cohen.

Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal was established in 1972 and is currently directed by Louis Robitaille. The company’s repertoire and style has evolved over the years and its repertoire is now mainly contemporary and modern dance.

The excerpts from Dance Me were Suzanne (with choreography by Rustem), Famous Blue Raincoat and Nevermind (with choreography by Foniadakis) all reflecting the spirit of Cohen’s music. Suzanne was a duet that provided fluent and modern dance choreography, to be followed by Famous Blue Raincoat which began with a male duet and expanded to include the entire cast in Nevermind. Although the choreography was in the modern style, it was lyrical and musical, and an entertaining and well-danced tribute to Cohen’s music.

The world premiere on the program was Kim Brandstrup’s Blanc danced by Sara Mearns and Taylor Stanley of the New York City Ballet. Choreographed to music by Ludwig Van Beethoven, Hamlet Gonashvili, and Robert Schumann, the choreography was the antithesis to the traditional ballet blanc.

The piece is danced in the environment of a bare stage with two chairs and a work light as the only design elements. The two dancers dance together and apart in this sparse and desolate space – two people in or not in a relationship – dark and emotionally taxing with modern dance vocabulary which effectively tested both dancers.

Providing a bit of comic relief was Monica Bill Barnes’ The Running Show which is a presentation that is clever and evokes tongue in cheek humor as Barnes led a group of student dancers from Hunter College in a sports inspired routine with satiric and comic commentary by Robbie Saenz De Viteri – even down to the sports casting slant as Barnes attempts to break the record for the most turns. Included in the commentary are those of young ballet students who reveal their honesty in expressing their feelings about how much they enjoy dancing – the ambition of young dancers, and the wisdom of children.

Closing the program was the Martha Graham Dance Company dancing Graham’s Chronicle, a work that premiered in 1936, and one of the rare pieces that Graham choreographed which expressed her political views. The piece expresses Graham’s concern and distress about the rise of Fascism in Europe which was having a negative effect on the lives of the people on that continent -- with the fear that it might spread elsewhere. Chronicle is a powerful work was danced by an ensemble of outstanding female dancers led by Xin Ying and Anne Souder sending a powerful message of emotions and determination.

As always the City Center Fall for Dance Festival lived up to its mission to providing a variety of dance programming and styles, and also offered its performances at ticket prices that are affordable to audiences at a time when buying a ticket for an arts performance can be a major dent in someone’s budget.

City Center Fall for Dance Festival – Program 3

City Center

October 5, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The City Center Fall for Dance Festival’s Program 3 featured three major international dance companies – two ballet companies and one, the unique Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, along with a modern dance company from Sweden. Once again the Festival’s programming hit the mark in presenting a sampler and variety of dance.

Opening the program was the Mariinsky Ballet dancing the American premiere of Alexander Sergeev’s At The Wrong Time. This work for six dancers was choreographed to piano music composed by Heitor Villa-Lobos that reflected folk dance rhythms and intimacy. At The Wrong Time owed its inspiration from Jerome Robbins’ piano ballets. But Sergeev exploited the dancers’ classical lines and their strengths as well as their personalities – in particular as reflected in the third comic duet.

Perhaps the greatest pleasure was seeing Anastasia Nuikina, Xander Parish, Nadezhda Batoeva, Konstantin Zverev, Maria Shirinkina, and Alexei Timofeyev of the Mariinsky Ballet display their pure classicism during one of the company’s rare New York visits.

English National Ballet followed with a duet from Akram Khan’s Dust, danced by Erina Takahashi and James Streeter. In contrast to the classicism of Sergeev’s At The Wrong Time, Khan’s Dust represented his modern dance signature and was also given its American premiere.

The collage score composed by Joyce Pook transcribed British anthems and songs including Auld Lange Syne depicting people who have been devastated by the dire effects of war. In Dust Khan expressed those emotions in an unvarnished manner. Also to note that Dust was included in the English National Ballet’s commemoration of World War I, Lest We Forget, and Dust, as a full piece of choreography, focuses on the women who took over many jobs and occupations during the war years.

From Sweden was the Skanes Dansteater from Malmo, Sweden dancing the American premiere of Madeleine Mansson’s and Peder Nilsson’s Dare To Wreck. Dare To Wreck was danced by its creators – one of whom, Madeleine Mansson, had restricted mobility in her wheelchair –and depicted a relationship stretched in opposite directions.

In this piece the choreographers were liberated as emotions were expressed physically as Nilsson easily handled the weight and encumbrances of Mansson plus her wheelchair. Dare To Wreck was a demanding piece of choreography fraught with emotions.

Closing the program was the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre dancing Act II of Rennie Harris’ Lazarus. Lazarus was inspired by the life and times of Alvin Ailey. In particular the atmosphere of racial inequities when Ailey founded the Ailey company.

But for a few moments of narrative towards the end of the piece, this issue was only expressed in a short section which was primarily comprised of group dances choreographed in the hip-hop style. As noted in the narrative section of the piece, the hip-hop style was described as a dance style that is a conduit for bringing people together.

The Ailey dancers that formed the ensemble in Lazarus were well-served by Harris and the dancers’ exuberance was a shining light.

City Center Fall for Dance Festival – Program 2

City Center

October 3, 2019

By Mark Kappel

This season’s City Center Fall for Dance Festival includes its usual eclectic programming offering audiences unique samplers of varied styles of dance. This variety was on display in the Festival’s Program 2 featured on October 3, 2019.

This program presented various styles of dance but all of the pieces that were danced on this program did have the commonality of being ensemble dances.

The program opened with the Mark Morris Dance Group dancing the “Eleven” section from Morris’ Mozart Dances which is choreographed to Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 11 – played live by the MMDG Music Ensemble.

Having been premiered in 2006, Morris has created musical, lyrical and understated choreography in an ensemble dance dominated by the women of his company and enhanced by the simple projection of three swishes of black paint that is displayed behind them.

All of the members of this ensemble cast should be noted including Mica Bernas, Karlie Budge, Brandon Cournay, Domingo Estrada, Jr. Lesley Garrison, Lauren Grant, Laurel Lynch, Dallas McMurray, Matthew McLaughlin, Minga Prather, Maile Okamura, Brandon Randolph, Christina Sahaida, Billy Smith, and Noah Vinson.

The Washington Ballet, which rarely performs in New York, was represented on this program with Dana Genshaft’s Shadow Lands, a work choreographed to Mason Bates’ quirky “Omnivorous Furniture” with was interpreted with quirky choreography in a contemporary ballet style – following the music where it was going but at the same time meandering without structure. Premiered in 2019, Shadow Lands was not consistently engaging but the ensemble cast of Victoria Arrea, Katherine Barkman, Gilles DeLellio, Kateryna Derechyna, Corey Landolt, Javier Morera, Maki Onuki, Gian Carlo Perez, Daniel Roberge, and Alexa Torres.

The international aspect of the programming was provided by companies from France and Argentina.

France was represented on this program with the DYPTIK Company’s performance of the American premiere of Mehdi Meghari’s and Souhail Marchiche’s Dans L’Engrenage.

Opening this work was an ensemble surrounding and laying hands on a table with choreography emphasizing quick hand movements – and an atmosphere similar that of Kurt Joos’ The Green Table – filled with argument and agitation. The table is abandoned as the work develops – the movement developing beyond the repetitive hand movements to movements using all parts of the body – post-modern, cultish, and flavored with bravado in an effective theatrical manner.

The piece’s impact was owed to the performances of Yohan Daher, Wiliam Domiquin, Samir El Fatoumi, Evan Greenaway, Katia Lharaig, Emilie Tarpin-Lyonnet, and Marine Wroniszewski.

Malevo, a company created in Argentina in 2015, specializes in the highly theatrical, virtuoso and engaging Malambo, a traditional Argentine folk dance and then adding flamenco and percussive dance to the mix. The company presented the world premiere of Matias Jaime’s Salvaje, which was accompanied by live music.

The piece was a series of individual dance numbers – including the opening number in which the dancers danced to percussive music while drumming their own drums, and then on to other virtuoso dance numbers that ranged from flamenco to folk dancing.

This all-male troupe including Federico Arrua, Mauro Dias, Miguel Flores, David Gerez, Matias Jaime, Facundo Lencino, Gabriel Lopez, Franco Martinez, Daniel Medina, Lucas Orcajo, Thiago Rivas, Leonardo Santander, and Leandro Suarez was a crowd-pleaser.

The mix and variety presented in this program lived up to the City Center Fall for Dance Festival’s mission.

Guggenheim Works & Process – Ballet West & George Balanchine

Guggenheim Museum

September 29, 2019

By Mark Kappel

As part of its Works & Process Performing Arts Series, the Guggenheim Museum presented Ballet West in a discussion and demonstration focusing on George Balanchine’s The Song of the Nightingale, and Apollo.

This event was moderated by Ballets Russes expert, Lynn Garafola and among the panelists were Kenneth Archer (reconstructor and supervisor of Matisse’s designs for The Song of the Nightingale), Phil Chan (Co-Founder of Final Bow for Yellowface), Millicent Hodson (Reconstructor and Stager of Balanchine’s The Song of the Nightingale), Victoria Simon (George Balanchine Trust Repetiteur), and Adam Sklute (Artistic Director of Ballet West).

The discussion focused on Balanchine’s original version of The Song of The Nightingale which had costume and scenery designs by Henri Matisse, and was premiered by the Diaghilev Ballets Russes in 1925. The ballet was choreographed to a score by Igor Stravinsky – which was the first collaboration of this team as choreographer and composer.

This production was reconstructed by Millicent Hodson and Kenneth Archer and will be performed by Ballet West in October in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Although versions of The Song of the Nightingale choreographed by John Taras and Frederick Ashton have been seen in this part of the world, this was the first exposure to any part of Balanchine’s version – Balanchine did not attempt to reconstruct his version of this ballet for the New York City Ballet’s Stravinsky Festival in 1972 but asked John Taras to choreograph a new version of this ballet.

The Song of the Nightingale had its beginnings as an opera-ballet and as versions of this piece were shelved for many different reasons, it wasn’t until 1925 that Balanchine became involved as a choreographer, and Matisse as a designer. The ballet was performed by Diaghilev Ballets Russes only until 1929 and this reconstruction by Archer and Hodson was premiered by Les Ballets de Monte Carlo in 1999.

The ballet itself includes 39 dancers and in the original production, Balanchine, himself, played the role of the mechanical nightingale, and the style of the choreography and production was described as Soviet avant-garde featuring what were antecedents of the angular movement that Balanchine would include in his future ballets.

The lively discussion included Archer’s and Hodson’s roles as exploring the forensics of the choreography and this also presented the animated discussion including Phil Chang about Chinese stereotypes that are in the ballet’s choreography. Of course in seeing some of the excerpts – only danced by 9 dancers – one could see the beautifully recreated Matisse costumes.

Also included in this program were descriptions Balanchine’s Apollo which was also created for the Diaghilev Ballets Russes and is perhaps the best known of Balanchine’s works from that period that is still being performed today. During his lifetime Balanchine had different thoughts about the ballet – particularly in regard to the designs which were presented in photos of past productions – and also the changes made by Balanchine in his 1978 revision in which first scene including Apollo’s birth had been eliminated and also with choreographic changes in the ending – both the original and new endings were danced by Ballet West’s dancers with comments by Victoria Simon.

The inclusion of these works in Ballet West’s repertoire is a reflection of Adam Sklute’s interest in these works going back to the time he was a dancer with the Oakland Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet which both had ballets and dance pieces in their repertoires.

The Ballet West dancers, which included Allison DeBona, Adrian Fry, David Huffmire, Emily Neale,Kazlyn Nielsen, Sayaka Ohtaki, Jordan Richardson, Rex Tilson, and Joshua Whitehead, acquitted themselves well in what was an informative dance event.

Cole Porter’s Fifty Million Frenchmen

York Theatre Company – Theatre at Saint Peter’s

September 29, 2019

By Mark Kappel

This season the York Theatre Company’s Musicals in Mufti series is a tribute to the musicals of Cole Porter, another one of the greats that this series has celebrated in the past.

The first of the offerings is Fifty Million Frenchmen with a book written by Herbert Fields and adapted by Tommy Krasker and Evans Haile which is being presented from September 28-October 6, 2019.

As stated and emphasized by Cole Porter expert, Robert Kimball, in the after performance talk back, Porter’s Fifty Million Frenchman was an important development in Porter’s career as a composer – and also for it being a popular success with audiences. Porter’s other classic musicals might not have reached the stage if Fifty Million Frenchmen had not been the success that it was.

Premiered on Broadway in 1929, Fifty Million Frenchmen takes the audience to 1929 – the month of June – the time when American tourists invade Paris and the local Parisians leave town to have their own holiday vacations.

The story focuses on a young American millionaire, Peter Forbes, who travels to Paris and bets with his friends that he can live without his money for a month. Trying to follow through on his bet, he gets engaged to Looloo Carroll, and among the challenges his bet creates, he cannot throw her a party until after July 4th -- after which he is free from the bet – and he take s on many menial jobs, including as a tour guide and a dance-host, to make enough money to throw the party. Forbes makes his best effort, but he loses Looloo over the confusion created by a bet at the racetrack. However when all has been explained Peter and LooLoo are united with plans for marriage.

Fifty Million Frenchmen depicts Americans abroad with their eccentricities, expectations and frivolity, and all is explained in this adaptation of the musical that employs only 11 actors – as compared to the original Broadway production that included 100 actors – and only presents the essence of the book material. However all of Cole Porter’s songs are here to explain and propel the narrative forward and also provide profiles of all the dotty characters that are included in this musical’s plot.

Fifty Million Frenchmen’s plot is a traditional boy meets girl, boy loses girl, and boy gets girl back. But Cole Porter’s score is filled with satiric wit, entertaining jokes, and also quotes from other musicals.

Perhaps the best known song in this score is “You Do Something To Me”, but the superb cast adds to the glory of more obscure Cole Porter tunes including Kristy Cates as Violet singing “Where Would You Get Your Coat?” and “The Tale of the Oyster”, and Karen Murphy as Gladys singing “Queen of Terra Haute”. But all of the cast members, which also included Sam Balzac, David Michael Bevis, Ashley Blanchet, Cole Burden, Ray DeMattis, Andy Kelso, Wade McCollum, Evy Ortiz, and Madeline Trumble, provided the strong singing and characterizations that justified this presentation of one of Cole Porter’s early successes.

Hans Friedrichs directed this fine cast and got the most out of Cole Porter’s lyrics and the adaptation of Herbert Fields’ book by Tommy Krasker and Evans Haile – and Haile doubled in this production as musical director on the piano.

Fifty Million Frenchmen is a great start for this season’s Musicals in Mufti series.

The Height of the Storm

Samuel Friedman Theatre

September 27, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The Manhattan Theatre Club has opened its new season at the Samuel Friedman Theatre with the New York premiere of Florian Zeller’s intriguing play, The Height of the Storm, which had been premiered in London in 2018. Translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Jonathan Kent the Manhattan Theatre Club’s presentation of The Height of the Storm includes several cast members from the London production.

In Zeller’s Pinteresque play, Andre, a famous writer (played by Jonathan Pryce), is suffering from dementia, and is unable to accept the death of his wife, Madeleine (played by Eileen Atkins) to whom he had been married for 50 years. His two daughters are struggling to decide his future – including a major move from his home to a nursing home as it appears that Andre cannot survive on his own. However the mystery sets in as it seems that Madeleine appears and reappears to her husband and her two daughters – and all the while emphasizes Madeline’s promise to outlive her husband and not leave him on his own.

In this 80-minute play Andre and Madeleine are living in the country somewhere outside Paris, and are depicted as coping with daily life – infusing their lives with arguments about their daughters and what their daughters plan for them, and also being confronted by a woman (played by Lucy Cohu) who claims to have had a past friendship with Andre – and is also supporting his move to a nursing home. All the while, the daughters Anne (played by Amanda Drew) and Elis (played by Lisa O’Hare) are debating Andre’s future in front of a man who is Elis’ love interest and is also a real estate agent who is planning to assist the daughters in selling the family house. And then there are the rights to Andre’s literary efforts – including a diary in which Andre reveals relationships that were not known to Andre’s daughters.

Zeller tries to make clear what Andre is feeling through his moments of dementia, and how he is coping with the death of his wife who seems to be drifting in and out of his own reality – but are we seeing these events through Andre’s dementia or through the muddled minds of both of Andre’s daughters. It is the metaphor for ships passing in the night without knowing their destinations. In the end we don’t really know how all of these issues are resolved – whether Andre will live happily with the memories of his wife guiding him – or whether he will be persuaded to accept another destiny. Zeller does not provide any answers to these questions.

What seems to be clear in this haunting and disturbing play is how one copes with – and also how a family copes with – the debilitating effects of dementia and how those sufferers stumble through loss and reality. In that sense Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins paint a colorful picture filled with all of those details as the other characters are manipulating their lives – and how much that relates to our own experiences and observations if we have coped with this same dilemma.

Although this play doesn’t comes to any resolution, the play is superbly acted – and what you see and hear in Zeller’s The Height of the Storm is through the eyes and ears of the beholder.

Kathryn Posin Dance Company Returns to the 92nd Street Y

92nd Street Y

September 13, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The 92nd Street Y is presenting the Kathryn Posin Dance Company for what is the Company’s third engagement as part of the Y’s Digs Dance series on September 13 and 14, 2019.

Kathryn Posin is known as a choreographer who works in the abstract style but she is accomplished at story-telling as well. Both aspects of her work were on display in this imaginative and engrossing dance program. Posin’s focus was on two new original works and a revision of a previous work with dancers she has worked with before and those that are new.

Opening the program was Triple Sextet, Posin re-visiting her work Double Sextet, which is choreographed to Steve Reich’s Double Sextet. Reich’s music is structured to represent two identical sextets, and in this piece the third sextet is represented by the sextet of dancers who are dancing this piece.

In Triple Sextet Posin responds to the rhythms of Reich’s music – at pitch point – yet also responds effectively to the “Slow” section in a choreographic chain sequence which reflected a relative calm.

This piece was effectively and energetically danced by the sextet of dancers which included Claire Mazza, Camila Rodrigues, Chanmee Jeong, Daniel White, Alejandro Ulloa, and Cristian Laverde Konig.

A world premiere on this program was Memoir, a new solo co-choreographed by Kathryn Posin and Lance Westergard, to music by J.S. Bach. This piece was danced by Westergard and exhibited what artistry can be expressed with one gesture – and what’s behind that gesture.

In her remarks before this performance Posin emphasized the linkage of passing on the art of those master choreographers and teachers she had studied with and learned from, and this solo for Westergard focused on those links.

The most adventurous piece on the program was the world premiere of Evolution: The Letters of Charles Darwin, based on an idea by Jane Burkhardt, whose father, Frederick Burkhardt edited Darwin’s letters – with the participation of Jane Burkhardt’s son, Jonathan Burkhardt, who created the visual effects and drawings that were integral ingredients in this dance piece’s design.

Posin narrates this piece herself reading excerpts from selected letters written by Darwin while serving as the on-board naturalist for the H.M.S. Beagle’s historic 5-year sail around the world – letters written to family members and fellow scientists.

Momchil Mladenov portrayed Darwin with the rest of the company playing the roles of family members, friends and scientists dancing choreography which interpreted Darwin’s thoughts, observations, and emotions as he made his discoveries during this voyage and applied his theories about the evolution of species of animals – culminating in Darwin’s significant scientific theories formulated in his “On The Origin of Species”.

Posin effectively and expressively told Darwin’s story with his own prose and words, and communicating this story as well – and with those ideas also effectively conveyed by Mladenov and the entire company.

This performance presented a range of Posin’s work – a combination of contemporary ballet and modern dance – and her choreography is exchanged with an audience that is absorbed by it. This all makes for an important artistic statement.

Broadway’s Unique Revival of Oklahoma

Circle in the Square

September 10, 2019

By Mark Kappel

One of the major hits of the last Broadway theater season was a unique revival of Oklahoma, which was also recognized with a Tony Award for Best Musical Revival of the season. Having already been seen at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, this revisal of Oklahoma premiered on Broadway in April of this year – and is continuing to enthuse Broadway audiences ever since.

Working from the template of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II score and Hammerstein’s book, director Daniel Fish, has fashioned a version of Oklahoma that is immersive -- as performed at the Circle in the Square -- and adding details that reflect the location of the story and the time of the story – and bringing it all into the 21st century.

Among the many tweaks in this production is having the music performed with new arrangements which emphasize a County & Western style and instruments that would be regionally appropriate, and a brashness that is reflective of the American frontier.

But the most significant aspect of this revival is that it is performed by a small cast, is intimate in terms of relating to the audience, and also takes advantage of the smaller space provided by the Circle in the Square.

Using Lynn Riggs’ Green Grow the Lilacs as its source material, Oklahoma’s original choreographer Agnes de Mille simply described the plot of Oklahoma to be that of a young woman who must choose which of two men she would go out with to a box social. However the musical reflects American optimism at a time when America was testing the waters to enter the fray of World War II and not knowing what the future might hold.

For a 21st century audience, this production of Oklahoma is seasoned with some earthiness and the characters are redrawn to reflect 21st century norms – assertive men and assertive women. There is no shyness among them, and no glamorization of the surroundings that the story takes place in.

This version of Oklahoma includes involving performances by the principal actors, and Daniel Fish has refashioned the interpretation of how the principal roles are drawn. In many respects the overall feeling is making these characters larger than life, easily identifiable, funny and portrayed with humanity.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s glorious score makes its mark in this production of Oklahoma, and still evokes sentiment and nostalgia even in the reduced orchestration and overall the intent of Hammerstein’s story is preserved in this production as well.

Damon Daunmo as Curly and Rebecca Naomi Jones as Laurie, whose story is the core of Oklahoma, are not the wall flowers one might expect, and they are both determined and know what they want from life. In this same mode is the Tony Award winning performance of Ali Stroker as Ado Annie who careens around the stage in her wheelchair with a big voice and big personality. Jimmy Davis as the adoring Will Parker, and then there is the motherly and comic Mary Testa as Aunt Eller. Will Brill gives the role of Ali Hakim an unconventional slant as well, and Patrick Vaill is the mysterious Jud Fry but is portrayed with a bit more humanity yet reinforces that he is an outsider.

The only weakness in this intimate production of Oklahoma is the dream ballet – choreographed by John Heginbotham – which opened the second act. Choreographed to an odd musical arrangement of bits and pieces of Oklahoma’s score, this version of the Dream Ballet didn’t seem to move forward this musical’s narrative. The Dream Ballet was meant to express Laurie’s anxieties about Jud Fry as a predator and her confusion about her feelings for Curly, and this version did not convey what Laurie was experiencing. However Coral Dolphin, the one dancer involved in the Dream Ballet, gave an excellent account of Heginbotham’s choreographic vision.

In spite of this weakness this production of Oklahoma still reflects a sense of community and fully captures the American spirit that Rodgers and Hammerstein had in mind.

If you wish to see a different slant on an old favorite, this production of Oklahoma will make for a fascinating look forward as to how musicals of Broadway’s Golden Age might be revived in the future.

Liaoning Ballet of China Performs in Ballet Gala Program

David Koch Theater

August 24, 2019 (Matinee)

By Mark Kappel

For its second of two programs on August 24, 2019, the Liaoning Ballet of China presented a ballet gala program which included excerpts from the company’s original ballets steeped in Chinese folklore, short contemporary and modern pieces, and familiar 19th century classics. In the course of this program, the company presented the many distinguished dancers that have been trained at the Liaoning Ballet’s School.

Although the names of the dancers who danced each piece were identified in the program, the order of the pieces was not. The program’s first half was restricted to the modern dance and contemporary pieces – and the only piece that was considered to have traditional Chinese roots.

The traditional Chinese miniature was The Jasmine choreographed by Liu Tinting which was for the most part an ensemble piece – led by cast member Zhang Yixin –featuring the use of Chinese fans to symbolize Jasmine flowers.

A series of short contemporary pieces by both Chinese and Western European choreographers were also included in this part of the program. Among them were Marc Ribaud’s The Cliff danced by Liu Shijie and Chen Yongyu, Fei Bo’s Tomb Figures danced by Ao Dingwen and Wang Zhanfeng, Wang Yuanyuan’s Out of the Mist danced by Li Siyi and Chang Sinuo, and Rui Luis Lopez Graca’s Songs Without Words with a cast led by Yu Chuanya and Zhang Haidong which was the most ambitious piece among these contemporary works and successfully reflected the emotional expression in the music. Not all of the pieces included unique choreography or a personal voice, and the dancers were not best showcased in these pieces.

The second half of the program included the excerpts from the 19th century classics along with an excerpt from a 20th century full-length ballet.

This part of the program opened with the Pas de Deux from Swan Lake Act II including the corps de ballet in attendance, staged by Vladimir Malakhov, and danced by Yu Chuanya and Zhang Haidong. Beautifully danced, and a nuanced and musical performance of this classic pas de deux.

What followed was the Esmeralda Pas de Deux danced with style and bravura by Li Siyi and Chiang Sinuo, the Le Corsaire Pas de Trois with the cast of Chiang Sinuo, Ma Miaoyuan, and Zhang Yikun, adding even more than the usual bravura that this classic piece usually gets from the dancers who dance it.

What followed were two pas de deux not usually seen on New York stages – one from the 19th century and one from the 20th century. The pas de deux from the 19th century was the Grand Pas de Deux from Act II of The Nutcracker danced with classical precision and delicacy by the cast of Ao Dingwen and Wang Zhanfeng, and from the 20th century there was the Pas de Deux from Yuri Grigorovitch’s Spartacus danced with the obligatory heroics by Zhang Haidong and Chi Linna.

The closing piece was Wang Peng’s Ballet Elegant Demeanour which was a finale piece including all of the dancers who appeared in the modern dance and contemporary pieces – and the 19th century pieces – adding up to a rousing finale which definitely showed off the company’s dancers.

In all of these pieces one had to admire the company’s male dancers as partners and presenting themselves with classical elegance, and there were delicate and bravura performances by the female dancers as well. All of the dancers also danced with clean lines.

Of the two programs presented by Liaoning Ballet, this second program had the most excitement and punch.

Liaoning Ballet of China Makes New York Debut with Huamulan

David Koch Theater

August 23, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The Liaoning Ballet of China is making its New York debut at the David Koch Theater for a series of four performances from August 23 through August 25, 2019 presenting two different programs of dance. Currently under the direction of artistic director Qu Zijiao, the company was founded in 1980.

The Liaoning Ballet of China opened its engagement with an original full-length work, Huamulan, based on the Ballad of Mulan, and choreographed by Qu Zijiao, which had its premiere in 2018. This ballet also has a libretto written by Wang Yong and Chen Hufen with a commissioned score composed by Liu Tong.

The story of Huamulan takes place on the Gobi Desert frontier where the Emperor Khan visits to recruit men in the local village to join the military. Khan makes the request of drafting Mulan’s father in the army but as he is ailing, Mulan agrees to take his place. After receiving military training from General Li Shuo Mulan becomes an excellent archer. She distinguishes herself and is promoted. But after many successful battles she loses her beloved Li Shuo who is killed in one of the battles with the enemy’s leader. Throughout her military service Mulan dreams of being back home with her family, and ultimately she returns to resume the life of a peasant once again.

The ballet has a recurring theatrical theme of creating tableau to illustrate the ballet’s plot points and Zijiao’s choreographic vocabulary includes ballet, modern dance, Chinese folk dance, and martial arts in order to tell the story – which Zijao does effectively. The overall production reflects Chinese theatrical traditions, and simple stage craft which help to tell the story in a compelling and expeditious manner from scene to scene, and from location to location.

What is on display is a well-trained company of ballet dancers who are also gifted actors – with the male dancers particularly showing their strengths as partners, and showing nobility and dignity in their dancing and how they portray the principal characters.

It was unfortunate that the names of the dancers, and the characters they were portraying, were not printed in the performance’s program. However I wanted to take note of their quality and how committed they were to telling the story of Mulan.

Guangzhou Ballet Makes New York Debut

David Koch Theater

August 17, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Under the auspices of the China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd., the Guangzhou Ballet made its New York debut at the David Koch Theater on August 17, 2019.

The Guangzhou Ballet was founded in 1993 by Zhang Dandan, a former dancer with the National Ballet of China, and is currently under the direction of Zou Gang.

The company’s repertoire has included the 19th century classics, ballets choreographed by George Balanchine, and new works based on Chinese stories. In spite of touring internationally and having a wide repertoire, the Guangzhou Ballet is not known in this part of the world – at least not as well known as the National Ballet of China.

For this engagement, which introduced the company to a New York audience, the Guangzhou Ballet presented a double bill of works which included ballets by choreographers who have had their works danced in New York in the past.

The opening ballet on the program was Peter Quanz’s Goddess of the Luo River, choreographed to a violin concerto composed by Du Mingzin, and based on a story derived from Chinese folk lore.

The Goddess of the River Luo was a deity in ancient China. She was recognized as the daughter of the mythical emperor Mi Xi, and when she drowned when crossing a river, she was then transformed into a river deity.

Quanz approached this story somewhat in the abstract choreographing in a neo-classic manner even though the dancers were portraying the principal characters of Yi Ren, Lian Jun, and Ruo Shui. One is reminded of Balanchine’s similar approach in his interpretation of the Divertimento from Le Baiser de la Fee. Goddess of the Luo River was expressively danced, and exhibited Quanz’s craft as a choreographer.

The more ambitious of the two works presented was Jiang Qi’s Carmina Burana, for which Qi had a very different interpretation of Carl Orff’s well known music.

The ballet was divided into three sections – The Spring, Tavern, and Destiny – all portending an alternative story than one would expect from Orff’s music. In the Spring section Bolanzifaluo (danced by Kou Zuquan) immediately falls in love with his betrothed, Helena (danced by Zhou Yu) after her face is revealed when she lifts her veil. However Helena prefers to pursue a different life and without a relationship. Tavern is a celebration of warriors who have succeeded on the battlefield and they are thinking about their post-war lives which they pursue in different ways. In Destiny the land cracks, the river dries up, and Bolanzifaluo sacrifices his life in the struggle to survive these adversities. In order to focus on praying for a peaceful world, Helena wears a red dress to worship the god of heaven and in so doing, the rains come, and the earth returns to life.

Qi’s uses a mix of contemporary ballet and modern dance choreography to reinterpret Carmina Burana and tell his distinct story – and this version of Carmina Burana was impressively danced by the dancers of the Guangzhou Ballet.

Unfortunate that the Guangzhou Ballet had such a short New York visit and one would like to see these well-trained and expressive dancers for a longer period of time and more often.

Joyce Theater Ballet Festival – Program D

Joyce Theater

August 16, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Closing this year’s Joyce Theater Ballet Festival was a program curated by Royal Ballet principal dancer Edward Watson. Watson chose to dance with fellow Royal Ballet principal dancer Sarah Lamb, Maria Kowroski of the New York City Ballet, and former New York City Ballet principal dancer, Robbie Fairchild. This eclectic program of dance – the fourth of the Festival’s programs – included contemporary ballet and modern dance pieces incorporating two solo works, two duets, and a four dancer closing work. Two of the works were world premieres.

To open this program was a repeat performance from Program A of an excerpt from Wayne McGregor’s Qualia which here again was danced by Sarah Lamb and Edward Watson, and confirming its aesthetic sensibilities that were revealed in its first Festival performance.

What followed was the first of two world premieres, James Alsop’s Assume Form, choreographed as a solo for Robbie Fairchild, and choreographed to James Blake’s Assume Form. This piece was danced against the background of an impression of an urban landscape, and the impact that urban life has had on the solo dancer. Alsop’s choreographic vocabulary was a hybrid of vernacular dance, modern dance, and post-modern dance – varied to some extent – but had ideas that could have been developed much further and more succinctly. The piece was effectively danced by Fairchild which served to expand Fairchild’s artistic horizons – the solo was challenging and brief.

A second solo work and world premiere was Laila Diallo’s All My Song, which was danced by Sarah Lamb. Divided into two sections with the first danced to Elvis Presley singing “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and the second section danced to de Sainte-Colombe’s “Les Pieurs”. All My Song’s first section was an experiment in non-movement expressing emotions, and in the second section more of an emotional release, and also speaking in the language of modern and post-modern choreography.

Robbie Fairchild and Edward Watson combined forces to dance in Javier de Frutos’ 3 with D which seemed to be designed to reflect a complicated dance conversation – depicting a relationship between the two men that was stressing both of them. de Frutos used a soundscape of songs by Ivor Novello, George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Dan Gillespie Sells -- Sells also sung the music live. de Frutos also employed modern dance choreography to express the emotions generated by the tense relationship – a relationship effectively characterized by Fairchild and Watson.

The final and closing piece on the program was Arthur Pita’s Cristaux, a work structured in three sections and danced by Robbie Fairchild, Maria Kowroski, Sarah Lamb, and Edward Watson.

The first section, cristaux – a, was choreographed to Frank Moon’s “Dreaming and the Upward Sky” which was danced by Lamb and Fairchild with the choreography featuring the dancers apart and together seeming to employing a circular pattern to frame the performing space. Some of the same choreographic characteristics surfaced in cristaux – b which began as a solo danced by Maria Kowroski and then was partnered by Watson. This section of Christie was danced in a moody and dimly lit atmosphere to Bev Lee Harling’s “Sunlight/Impossible Human”.

Cristaux – c was the third and final section of Cristaux which was initiated in an eerie atmosphere choreographed to an arrangement of the Second Movement Adagio from Bizet’s Symphony in C – and there was the surprise of Watson lying on the stage floor wearing a mask, then interacting with Lamb, Fairchild and Kowroski, and ending with Watson leaving the stage and walking up the Joyce Theater’s aisle – and curtain. Although one is uncertain of what Pita is trying to say in his choreography and the atmosphere he has created on the stage, it was still somewhat structured and had a point of view.

As curated by Watson, this program reflected his taste in choreography and how he wished that the choreography was to be communicated to the audience. If there was a purpose served in this program it was the opportunity for the dancers to be freed from convention and break out of their comfort zones.

This year’s Joyce Theater Ballet Festival can be described as an esteemed success, and whether or not more time is needed to plan the Festival’s programs, I hope there will be more of them in the future provoking thought in new works, but also presenting older works that would be just as thought provoking.

Sea Wall/A Life

Hudson Theatre

August 14, 2019

By Mark Kappel

It is a major event to have two respected and talented actors appearing in one-act plays on Broadway. In this instance it is British actor Tom Sturridge and American actor Jake Gyllenhaal who are gracing the stage of the Hudson Theatre in two intriguing and absorbing one-actors.

This presentation is under the combined title of Sea Wall/A Life – Sea Wall written by Simon Stephens, and A Life written by Nick Payne. Both plays have common themes of what it is like being a father and coming to terms with fatherhood as the two men in these plays follow different paths to fatherhood.

These plays were performed with the same actors at the Public Theatre earlier this year and this is a welcome opportunity to see these plays come to life again during this limited engagement at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre.

Opening this evening of one-actors sees Gyllenhaal on the stage sitting at a piano who then abruptly leaves the stage and then appearing is Sturridge who carefully arranges props on a desk and with the flip of a light switch, Stephen’s Sea Wall begins. The evening also ends with a striking image of these two fathers on the stage – which is a moving image even though these stories are unique in their own way.

In Stephens’ Sea Wall, Sturridge plays Alex, a young photographer who is on a family holiday in France and is not only coping with fatherhood but also grief. Alex describes his relationship with his father, a military man who had served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, and had a mysterious relationship with the sea. Alex tells the audience about his magical experience visiting a sea wall guided by his father.

Alex talks about the joys of being a father and how his daughter seemed to wrap around her fingers all of the people that she met. Ultimately he confesses about how he has dealt with an unexpected experience of grief during this vacation in the south of France – an event which turns both his and his wife’s life upside down and finding coping mechanisms -- to laugh or to cry or you can’t cry.

In Payne’s A Life, Gyllenhaal plays Abe, a music producer who comes to grips with his grief after his father’s death, anticipating a baby on the way, and unsure about being father and the impact that a child will have on his life. Abe seesaws from humor to hysteria as he moves back and feeling a full range of emotions facing his father’s death and his apprehensions about being a father. Abe tells this tragic comedy story with self-deprecating humor, and his surprise in how he is managing with new emotional experiences.

In the course of this performance Abe and Alex share their personal and moving stories about their wives, their children and the relationship they had with their fathers. The actors are talking to everyone in the audience, and the audience members feel that. Sturridge and Gyllenhaal successfully and winningly bring their stories to us.

Both plays share the theme of fatherhood and unexpected events that move these characters off even kilter – and both plays are effectively performed by actors who are true to each play’s text and the playwrights’ stories and intent.

Director Carrie Cracknell has ably guided both of these actors in coloring their characters with detail as both plays are performed in a bleak atmosphere in front of a set of brick walls. She also has made sure that the actors are drawing the audience into their stories – an intimate duality of two stories, told honestly, and forthrightly, and bringing back the tradition of simple story-telling in the theatre where primarily the story is what has to be communicated to the audience.

Encouraging is that both of these excellent actors have made commitments to their stage work and how lucky we are that we have a second chance in seeing these fine actors – acting in two plays that are both emotionally moving, unsettling, and introspective.

Joyce Theater Ballet Festival – Program C

Joyce Theater

August 13, 2019

By Mark Kappel

In its second week, the Joyce Theater Ballet Festival’s third program, curated by designer Jean-Marc Puissant, proved to be the most substantive of the four programs presented during the Festival as it did not consist of a series of solos or duets but included two works and excerpts from a larger work . As in the second program presented last week included in this program were dancers not only from the Royal Ballet but also from American Ballet Theatre, New York Theatre Ballet and the New York City Ballet.

Opening this program was Gemma Bond’s Then and Again, choreographed to Alfredo Piatti’s 12 Caprices for Solo Cello. It was danced by members of American Ballet Theatre including Zimmi Coker, Thomas Forster, Anabel Katsnelson, Betsy McBride, Courtney Shealy, Cassandra Trenary, Stephanie Williams, and Erez Milatin of New York Theatre Ballet, and quite clearly Bond knew these dancers very well and fashioned her choreography to play to their strengths. The piece’s choreography was dominated by complex partnering, random steps, and effectively played against lighting that shadowed the dancers and their movement.

A notable piece on this program was Maurice Bejart’s Song Of A Wayfarer, choreographed to Mahler’s composition of the same name here heard in a recording sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. This was a work that not been seen on a New York stage in some years. This special duet for two male dancers had been created for Rudolf Nureyev and Paolo Bortoluzzi, and was often danced by Nureyev with many ballet companies in New York during the height of his career.

In this duet Bejart’s choreography reflected camaraderie between the two dancers, also simplicity and a dramatic interpretation of the music. Simplicity was the lesson here that so much more can be said without decorative choreography. Staged by Maina Gielgud, this performance of Song Of A Wayfarer was danced by David Hallberg of American Ballet Theatre and Joseph Gordon of the New York City Ballet challenging them both as dancers and artists. In its short duration, Bejart’s Song Of A Wayfarer has a greater emotional punch than many full-length ballets. This is a self-searching piece of choreography which brings out the emotions and expression in Mahler’s music.

Closing the program were excerpts from Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations, a ballet choreographed for the Royal Ballet in 1974, when there was interest in the music of American composer Scott Joplin. In Elite Syncopations MacMillan created a nightclub scene for quirky and comedic dance episodes which were included among the excerpts in this performance. The cheeky, comic and mocking duets, and a virtuoso male solo were performed with a wink and a nod enhanced by the dancers’ comic timing and executing the choreography as if they were floating over the music.

Notable was the wonderful sophistication by Sarah Lamb and Calvin Richardson dancing the duet to Bethena: A Concert Waltz, but also Romany Pajdak and Joseph Sissens in their comic duet, Cassandra Trenary – filling in superbly in one of the solo excerpts, and Marcelino Sambe showing off in his virtuoso solo. With Ian Spurling’s over the top costumes, this was a perfect ending to a satisfying evening of dance.

Joyce Theater Ballet Festival – Program B

Joyce Theater

August 10, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The second of the four programs being offered by the Joyce Theater Ballet Festival received its first performance on August 10, 2019, and was curated by Royal Ballet principal dancer Lauren Cuthbertson.

In this program Cuthbertson danced in all but one of the works presented on this program and in support were dancers from American Ballet Theatre and the National Ballet of Canada. Four of the five pieces performed on this program were world premieres and the remaining work was an American premiere.

In presenting so many new works this was a notable experiment with new choreography, bringing choreographers’ works to a wider audience, and reflected Cuthbertson’s taste in choreography. In addition to curating this program Cuthbertson danced in four of the five works on this program – and such a program is not only a major challenge in and of itself artistically but also in logistics.

Having seen Cuthbertson in the past primarily in the classics and other story ballets, this program showed off her versatility as a dancer.

Opening the program was the world premiere of Jonathan Watkins’ Darl, which was choreographed to Hannah Peel’s “Rethinking Bolero – after Ravel” with audio additions including spoken word referencing Cuthbertson’s life as a dancer – cluttered with ideas, decisions to be made and self-deprecating humor in a salad of disconnected steps in classical ballet and modern styles – a piece establishing Cuthbertson’s persona and personality.

Gemma Bond was represented on this program with the world premiere of Seventy Two Hours, a duet choreographed to piano music composed by Rachmaninov. Danced by Aran Bell and Devon Teuscher of American Ballet Theatre, the choreography was notable for its convention of frequent entrances and exits by the dancers individually and together, with complicated lifts and intertwining of the dancers’ bodies which was beautifully executed by Bell and Teuscher.

Closing the first half of the program was the American premiere of Juliano Nunes’ Two Sides Of, a duet danced by Cuthbertson and Marcelino Sambe which was choreographed to Bear Story II by Luke Howard. The piece consisted of two consecutive pas de deux – similar in tone and notable for the execution of partnering – and well danced by this pairing who danced this work with great conviction.

The second half of the program opened with another solo danced by Cuthbertson and another world premiere, Stina Quagebeur’s Reverie, choreographed to Reverie L68: Claude Debussy. Quagebeur choreographed her piece in a modern and organic style in which Cuthbertson interpreted the piece as someone with inner struggles and yearning. Quagebeur’s piece was certainly choreographed in contrast with Watkins’ more humorous piece.

The most adventurous piece on this program – if only because of the larger number of dancers that appeared in the piece – was the world premiere of Robert Binet’s Dialogue Dances. Binet is a resident choreographer of the National Ballet of Canada, and his piece was inspired by native Indian spirit and themes which was choreographed to selections from Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa composed by Jeremy Dutcher.

Binet’s choreography was ritualistic and spiritual in nature, and besides the music, the piece was also choreographed to spoken word.

The piece opened with an expressive solo danced by Xiao Nan Yu, principal dancer of the National Ballet of Canada, evoking tribal subject matter, dialogue with the elements, and repetitive movement in conjunction with the theme of the piece. Dialogue Dances succeeded in its purpose with a choreographic vocabulary that included contemporary ballet and modern dance with group dances and pas de deux alternating throughout the piece.

Dialogue Dances was danced by a glorious cast. Besides Yu, also included in the cast were Sklylar Campbell, Hannah Fischer Spencer Hack all of the National Ballet of Canada joined by Lauren Cuthbertson and Nicol Edmonds of the Royal Ballet.

The choreographers whose works were presented on this program owed much to the committed and well danced performances of those works on this program.

Cuthbertson had the opportunity to make an artistic statement which was reinforced by the fine performances by all of the dancers involved.

Joyce Theater Ballet Festival – Program A

Joyce Theater

August 6, 2019

By Mark Kappel

In the past several years the Joyce Theater has self-produced dance programming at its own venue and in other venues in New York City. At the Joyce Theater itself there has been programming bringing together dance performing groups with a theme in mind and also performing for shorter than one week engagements.

This season’s Joyce Theater Ballet Festival has been curated by Kevin O’Hare, artistic director of the Royal Ballet, with the participation of several dancers from the Royal Ballet. However through the course of planning this adventurous programming, the participants and repertoire have changed. Reflecting the challenges that are often caused by visa requirements, dancer injury, coordinating rehearsals, and securing the permissions of choreographers to have their works to be danced at these performances.

In addition to the dancers from the Royal Ballet, dancers from the National Ballet of Canada, American Ballet Theatre, the New York City Ballet, and the New York Theatre Ballet will also be performing in the four programs that will come under the banner of the Joyce Theater Ballet Festival. Also involved in curating these programs are Royal Ballet dancers, Lauren Cuthbertson, and Edward Watson, and designer Jean-Marc Puissant.

The first program of the four being presented as part of the Joyce Theater Ballet Festival on August 6, 2019, is the only program in which the Royal Ballet dancers and repertoire dominate. Included were excerpts from longer works that have been created by choreographers most associated with the Royal Ballet including Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, and the Royal Ballet’s current resident choreographers, Christopher Wheeldon, Liam Scarlett and Wayne McGregor – some of these pieces were familiar to New York audiences and others were not.

The first of the two Frederick Ashton works was Dance of the Blessed Spirits, a solo choreographed to Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice: Dance in the Elysian Fields, which was created for Anthony Dowell in 1978. Itwas danced here by Joseph Sissens. As Seissens exemplified in this piece and other pieces on this program he is an elegant and talented dancer – and it was with the elegance that he danced with that dignified this solo work choreographed by Ashton.

The second of the two Ashton works, Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan, here danced by Romany Pajdak, is a series of solos that were created as a vehicle for Lynn Seymour in 1976 and was an homage to the dancing and choreography of Isadora Duncan. Danced to live piano music played by Kate Shipway this was one of the more significant works on the program – and closed this program of dance – with Padjak portraying the emotions, and determination in this pastiche celebrating Duncan.

Kenneth MacMillan was represented by Concerto Pas de Deux, the middle movement of MacMillan’s Concerto, which he created for the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Choreographed to Shostakovitch’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Concerto has often been referred to as MacMillan’s Balanchine ballet, and this elegiac duet to this piano concerto’s middle movement is notable for its fluidity and musicality. Danced to live piano music Lauren Cuthbertson and Nicol Edmonds beautifully interpreted and danced this simple, romantic pas de deux with the clean lines that MacMillan created in his choreography.

These aforementioned works are examples of the Royal Ballet’s vintage works and the other works on this program represented an indication of the company’s artistic future with excerpts from works by the Royal Ballet’s current resident choreographers.

Opening this program was Liam Scarlett’s flowing Pas de Deux from his Asphodel Meadows which he created for the Royal Ballet in 2010 and is choreographed to music by Poulenc. This pas deux was performed with sophistication and restraint by Romany Pajdak and Calvin Richardson in complicated adagio choreography.

Christopher Wheeldon was represented by two excerpts from his Within The Golden Hour, a work he created for the San Francisco Ballet in 2008 and since acquired by the Royal Ballet, choreographed to music by Ezio Bosso and Antonio Vivaldi. The male duet was danced with physicality by Joseph Sissens and Calvin Richardson, which was contrasted by the more emotional and atmospheric duet danced by Sarah Lamb and Marcelino Sambe.

Wayne McGregor was represented by excerpts from two of his dance works. One of which was one of the duets from Obsidian Tear, a co-production of the Royal Ballet and the Boston Ballet, and choreographed to music composed by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Obsidian Tear is a work for an all male cast and this particular duet is combative and survival oriented with Joseph Sissens dancing in red as the outcast, and Calvin Richardson protecting his community and tribe. The duet was a great athletic display which was ably danced by these two dancers.

The second McGregor excerpt was from Qualia, a work he created in 2003. In this piece McGregor is channeling William Forsythe blending with a modern dance vocabulary and as danced by Sarah Lamb and Edward Watson this excerpt highlighted the athletic strengths of the dancers.

Joseph Sissens had an additional opportunity to shine in Charlotte Edmonds’ solo, JoJo, which for Sissens was a tour de force that was entertaining and exploited Sissens’ strengths as a dancer.

This performance presented an appetizer of what the Royal Ballet might dance here in New York if the full company was able to make the trip from London, and also a teaser for what is yet to come in the other three different programs that will be danced during the Joyce Theater Ballet Festival. And for nothing else it is worth seeing this particular program just to see these magnificent dancers from the Royal Ballet.

Marius Petipa – The Emperor’s Ballet Master

By Mark Kappel

Marius Petipa – The Emperor’s Ballet Master by Nadine Meisner and published by Oxford University Press is the first English language biography of one of the world’s most renowned and accomplished ballet choreographers. This exhaustive historical survey of this giant’s career is filled with fascinating details played against the political strife, and social change during the time period when absolute monarchs ruled Russia.

Petipa was the most influential choreographer of the 19th century and whose influence is still felt today into the 21st century. Meisner cleverly presents Petipa’s career within the context of Russia’s history, development of ballet technique and social history, and Petipa’s significant collaborations with the great composers and artistic bureaucrats of the day.

Petipa arrived in Russia at 29 years of age to pursue his career as a dancer and in 1847 signed a contract to be a premiere danseur and mime with the Imperial Theatre now known as the Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg. Petipa spent 63 years of his life in Russia and after an immensely successful career he died in 1910.

Petipa served four emperors, was chief ballet master for 41 years, created more than 50 ballets and restaged 19 other ballets, and created choreography for 37 operas. He guided, what is now known as the Mariinsky Ballet to establish its worldwide reputation. Somewhere in the world there is a ballet company performing his ballets which have become standard components of ballet companies’ repertoires.

It is ironic that Petipa was not so well-known in his time because his works were not being acquired by ballet companies in Western Europe whereas foreign choreographers and their ballets were welcomed by Russian ballet companies. Also Petipa seldom travelled abroad so his fame was somewhat clouded during his most creative period in Russia.

Towards the end of Petipa’s life, 21 of his ballets were notated in a new system developed by Vladimir Stepanov which made it possible for his ballets to be restaged for ballet companies outside of Russia. However Petipa’s ballets were kept alive by the passing on the choreography from one generation to the next from one dancer to another and one ballet master or balletmistress to another yet we may never know how authentic these productions are.

Also in the last two decades or so, there has been an interest in Petipa’s ballets being reconstructed as they were originally performed using the aforesaid Stepanov notation, and costume and scenery designs in the archives of Russia’s ballet companies -- all in an effort for the Russian ballet companies to disconnect themselves from the re-thought productions of Petipa’s ballets that were staged during Russia’s Soviet era.

Petipa’s survival in his esteemed position was not only due to his talent as a choreographer but also being successful as a diplomat and politician to cope with the whims of Russia’s monarchs who controlled and influenced the hirings and firings that took place within the Imperial Theatres.

The art of the ballet in Russia and interest in supporting this art form may have had its roots as far back as the early 18th century. Noted in this biography was the custom to recruit ballet dancers and balletmasters from the ranks of serfs on vast Russian estates where theatres had been established. Petipa’s career was played against Russia’s archaic governmental and social system – he also survived the vicissitudes of the revolutionary politics of the early 20th century.

In her book Meisner describes in detail the burgeoning world of ballet in the 19th century and its interconnections with ballet companies all over Europe. The book is a history of the personalities and ballets that were performed during that period and describes the connections of Petipa’s family which led him to Russia – that family history – both immediate and extended – is described in detail and provides Petipa’s roots as an artist and family member.

Most interesting was the examination of how at the end of the 19th century there was an invasion of Italian dancers and choreographers into Russia, which resulted in Russian dancers wanting to study with Italian teachers. Petipa exploited these Italians’ freshness and tricks. Most notably Pierina Legnani with her trick and execution of 32 fouettes which was exploited in Swan Lake’s Black Swan Pas De Deux – but a trick used to draw and dramatize the character of Odile.

Petipa’s professional and creative life was drastically changed as he succumbed to illness in the final years of his life, and it seemed the art of ballet was evolving in a different artistic direction. Petipa survived the torment of Vladimir Teliakovsky an artistic bureaucrat at the Imperial Theatre – but who arranged a life contract for Petipa with the blessing of the Russian Emperor.

However during that time he also expressed his jealousy about a rival when Alexander Gorsky’s star was rising and was appointed artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet -- and who also re-staged many of Petipa’s ballets.

In spite of a life contract Petipa was reduced to supervising the rehearsals of his older ballets rather than creating new ballets, and died in the midst of the changes in Russia to come with the beginnings of political revoluations and the rise of the Diaghilev Ballets Russes in Western Europe.

Meisner describes Petipa as an evolutionist rather than an innovator – perhaps an apt description of Petipa’s work as a choreographer and stage director.

As a research tool Meisner’s biography is invaluable as it includes detailed information concerning Petipa’s ballets with notations and the artists who performed in them. This serves not only as a reference in regard to Petipa’s career but also of other ballet luminaries of Russian and Western European ballet. This is a valuable biography of one of the most important artists in the ballet world and also how Petipa’s influence is very much alive on the ballet stages of the world today.

#DateMe: An OK Cupid Experiment – Dating in the 21st Century

Westside Theatre

August 3, 2019

By Mark Kappel

In the 21st century meeting and dating has evolved into a science. Online dating sites have taken the place of other methods of trying to find Mr. Right or Ms. Right. And it is that spirit of mystery which is taken up in a new off-Broadway comedy with music, #DateMe: An OK Cupid Experiment, which is currently playing at the off-Broadway, Westside Theatre.

#DateMe: An OK Cupid Experiment is the creation of comedienne Robyn Lynne Norris chronicling a personal experience of her own. When she had moved to Los Angeles a friend suggested that she try out the dating site OK Cupid. Instead of creating an honest profile, she created a fake profile, Tracy Loves Cats, and was besieged with messages of all kinds – she then created 38 fake profiles and compiled those messages into a theatrical form with her collaborators Bob Ladewig and Frank Caeti, which was the kernel that was expanded into this current two-act comedy with music.

#DateMe: An OK Cupid Experiment is an audience interactive experience asking audience members to log into the show’s app, setting up a dating profile and getting into the online dating game that is being played on stage. As if most people aren’t already attached to their smart phones and other devices, this seems to be an aspect of the 21st century universe of meeting people – with the hope of love in the end.

Some audience members are actually matched up and for others their ludicrous and funny stories about dating in this high tech and “disconnected” age is meshed into songs and skits – not to mention explaining and uncovering some of the stereotypical male online daters’ messages – factoring in the OK Cupid site’s algorithm and scientific data.

Lorin Lattarro, as director, has fashioned the distinct aspects of the stereotypes that are included in this play and the musical numbers that are performed – and in some instances incorporates the profile requirements expressed by audience members. This makes for a spontaneous theatrical experience.

The material was placed in the able hands of the excellent and versatile cast of Chris Alvarado, Kaitlyn Black, Jillian Gottlieb, Jonathan Gregg, Eric Lockley, and Megan Sikora who are the story-tellers who unmask the stereotypes found in online dating and take the fun journey in discovering whether online dating will actually lead one to Mr. Right or Ms. Right. In the course of the journey #DateMe: An OK Cupid Experiment is a reflection of its time, and offers some hope for its audience that perhaps all will end well.

Still Here – Elaine Stritch

By Mark Kappel

Alexandra Jacobs, a culture critic and features writer for the New York Times, has written a thoughtful and descriptive biography about one of the leading lights of New York’s theatrical community, Still Here: The Madcap, Nervy, Singular Life of Elaine Stritch, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux.

Born in 1925 and leaving us in 2014, Elaine Stritch had a career on the stage, in movies, and on television that stretched through the latter half of the 20th century and into the early part of the 21st century.

From Detroit and then pursuing her career in New York, she made major contributions to theatrical history.

Particular examples -- in 1970 creating the role of Joanne in Stephen Sondheim’s Company to her 2001 Tony Award-winning one-woman show, At Liberty. This is not to mention her appearances in plays by Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams, Neil Simon and Edward Albee.

Jacobs begins Stritch’s story with her roots in Michigan coming from a comfortable family life because of her father’s affiliation with B.F. Goodrich – which enabled the Stritch family to survive several economic crises and wound up in even more improved circumstances.

She moved to New York in 1943 to pursue a career in show business where she participated in drama classes with well known contemporaries in New York and was to able to take advantage of a few outstanding opportunities. Among them was being engaged to be Ethel Merman’s standby in Call Me Madam – and doing double-duty in a featured role in the coming Rodgers & Hart musical Pal Joey, and then touring in Call Me Madam in the starring role. Also there was a supporting role in William Inge’s Bus Stop for which she received great acclaim.

Disappointments were the musicals Goldilocks and Sail Away, and challenging was being the matinee Martha in Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

However she did put a stamp on a role – an iconoclastic role – that of Joanne in Stephen Sondheim’s Company, and in Still Here Jacobs describes how the role was developed, how Stritch got involved in making that role her own, and in great detail, there are comments about Stritch’s performance from members of Company’s original cast.

Stritch also regretted not having been chosen to play Mama Rose in Gypsy, the title role in Mame and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd – and also missed out on being cast as Dolly in one of the original national tours of Hello, Dolly!. But she re-invented herself with her one woman show, At Liberty, and also becoming a fixture at the Café Carlyle.

There was also a significant sojourn in London where she met her husband John Bay and she appeared in the London production of Company and in several plays. But returned to the States and was able to re-start her career. Through her career she did appear in films – some successful and notable, and some not – as well as guest appearances in television shows. She had auditioned for one of the roles in the television series The Golden Girl but didn’t get it. But it was her contributions to the theatre that are her most important contributions to our cultural history.

Although not ideally suited to the role, towards the end of her life she did grab one’s attention playing Madame Armfeldt in a Broadway revival of A Little Night Music.

It is so unfortunate that Stritch was plagued by a chronic problem with alcohol during her life which probably resulted in her losing many of the roles she had coveted.

Although so much about Elaine Stritch is well known to members of the New York theatre community, I think there is much to read about and learn from in Jacobs’ detailed biography of a great lady of the Broadway stage.

NT Live Presents Cinema Screening of The Lehman Trilogy

Beekman Theatre

July 29, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Stefano Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy, as adapted by Ben Power, was given its English language premiere at the National Theatre in London in 2018. It is now being seen all over the world through the courtesy of NT Live’s cinema screenings. The cinema screenings of The Lehman Trilogy also mark the 10th anniversary of NT Live’s cinema screenings – a program that has brought many of the National Theatre’s productions to audiences in all parts of the world.

Expertly directed by Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy is presented as three different plays describing the origins of the Lehman Family, which established the financial services and investment firm, Lehman Brothers. In the course of Massini’s story-telling, The Lehman Trilogy describes the business’ 164 years of existence culminating in its bankruptcy which triggered a worldwide financial crisis in 2008. The Lehman Trilogy is an epic play incorporating the many details of how this financial calamity occurred, and tracing the prospects for this catastrophe through the experiences and eyes of the founders of Lehman Brothers.

A 3-actor cast portrays the original Lehman brothers, Henry Lehman (Simon Russell Beale), Emanuel Lehman (Ben Miles), and Mayer Lehman (Adam Godley) who found this business, as well as portraying their children and grandchildren as they trace their family history in parallel with the history of their family business.

The story begins in 1844 when the Lehman brothers – German immigrants-- join forces in Montgomery, Alabama developing a dry goods business which also includes a cotton trading business and expands into commodities trading. The Lehman brothers enlarge their commodities business and open an office in New York City – further expanding their business into financial services, investing in promising new industries and stock trading. In the end family members were no longer involved in the business, and what followed were power struggles among the new leadership and mergers with other corporations.

The Lehman brothers’ businesses survived the travails of the American Civil War which destroyed their business. But they survived by relocating their business to New York while also trying to revive the Southern economy – persuading businesses to invest in that part of the world. Each opportunity was one step towards fulfilling their American Dreams and when selling any new deal or investment the phrase, “Trust Me!” was invoked. However the mission of Lehman Brothers as a business evolved and greater risks were taken to make money, increase power and dominate, in the course of seeking their own vision of immortality. As portrayed in The Lehman Trilogy when Lehman Brothers as a business was lost there was a great deal of collateral damage and the ghosts of the past were there to remind the current generation that their excesses could be lethal.

The performances by Simon Russell Beale, Ben Miles, and Adam Godley are expert and inspiring – and they capture all of the many characters that they portray from one generation to the next. Their performances are individual tour de forces, but they also collaborated as an amazing dramatic ensemble.Enhancing this incredible story was the glass cube set design by Es Devlin – rotating glass box with furnishings of a contemporary office and video projections (created by Luke Halls) which change the landscape and serve as the background of the stories being told in this ambitious play.

In The Lehman Trilogy, the actors and the creative team have collaborated to visually and verbally explain how it all happened. There is an important story being told in Massini’s The Lehman Trilogy and as history tends to repeat itself it is also important that such a major catastrophe doesn’t happen again.

On Stage At The Ballet – Robert Barnett

By Mark Kappel

On Stage at the Ballet – My Life as Dancer and Artistic Director, an autobiography about and by Robert Barnett with Cynthia Crain, has been published by McFarland at McFarlandBooks.com.

This autobiography chronicles Barnett’s life -- unique as someone who had an illustrious career as a dancer and then transitioned to being an artistic director during the 1960’s when many American professional ballet companies were founded.

Barnett was born in the state of Washington into modest circumstances. He enrolled in tap-dancing classes in his early youth performing in the small town his family lived in but felt he was destined to be a fashion designer.

After his military service in the Navy, Barnett pursued his ballet studies with Bronislava Nijinska in California and what followed was a tour with the Original Ballet Russe. In his book Barnett describes the dissension among the management and artistic leaders of the Original Ballet Russe and the origins of the Original Ballet Russe. But in his words Barnett emphasized the important influence that the Original Ballet Russe had in terms of developing ballet audiences in the United States and the education of future ballet dancers when members of the Original Ballet Russe settled in different parts of the United States and established ballet schools.

However it was in 1949 that he auditioned for George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Lincoln Kirstein, and was engaged for the New York City Ballet. He was immediately sent to work with Robbins in a new ballet. An audition that changed Barnett’s life.

It is in those chapters about Barnett’s working relationship with the New York City Ballet that the book is most illuminating. In those chapters Barnett describes the early days of the New York City Ballet – including the small but enthusiastic audiences – and the ballets he created roles in and those roles he stepped into.

Unfortunately Barnett does not describe in depth the working relationship of the New York City Ballet’s dancers had with George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Lincoln Kirstein and only focuses on his own experiences with them in few details.

However Barnett does describe his one and only fight with Jerome Robbins which was in London during one of the New York City Ballet’s international tours. It was of interest in terms of how such fights erupt during moments of stress during a rehearsal period for a ballet and what set of skills are necessary to diplomatically find mutual respect and continue an artistic collaboration.

Also described were George Balanchine’s efforts to educate the public, academicians, and journalists about neo-classical ballets and what was the future of ballet as an art form.
But certainly among the issues that were stressful and tense for Barnett was the revelation of Tanaquil LeClercq being diagnosed with polio which threatened her life and also possibly the existence of the New York City Ballet. Balanchine’s frequent and long-term absences from the New York City Ballet to be with his wife, Le Clercq, during her illness and treatment might have caused the New York City Ballet to suspend operations.

Also stressful was the decision for Barnett and his wife, Ginger, to take positions with the Atlanta Civic Ballet as dancers and as directors in training and then being appointed as artistic director of that organization in 1961 until his departure from what became the Atlanta Ballet in 1994. Barnett admitted to the fast learning curve he had to cope with as he was at various times a dancer, director and stager works for the company – all roles offering special challenges – especially when you are trying to do all of these jobs at once.
Barnett describes what it was like to build a professional ballet company in the United States – with one’s own hands – with brick and mortar. The lucky breaks, difficulties in funding, taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves.

Barnett noted in his autobiography that Dorothy Alexander, who was the founder of the Atlanta Civic Ballet (now known as the Atlanta Ballet) questioned the assistance of the support from the Ford Foundation in the 1960’s to transition the Atlanta Civic Ballet into a professional ballet company. Her concerns were that George Balanchine, as artistic leader of the New York City Ballet, wanted to take the regional ballet companies in the United States under his wing by offering his ballets, costumes, and Ford Foundation financial support. But it was Alexander’s feeling that Balanchine’s real goal was to centralize ballet in America through the auspices of the Ford Foundation, and she turned down the funding offered by the Ford Foundation for that reason.

In his autobiography On Stage At the Ballet, Barnett is definitely introspective and has had the opportunity to look back on his career involving himself in all aspects of the ballet world. For any dancer who is considering the prospect of taking on the job of an artistic director of ballet company this is a must read.

Encores! Off-Center Presents Sondheim’s Road Show

City Center

July 27, 2019

By Mark Kappel

For its third offering of this season Encores! Off-Center presented a concert version of the Stephen Sondheim/John Weidman musical, Road Show from July 24-27, 2019.

Encores has had a relationship with Stephen Sondheim’s musicals over the years, re-examining them in the process, and these concert versions allow audiences to appreciate and evaluate Sondheim’s many and stellar contributions to musical theatre. Road Show started its life at Chicago Goodman Theatre in 2003 under the title of Bounce – and it opened at New York’s Public Theatre under the new name of Road Show in 2008. During its journey Road Show had undergone revisions and after a London production in 2011 and other regional theatre productions, Road Show has found its way back to New York – for a second time.

I had not seen Road Show in its previous incarnations and in this concert version produced by Encores! Off-Center there was the opportunity to see this musical with a fresh perspective.

Road Show has also turned out to be the most recent – and hopefully not the last – of Sondheim’s musicals to be produced – and it has been angling for attention for more than a decade. This production offered the opportunity re-evaluate Sondheim’s Road Show utilizing the large talent pool based here in New York.

Road Show tells the story of the brothers Mizner, Addison (played by Brandon Uranowitz) and Wilson (played by Raul Esparza) who aspire to greatness with the encouragement of their parents (played by Mary Beth Peil and Chuck Cooper). The brothers are persuaded to pursue their fortunes at the beginning of the 1920’s – during the Klondike gold rush to the real estate boom in Florida.

Road Show depicts the Mizners as they stumble through several decades of fraudulent deals and swindles meant to make short-term gains. The collateral damage includes serial estrangements between the two brothers – and Addison Mizner’s estrangement with his lover, Hollis Bessemer (played by Jin Ha). Relationships breakdown and fortunes change on the way towards what is believed to be achieving the American Dream revealing this musical’s dark side. And taking dramatic license, as the brothers are only reconciled after death.

Road Show is not an historic representation of the Mizners’ adventures and misadventures, and their personal relationships. But certainly relevant today as Weidman’s book includes modern day advertising slogans and Sondheim’s music has familiar phrases from his other musicals. However the story effectively focuses on how these brothers squandered their talents and how the relationship between the Mizner brothers evolves from bad to worse – emphasizing the theme in Road Show that when thinking about the American Dream it is the journey not the destination.

Director/choreographer Will Davis employed the concept of presenting Road Show in the environment of a radio play which works very well in terms of the historical period that the musical is set in and also is adaptable to the use of scripts in hand and a minimalist design environment.

This theatrical convention also allowed for Road Show’s many shifts of locations to move swiftly and expeditiously emphasizing how the relationship between the brothers Mizner deteriorated.

There are a few musical gems in Road Show’s score including “The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened” and the recurring “The Game”.

The Encores! Off-Center concert version of Road Show is lit up by the performances of its marvelous cast – in particular Raul Esparza as Wilson, Brandon Uranowtiz as Addison, Mary Beth Peil and Chuck Cooper as the Mizner parents, and Jin Ha as Hollis. They brought a great deal to these complicated characters in complicated relationships – as well as contributing their voices to enhance Sondheim’s music.

Road Show is not one of Sondheim’s neglected masterpieces but earned a place in the Encores! Off-Center series because it deserved to be heard and seen.

Encores! Off Center Presents Promenade

City Center

July 11, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The Encores! Off Center’s second offering is the Maria Irene Fornes/Al Carmines musical, Promenade, which had its off-Broadway debut in 1965, and opened a commercial off-Broadway engagement in 1969.

With a book and lyrics by Maria Irene Fornes and music by Al Carmines, Promenade has rarely been performed and has been described as an experimental musical that is not presented in a linear form. There are illusions to legendary absurdist artists – and musicals with a message such as The Cradle Will Rock – a response to the politics and social issues in 1960’s America –and Brechtian in style and form.

The focus of this musical is on two prisoners, known as 105 and 106 (played by James T. Lane and Kent Overshown) who escape from prison to be pursued by a prison guard – who exchanges sex for favors. Besides being pursued by the prison guard, the two prisoners have their adventures including mingling with a group of wealthy socialites and snobs, to be joined in their misadventures by a disgruntled maid, a soldier who has ambiguous feelings about facing death on a battle field but complains about his terrible hamburger, and then off to the home of the Mayor where this odd collection of characters are forced into entertaining the Mayor and are ultimately sent to jail. In the end the prisoners’ pasts catch up with them, but they have learned from their experiences navigating and observing the world of the haves and have nots.

Promenade is structured like a vaudeville encompassing wonderful and witty musical gems which reveal much about the characters who are singing them. Al Carmine’s score represents a broad range of musical styles and forms including opera arias, military marches, and songs that tell stories – both lurid and sympathetic. Also highlighted is Maria Irene Fornes’ own outlook on the world at the time, and her streetwise and surprising commentary on the social issues at hand -- and the clever manner in which she makes cogent points. Promenade is a musical not only with a message but with many messages.

Notable musical moments are the performances of Bonnie Milligan as Miss Cake singing “Chicken Is He”, Soara-Joye Ross singing “The Moment Has Passed”, and the wonderful calmness exuded in “All Is Well In The City” led by James T. Lane, Kent Overshown and the Company. And this is an excellent company of musical theater professionals who bring out the best in Promenade’s sometimes disconnected musical numbers.

As this production’s director Laurie Woolery has put a spotlight on Promenade’s many wonderful moments which are enhanced by Hope Boykin’s choreography, and Clint Ramos’ costumes which presented clear pictures of what the characters were all about when they set foot on the City Center stage.

Promenade is an intriguing piece of musical theatre that is worth another look!

Royal Danish Ballet at the Joyce Theater

Joyce Theater

July 9, 2019

By Mark Kappel

From July 9-14, 2019 The Joyce Theater Foundation is presenting a themed program, The Bournonville Legacy, featuring current members, and a former member of the Royal Danish Ballet, the company most associated with this historic style of dance and choreography.

Auguste Bournonville stands as a giant of 19th century ballet preserving the French style of dance in Copenhagen for the Royal Danish Ballet. He was a renaissance man not only as a teacher and choreographer but also a writer and painter, and his travels provided him with the stories that he adapted for his ballets.

Bournonville’s ballets depicted people in their everyday lives – soldiers, peasants, fishermen, shoemakers, and farmers – typical of the characters that appeared in the ballets presented at the Paris Opera Ballet in a country where “democracy” was evolving. However there was room for fairy tales and legends that were portrayed in Bournonville ballets such as La Sylphide and A Folk Tale.

This group of Royal Danish Ballet dancers which is performing at the Joyce Theater is under the guidance of the organizer of the tour, Ulrik Birkkjaer, a former member of the Royal Danish Ballet and currently a principal dancer of the San Francisco Ballet.

For these performances only excerpts from Bournonville’s ballets are being danced – which conform to the Joyce Theater’s stage – but this is an important showcase as the Royal Danish Ballet’s American tours are infrequent.

The program opened with excerpts from Act II of La Sylphide, perhaps the best known Bournonville work and also the only work on this program which represented Bournonville choreographing a work that included otherworldly spirits. Based on a Scottish tale, La Sylphide was originally premiered at the Paris Opera Ballet and Bournonville choreographed in his own version for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1836 – dancing the role of James in the ballet himself.

La Sylphide tells the story of betrayal in which a Scotsman, James, exhibits his lack of grace in not assisting a beggar woman who shows up at his front door as he in the midst of planning for his wedding. The beggar woman tells fortunes and the fortune for James is not a good one prompting James to throw the beggar woman out of his house. James becomes infatuated with a woodland spirit and follows her into the forest, and James soon finds out that the beggar woman is a witch who wreaks revenge on him by conjuring up a shawl that James believes will transform the Sylph into human form – but instead causes the Sylph’s death.

It is in Act II of La Sylphide that there are the happy moments of the Sylph’s and James’ relationship and James’ hope that the Sylph will be transformed into human form – only to be betrayed by the witch. Minus the corps de ballet, this excerpt focused on the Pas de Deux of the Sylph and James, and the mime sequences in which the witch gets her revenge.

Even in this excerpt Ida Praetorius dancing the role of the Sylph, Ulrik Birkkjaer dancing the role of James. and Sorella Englund portraying the role of the Witch, one sees Bournonville’s magical touch in conveying the emotions and passions in this ballet, and also how convincing it all can be when danced in the pure Bournonville style.

The second half of the program were more divertissements collectively presented under the title of “A Bournonville Square” in which the dancers quickly shifted from one divertissement to the next.

Leading off this sequence was the Pas de Trois from The King’s Volunteers on Amager – a ballet celebrating the patriotism of Danish soldiers who are defending Denmark from a British invasion. This piece was exuberantly danced by Liam Redhead, Camilla Ruelykke, and Emma Riis-Kofoed.

Following was the competitive Jockey Dance from Bournonville’s last ballet, From Siberia To Moscow, which was danced with a wonderful display of technique and comic timing by Marcin Kupinski and Alexander Bozinoff.

A particular enjoyment was the Street Singer solo from Napoli danced by Tobias Praetorius in which a dancer mimes the notes of a musical piece – that is comic and also informs one about what this character might have been like in the full-length ballet Napoli.

Also there was the rare glimpse of the Pas de Deux from The Kermesse in Bruges danced by the principal characters in the ballet, Carelis and Eleonore – and here danced with charm and elegance by Stephanie Chen Gundorph and Jon Axel Fransson.

The last time the Royal Danish Ballet danced in New York at the David Koch Theater, the company performed a revised and reinterpreted version of Bournonville’s Napoli – only performing Act III which updated the story to the 1950’s and even included the arrival of some of the participants on a Vespa. The updating seemed odd and it was much appreciated that the original version of Napoli Act III is being presented on this program. It seems the current leadership of the Royal Danish Ballet has put aside its mission to preserve the company’s Bournonville legacy. That said no legacy as important as this legacy is is absolutely pristine even when carefully staged and reconstructed.

This program ended with a rousing performance of the Pas de Six and Tarantella from Napoli Act III with Gundorph as Teresina and Fransson as Gennaro with the Pas de Six danced by Liam Redhead, Alexander Bozinoff, Emma Riis-Kofoed, Camilla Ruelkke, Astrid Elbo, Ji Min Hong, Tobias Praetorius, Marcin Kupinski, and Ida Praetorius and Ulrik Birkkjaer leading the first Tarantella.

Even in these excerpts it was important to note that Bournonville’s choreography is best danced by dancer/actors who are not only dancing what the characters might be like but also as actors providing vivid pictures of these characters.

It was a privilege to see these Bournonville excerpts danced with integrity, and freshness, and also to see a new generation of the Royal Danish Ballet’s dancers.

City Center Off Center Presents Working: The Musical

City Center

June 29, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Starting its 2019 season Encores! Off Center is presenting a concert version of Working: The Musical from June 26-29, 2019 which is inspired by the City Center’s 75th Anniversary Celebration.

Based on Studs Terkel’s 1974 book, “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do”, Working: The Musical had its premiere in Chicago in 1977. Presented by Encores! Off Center was the 2012 revised version of Working which has absorbed the changes and revisions that have been made since Working’s premiere. However what the different versions all have in common is that Working celebrates the people who keep the wheels turning in this country.

Terkel’s book was adapted for the musical stage by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, and for this concert version included among the many stories of working people are the stories contributed by City Center’s staff. The score which includes songs by Schwartz as well as Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead, and James Taylor – and the addition of two new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The characters are anonymously named Woman and Man with numbers thereafter but each actor plays at least one type of worker who expresses their feelings about their work in song and in monologues – describing the good and the bad of each profession – and the lack of recognition they receive when they accomplish their work. They are the people behind the scenes in working America and most of them feel they are invisible.
The monologues and dialogues reflect what we have all experienced in our working lives – and all are expressed with honesty, self-deprecating humor, a sense of dedication and great humility.

Breathing life into this version of Working are the wonderful cast of Andrea Burns, Mateo Ferro, David Garrison, Helen Hunt, Christopher Jackson, Javier Munoz, and Tracie Toms, who enact and tell the stories of the remarkable working people we encounter every day in song -- and also praising them.

Every one of these actors had their special moments including Mateo Ferro singing “Delivery”, Christopher Jackson’s comical rendition of “Lovin’ Al”, Helen Hunt’s earnest rendition of “Nobody Tells Me How”, Tracie Thoms moving performance of “Millwork”, Andre Burns comic and confident rendition of “It’s An Art”, and also a moving performance of “Joe” by David Garrison.

Also notable was the choreography by Avihai Haham which was not the style one would expect in a Broadway musical but reflected the sentiment that is in Working. Also special praise for Anne Kaufman who directed this version of Working not only with great skill but also with great sensitivity.

This performance of Working was inspiring in many ways and reinforces the need to recognize the wonderful people who are working in our country – and everywhere in the world – who work every day with nobility of purpose which can be recognized with a simple “thank you” whenever you can.

Royal Ballet Dances Romeo and Juliet

June 26, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The final offering of the Royal Ballet’s cinema screenings for the 2018-19 season was Kenneth MacMillan’s production of Romeo and Juliet. An audience favorite since its premiere in 1965 this version of Romeo and Juliet was frequently performed in New York by the Royal Ballet, and since its acquisition of this version of Romeo and Juliet it has been more frequently performed in New York by American Ballet Theatre.

The Royal Ballet’s cinema screenings continues in the United States and the Royal Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet will be screened in movie theaters in the United States beginning July 2nd. Screening dates and venues in the United States can be found at rohcinematickets.com.

Choreographed to Serge Prokofiev’s magnificent score with equally imaginative designs by Nicholas Georgiadis, the Royal Ballet’s production of Romeo and Juliet has been produced in the grand manner. Following the structure of Leonid Lavrovsky’s version of Romeo and Juliet as an antecedent MacMillan has followed the story of Romeo and Juliet as presented in three acts.

Set against the atmosphere of the feuding Capulet and Montague families, MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet opens with Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio pursuing their romantic interests which takes them to the Capulet’s Ball where Romeo encounters Juliet for the first time. This is love at first sight and reckless love at that. Knowing that the families would not approve of this match, Friar Laurence and Juliet’s Nurse plot together to bring Romeo and Juliet together in marriage. Friar Laurence prepares a ruse to allow Romeo and Juliet to pursue their lives in any place but Verona. However the ruse falls apart and all ends in tragedy.

Nothing is more impressive in this opulent production than the Act I Ballroom Scene with its lavish costumes and scenery – the huge compliment of dancers in the ensembles – but it is in the Balcony Scene Pas de Deux at the end of Act I that MacMillan provides his most moving choreography.

What makes MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet enduring is its flexibility in allowing dancers to develop their own interpretations of the principal and supporting roles. At the moment the Royal Ballet is grooming a new generation of dancers to take on principal roles in the company’s repertoire and this performance was a showcase for the talents of one such pairing of dancers.

For this cinema screening Matthew Ball danced the role of Romeo and Yasmine Nagdhi danced the role of Juliet, and based on their performances, the Royal Ballet has a great future. Besides meeting the technical demands of MacMillan’s choreography and the dramatic requirements infused in the choreography, they both exuded innocence and then the sexual tension between them. There was musicality in their dancing and they successfully represented Romeo and Juliet as young and impetuous. Between them there was intense energy.

In supporting roles were Valentino Zucchetti as Mercutio, and Benjamin Ella as Benvolio who played these boys at play in the market scenes and successfully toying with the bully Tybalt danced by Gary Avis as Tybalt. Also notable were Christina Arestis as Lady Capulet and Kristen McNally as the Nurse.

The Royal Ballet owns this genre of full-length ballets and how fortunate that American and worldwide audiences can see these performances in cinema screenings if we cannot be in London to see them in person.

American Ballet Theatre Dances Swan Lake

Metropolitan Opera House

June 25, 2019

By Mark Kappel

American Ballet Theatre’s production of Swan Lake – staged by Kevin McKenzie – has been danced annually by the company at the Metropolitan Opera House since its premiere in 2000. Performed in two acts with revisions that do not strictly adhere to traditional productions of Swan Lake, it is a production that has been staged in the grand opera house manner.

If nothing else Swan Lake is the supreme challenge for both female and male dancers in the 19th century ballet repertoire and in this production there is an opulent scenic showcase to perform in.

In this production of Swan Lake, the story is followed along traditional lines except for a short prologue in which Von Rothbart puts his magic spell on Odette who is then transformed into a swan forever unless she is successful in finding true love. The first act of the ballet presents Siegfried’s dilemma as his mother insists that he must marry and assume his royal role. But he does so with much reluctance and wanders in the forest to hunt by the lake side. It is there that he meets the vision of Odette in the form of a swan and he pledges true love to her.

In the midst of an opulent ballroom, where candidates for Siegfried’s hand in marriage are presented to him, Von Rothbart arrives with Odile, who is disguised as Odette, and who tricks Siegfried into a pledge of love to her. Searching for Odette at the lakeside Odette and Siegfried pledge their love to each other but in having no method of breaking Von Rothbart’s spell, the story ends in tragedy as neither Odette nor Siegfried cannot live without the other.

Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov who choreographed and staged their successful production of Swan Lake for the Mariinsky Ballet infused the ballet with dramatic choreography which succinctly tells the story. Their spirit is very much in evidence in this production of Swan Lake.

The ballet itself is all poetry and dramatic tension, and Swan Lake is in the hands of its principal dancers to transform this ballet into an emotional and effecting metaphor.

At this performance on June 25, 2019 the principal roles were in the capable hands of Christine Shevchenko in the dual role of Odette/Odile and James Whiteside as Prince Siegfried. Shevchenko provided the necessary poetry in her performance of Odette contrasting that with her performance of the evil Odile. In both roles Shevchenko gave a polished, refined – and I would even say thrilling – performance. Matching her was Whiteside as Siegfried who was a stalwart partner, who was expressive and always in the moment. This was a perfect match in terms of a partnership. Their Black Swan Pas de Deux was musical and a spectacular display of technique – a performance that set the stage on fire and was danced in the grand manner.

Adding to this performance of Swan Lake was Calvin Royal III’s commanding performance as Von Rothbart in the ballroom scene, and Thomas Forster’s equally commanding performance as the Von Rothbart who rules his lakeside domain. Also notable was the spirited Act I Pas de Trois which was danced by Cassandra Trenary, Skylar Brandt, and Joseph Gorak. Even American Ballet Theatre’s corps de ballet added to the drama of the story in the lakeside scenes.

Overall this was a potent performance of one of the great 19th century classics.

American Ballet Theatre Revives Manon

Metropolitan Opera House

June 18, 2019

By Mark Kappel

As part of its Metropolitan Opera House season American Ballet Theatre has delved into its past repertoire and revived a popular work that was created in the latter half of the 20th century.

American Ballet Theatre acquired Kenneth MacMillan’s full-length ballet Manon in 1993 and has been performing the ballet on a cyclical basis ever since. MacMillan created this ballet for the Royal Ballet in 1974 with a libretto based on Prevost’s novel about a young girl arriving in Paris who is to be transformed into a courtesan by her brother, and instead falls in love with a young student.
Rather than employing the music from Jules Massenet’s opera version of Manon, MacMlilan used orchestrated versions of other music that Massenet had composed – including ballet music – creating a new musical score for Manon. During the time MacMillan was in rehearsal for Manon he seemed very intrigued by figure skating and intricate skating partnering which was incorporated into his choreography for this ballet. In particular this influence is in the passionate pas de deux he created for the principal characters in this ballet.

MacMillan’s ballet adaptation of Manon is about a love at first-sight relationship between an impetuous young girl and a reckless student -- which begins with their running away together – Manon running away from a relationship that had been set up for her by her brother with an elderly aristocrat. Manon and her student lover, Des Grieux, have their misadventures with Manon’s brother being arrested, and Manon banished to prison and exile in Louisiana. This story of reckless love does not end well, but it is a story that MacMillan tells masterfully in his ballet – in the grand ballet manner.

MacMillan’s Manon is a gritty and naturalistic tale which requires an animated corps de ballet to provide the naturalistic atmosphere to tell the story. And from Manon’s arrival in Paris, one sees the arc of her story from an innocent girl to a vindictive and manipulating woman yet Des Grieux stands by her until this tragedy comes to an end.

Among the highlights in MacMillan’s choreography are the erotic pas de deux that are sprinkled throughout the ballet – particularly the Bedroom Pas de Deux that is in Act I. These pas de deux are not just showcases for wonderful dancing and emotions being expressed, but they all move the story forward.

As American Ballet Theatre’s performances of Manon are after several years of absence from the company’s repertoire, during this week’s performances of Manon many dancers will be getting their opportunities to make debuts in this ballet’s principal roles. What makes Manon enduring tends to be the interpretations of the many dancers who have danced these principal roles.

At the performance on June 18, 2019 Sarah Lane made a remarkable and compelling debut in the title role not only in her dancing but her transformation as this character’s story is revealed with Herman Cornejo supportive in the role of Des Grieux. Outstanding performances also came from Blaine Hoven as Lescaut, and Cassandra Trenary dancing the role of Lescaut’s Mistress.

These dancers made an excellent case for the revival of Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon and I hope that in the future American Ballet Theatre will revive this ballet more often and frequently.

York Theatre Company’s Return Engagement of Enter Laughing: The Musical

York Theatre Company At Saint Peter’s

June 15, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The York Theatre Company has initiated its 50th Anniversary Celebration with a revival of its production of Enter Laughing: The Musical -- with a book by Joseph Stein, and a score by Stan Daniels. Enter Laughing: The Musical is based on a play of the same name written by Joseph Stein – and the play’s source is a 1958 novel by comedy writer Carl Reiner. Enter Laughing: The Musical initiated its engagement on May 7th with an extension now through June 23, 2019.

Enter Laughing tells the story of a Bronx-born, depression era teenager David Kolowitz (played by Chris Dwan) who has ambitions to be an actor but is not blessed with much talent. Distracting from his goal is his obsession about being a celebrity and what would be his due if he were to achieve being a celebrity. This is all complicated by his obsessions about girls and movie stars, and Kolowitz is further stressed out by his doubting parents (Alison Fraser and Michael Kostroff) who insist that he become a pharmacist and live a normal life.

Kolowitz gets his break at a theatre academy directed by the eccentric and self-absorbed Marlowe (played by David Schramm) who preys on hopefuls who are given the privilege of appearing in supporting roles in pot-boiler theatre productions starring himself and his man-crazy daughter Angela (Farah Alvin). Although David has fantasies about a secretary Miss B (played by Dana Costello) and is pursued by the man-crazy Angela, he remains faithful to his girlfriend Wanda (played by Allie Trimm).

Enter Laughing is about Kolowitz’s journey and is sprinkled with clever and witty musical numbers that allow for each character’s musings – and also allows them to comment on the situations at hand.

Highlights among those musical numbers were “The Man I Can Love”, a parody of a torch song, sung and expressed with comedic skill by Farah Alvin as Angela, “The Butler’s Song, a comic song tour de force performed in a dead-pan manner by David Schramm who as Marlowe is transformed into Kolowitz’s butler as Kolowitz fantasizes about his hopes for being a successful actor, and the duet of “Hot Cha Cha” sung and danced with comic skill by Paul Kreppel as Mr. Forman, Kolowitz’s employer, and Michael Kostroff as Kolowitz’s father.

Enter Laughing does parody musicals that came before it. But it is all straight forward, pulling no punches, and emphasizes one-line jokes, physical comedy, and clever lyrics to get the story across. All is guided with skill by director Stuart Ross, who has also contributed to the recent revisions of this musical. The play within the play that is part of this musical’s second act is a clever farce with the actors performing organic shtick with enormous skill, and also creates an atmosphere of humanity and sincerity.

A virtuoso performance is given by Chris Dwan as David Kolowitz especially in the opening number expressing his desire for stardom as an actor and in the play within a play farce in which he creates magic as he goes through flashes of stage fright and coming out looking like a “star” to his friends and family.

Join the fun and enjoy Enter Laughing: The Musical at the York!

American Ballet Theatre Performs Le Corsaire

Metropolitan Opera House

June 13, 2019

By Mark Kappel

As part of its Metropolitan Opera House season, American Ballet Theatre has included its production of Le Corsaire which was given its company premiere in 1998 and was staged by Anna-Marie Holmes. Le Corsaire is an anomaly among the 19th century classics as it was hidden away in Russia until the latter half of the 20th century when the ballet was performed by Russian ballet companies on its foreign tours and now many ballet companies all over the world have staged their own productions.

This production was staged by Holmes, with choreography by Konstantin Sergeyev after Marius Petipa. But the ballet was first choreographed by Joseph Mazilier for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1856, and then re-staged and re-choreographed by Marius Petipa in a version that premiered at the Maryinsky Theatre in 1899. The score had been composed by Adolphe Adam but through the years there have been revisions and inserts composed by Cesare Pugni, Riccardo Drigo, Leo Delibes and Prince Oldenbourg – a bit of a patchwork and re-orchestrated by Kevin Galie.

The story of Le Corsaire is based on a poem by Lord Byron which is very much a romantic adventure in which Conrad saves Medora from the fate from being sold into slavery and entering the service of a Middle Eastern Pasha. Structurally Le Corsaire follows many of Petipa’s other ballets notable for a pure dance piece, Jardin Animee, and many other pyrotechnic show pieces. Beyond its showy scenic effects, comedy, and swashbuckling, there is a lot of dancing in Le Corsaire.

In the cast of the June 13th performance of Le Corsaire, Brooklyn Mack appeared as a guest artist in the role of Conrad. Mack had danced with the ABT Studio Company but pursued his professional career with the Orlando and later with the Washington Ballet, and has danced in this production of Le Corsaire with the English National Ballet. He certainly served up the needed experience and pyrotechnics for this role.

As Medora he partnered Christine Shevchenko who gave a stylish and technically polished performance, and also adding to the pyrotechnics was Joo Won Ahn who superbly stepped in for the injured Daniil Simkin in the role of Ali. In particular Shevchenko, Ahn and Mack collaborated on an exciting performance of the Pas de Trois in the second act of this ballet.

Cassandra Trenary dancing the role of Gulnare, Aran Bell dancing the role of Lankendem, and Gabe Stone Shayer dancing the role of Birbanto, also added to the sparks that were generated on the stage.

American Ballet Theatre’s production of Le Corsaire offers an opportunity to experience a 19th century full-length ballet that is rarely performed – as well as offering lots of comedy, and entertaining dancing. It is a ballet in which the dancers are given opportunities to shine and play to an audience.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Paper Mill Playhouse

June 8, 2019

By Mark Kappel

Concluding its 2018-19 season, the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey is presenting a family musical entertainment Disney’s Beauty and the Beast from May 29-July 3, 2019.

Beauty and the Beast, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, and one of Disney’s earliest forays in terms of its stage musicals, had been a long-time constituent on Broadway. The Broadway production opened in 1994 and ended its Broadway engagement in 2007. However Beauty and the Beast seems ever present. This new production directed by Mark S. Hoebee, with choreography by Alex Sanchez, is a slightly different take on this musical. But retains all of the humanity that this musical reflects – a story that is as old as time.

This musical version of Beauty and the Beast tells the tale of Belle who is pursued by a rather uncouth and arrogant suitor, Gaston. She has a loving relationship with her eccentric inventor father which certainly has influenced her interest in books. But her love of books and her independence makes her a village oddity. Her wanderings to the castle of the Beast, to find her father who had been lost in the woods, meeting the castle’s wonderful inhabitants, and sharing her love for books with the Beast, helps break an Enchantress’ spell and Belle gets her Prince. There are animated candelabras, spoons, clocks and tea pots which encourage a romantic relationship between Bell and the Beast, and also create entertainment for Belle as her romance with the Beast blossoms.

Certainly what distinguishes this production of Beauty and the Beast is Mark S. Hoebee’s reverential and clever direction, and the imaginative scenery designs by Kelly James Tighe and costumes designs by Leon Dobkowski.

Hoebee’s care is evident everywhere in this production which can be explained by the fact that Hoebee was an original cast member of the Broadway production. You will leave the theatre humming the score which includes so many hits and standards – and also humming the costumes and scenery designs which is not a negative.

Among the highlights of any performance of Beauty and the Beast are the renditions of the haunting ballad, “If I Can’t Love Her” which was given a stirring performance by Tally Sessions as the Beast, and the title song, “Beauty and the Beast”, beautifully sung by Stacia Fernandez as Mrs. Potts.

Overall the excellent cast cannot be faulted particularly Belinda Allyn’s warm and spirited performance as Belle, Tally Sessions mysterious portrayal of the Beast and his transformation into the Prince, Joel Blum as Belle’s father, Maurice, Stephen Mark Lukas as the vain Gaston, Stacia Fernandez as the comforting Mrs. Potts, Donna English as Madame de la Grande Bouche, Kevin Ligon as Cogsworth, Kevin Curtis as the comic and amusing Lefou, and the luxury casting of Gavin Lee as Lumiere. Beautiful performances, beautiful voices, perfect comic timing combine for a spirited entertainment.

Beauty and the Beast delivers on life lessons – particularly that you can’t judge a book by its cover, the love of reading and learning, and observing two odd people who find mutual interests and romance – and having a happy ending.

Even before this production opened an extension was announced and this production of Beauty and the Beast is a must see by young and old.

American Ballet Theatre Presents Company Premiere of Jane Eyre

Metropolitan Opera House

June 4, 2019

By Mark Kappel

American Ballet Theatre is presenting the company premiere of Cathy Marston’s full-length ballet, Jane Eyre, based on Charlotte Bronte’s novel, from June 4th through June 10th as part of its current Metropolitan Opera House season.

Marston, a British choreographer, comes to American Ballet Theatre after choreographing works for many companies in Europe and also for the San Francisco Ballet here in the United States. Quite often her subject matter for her dance pieces are narrative works, and Jane Eyre, originally choreographed for Northern Ballet in England, premiered in 2016. Uniquely American Ballet Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet have entered into a co-production agreement to present this ballet in the United States.

Set in Northern England in the 19th Century, Charlotte Bronte’s 1847 novel tells the story of the orphaned Jane Eyre who is cruelly treated by her Aunt Reed, but upon completion of her schooling accepts a governess position at Thornfield Hall, the home of Edward Rochester – where a bond is developed between Eyre and Rochester. But Rochester’s hidden past reveals itself in the course of the story-telling and puts their relationship in jeopardy. As in other Victorian novels, women are often mistreated by the men in their lives, and yet are dependent on men in the end.

As for any choreographer attempting to create a full-length ballet that choreographer must realize that he or she must be a theatre director as well and also librettist in adapting the story to the visual art form, dance. Marston is credited not only with the choreography for her version of Jane Eyre but also for the direction and scenario. In a program article about Jane Eyre, Marston explained that she had been influenced by two different traditions of transferring a story from book to stage. The British school focusing on the source text and being true to the author’s vision, and the German influenced school of the role of the director as an interpreter.

Marston takes those theories to the stage in telling the story of Jane Eyre through flashbacks with the older Jane Eyre remembering her experiences as expressed by her younger self. Marston has also included an ensemble of male dancers which she describes as the “D-Men” who function as a Greek chorus of shadowy figures who transport Jane from scene to scene. The scenario for this production of Jane Eyre has been adapted by Marston and designer Patrick Kinmonth. Kinmonth’s costumes and scenery designs are minimalist with the costumes not detailed to reflect the period this story is set in, and the scenery is a series of backdrops. Locations are suggested with simple props such as a chair or stools.

Philip Feeney is credited with compiling and composing the score for Jane Eyre which includes a combination of piano pieces composed by Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, and Franz Schubert, and Feeney’s own compositions. Quite often, though, the score does not provide dramatic underpinnings for the important plot points in this version of Jane Eyre.

Marston’s dance vocabulary is modern dance and contemporary ballet which doesn’t always define the characters or heighten the emotions of the moment. For that reason the dancers in the principal roles share the burden of bringing these fascinating and familiar characters to life.

For this company premiere the title role was danced by Devon Teuscher, revealing Eyre’s emotional life journey with Catherine Hurlin effectively portraying and dancing the role of Young Jane, and James Whiteside also effectively dancing the role of the very proud Edward Rochester. All of these dancers met the challenges of these roles.

Also there was the luxury of casting with experienced dancers in the supporting roles in this ballet including Zhong-Jing Fang as Jane’s imperious Aunt Reed, Calvin Royal III as Reverend Brocklehurst, the school headmaster, Sarah Lane as Thornfield’s housekeeper Mrs. Fairfax, Stella Abrera as one of Rochester’s love interests, Blanche Ingram, and Cassandra Trenary as Rochester’s mysterious and mad wife.

American Ballet Theatre’s acquisition of Marston’s Jane Eyre is daring in that it has given a major opportunity for a female choreographer and Marston attempts to tell story defying ballet conventions. Anyone with interest to dance should take the time to see this version of Jane Eyre if only to experience what it is that Marston is attempting, not always successfully, to communicate to an audience.

American Ballet Theatre Celebrates Alexei Ratmansky

Metropolitan Opera House

May 21, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The focus of American Ballet Theatre’s Metropolitan Opera House season is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its association with choreographer Alexei Ratmansky as Artist in Residence. During the season Ratmansky’s works will be in full view and if you wish to see a survey of his work, the Ratmansky triple bill program presented on May 21, 2019 represented the range of choreographic work that Ratmansky has contributed to American Ballet Theatre’s repertoire.

Opening the program was Songs of Bukovina choreographed to music by Leonid Desyatnikov in which Ratmansky’s choreography reflects the folk tradition and rhythms in the music. The music was sensitively played by pianist Jacek Mysinski and the cast led by Isabella Boylston and Blaine Hoven executed the choreography which faithfully reflected the expressiveness in the music. One felt the ballet’s antecedents and influences.

In 2009 Ratmansky created a new version of On The Dnieper, a one-act narrative ballet, that had been premiered in 1932 by the Paris Opera Ballet, with an original libretto by Sergei Prokofiev and Serge Lifar, and with commissioned music by Prokofiev.

In Ratmansky’s slightly revised libretto, Sergei (Cory Stearns), a Red Army soldier, returns to his village after experiencing the rampages of World War I. His return to the village is not celebrated by all of the inhabitants and Sergei also finds that he is no longer in love with Natalia (Hee Seo) to whom he promised his love. Having a bit of roving eye and doubts about his love for Natalia, Sergei falls in love with Olga (Christine Shevchenko), whose parents already prepared a match for her with a man (James Whiteside) she doesn’t love. After confrontation with the local villagers, Sergei and Olga, escape from the village with Natalia’s assistance.

In On The Dneiper Ratmansky’s choreography includes solos in which the principal characters express their emotions and Ratmansky has clearly channeled Antony Tudor in doing so in this ballet. Ratmansky created a great sense of theatre in this piece.

This program closed with Ratmansky’s latest world premiere, The Seasons, choreographed to Alexander Glazunov’s The Seasons.

Using Glazunov’s score as an empty canvas, but also employing its themes, Ratmansky has created a whimsical, spirited, and joyous choreographic interpretation of Glazunov’s music. Variations in ballet styles figure prominently and references to scenes from the 19th century classics as well. Each section of the ballet depicts the changing seasons with the choreography showing off the dancers’ strengths.

Winter was led by Joo Won Ahn as he and his seasonal cohorts, Zhong-Jing Fang, Devon Teuscher, Courtney Lavine, and Betsy McBride danced with elegance. Spring was led by Zephyr Thomas Forster with Cassandra Trenary and Breanne Granlund. Summer was led by The Spirit of the Corn, Stella Abrera, with Blaine Hoven – and Satyrs, Gabe Stone Shayer and Tyler and Mahoney, and the celebrators of Autumn were led by Catherine Hurlin and Calvin Royal III.

Ratmansky’s The Seasons is a wonderful showcase for the American Ballet Theatre’s dancers in all ranks of the company.

City Center Encores Presents High Button Shoes

City Center

May 11, 2019

By Mark Kappel

City Center Encores’ closing presentation is High Button Shoes from May 8-12, 2019 a rarely seen musical which has music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Sammy Cahn, and a book by Stephen Longstreet, that was also particularly notable for Jerome Robbins’ choreography when this musical opened on Broadway in 1947.

High Button Shoes focuses on two travelling con men caught up in an attempt to exploit an heiress and her family taking them all on a chase from New Brunswick, New Jersey, to the Jersey Shore, and to Atlantic City. The two con men create schemes concerning fake watches, diamond mines, phony land deals, and being only one or two steps ahead of the police.

Structured somewhat as a vaudeville entertainment with a minimum of physical comedy but lots of one-liners – in a concert adaptation by Jack Viertel – High Button Shoes is somewhat anachronistic – and not always politically correct – and most notably is a nostalgic period piece.

This was a time when there was excitement about the Model T, a not very bright football hero, real estate swindles, all occurring in the wilds of New Brunswick, New Jersey – including a focus on the Rutgers University football team – with anti-heroes who smile and charm their way through life.

Highlights of this concert version were the reproductions of two gems of Jerome Robbins’ choreography for High Button Shoes including the “Bathing Beauty Ballet” and “I Still Get Jealous” which were re-produced by Sarah O’Gleby. “Bathing Beauty Ballet” is choreographed to “On A Sunday By The Sea” in a Keystone Comedy style as the actors walk and run in out of opening and closing doors. The dancing in High Button Shoes represent some of the stellar numbers in this musical including “Papa, Won’t You Dance With Me” and “Tango” danced with wit and aplomb by Matt Loehr and Mylinda Hull – and then there are those wonderful bird-watching ladies.

Director John Rando has ably controlled the chaos and humor on stage, and Kevin Chamberlin as Mr. Pontdue, and Michael Urie as Harrison Floy – the two con men – are played as lovable villains – and Betsy Wolfe as Sara Longstreet is also part of this wonderful cast that brings this fun story to life and justifies these concert performances to hear an equally fun score.

Here there was the luxury of being able to listen to this wonderful score by a large orchestra which was under the expert direction of Rob Berman.

Have to thank City Center Encores for presenting a concert version of High Button Shoes as its nostalgia and optimism are just right for these enigmatic times we are living in.

Australian Ballet Makes Joyce Theater Debut

Joyce Theater

May 9, 2019

By Mark Kappel

From April 29 through May 12, 2019, the Joyce Theater is presenting an Australia Festival celebrating the wide variety of dance that is being offered and performed by Australian dance and ballet companies. Some of these companies were, in fact, making their Joyce Theater debuts.

From May 9-12, the Joyce Theater is hosting the Australian Ballet -- making its Joyce Theater debut – and also making it possible for this company to make up for its infrequent New York engagements.

Having performed at larger venues in New York in the past, the Australian Ballet is presenting a different side of its dance personality in performing works not only created for the company but also dancing in works that are notable for their contemporary ballet and modern dance influences rather than the full-length ballet story ballets that the company usually performs during its New York engagements.

In this engagement, artistic director David McAllister, has put his personal artistic stamp on the repertoire that is being performed, and it should also be noted that all three choreographers represented that are in this performance, are also among the Australian Ballet’s resident choreographers.

Opening the program was Tim Harbour’s Chairman Dances employing the familiar music composed by John Adams from his opera, Nixon in China.

This ensemble piece – with the dancers costumed in red uniforms – makes some references to the music’s source -- along with the repetitive movement for the dancers. But Harbour’s contemporary ballet style also included unexpected quirks and tongue-in-cheek humor.

The Australian Ballet’s dancers took to all of Harbour’s choreography with an outstanding ensemble performance by Robyn Hendricks, Coco Mathieson, Amanda McGuigan, Karen Nanasca, Dana Stephensen, Nathan Brook, Adam Bull, Callum Linnane, Jarryd Madden, Make Mangakahia, and Christopher Rogers-Wilson.

Following Chairman Dances was Stephen Baynes’ Unspoken Dialogues, a work for two dancers choreographed to Alfred Schnittke’s Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano. Baynes’ piece, superbly danced by Kevin Jackson and Jill Ogai, represented a tug of war within a relationship – a relationship’s ups and down. But it is a virtuoso piece to display all aspects of the dancers dancing the piece.

The closing work on the program was Alice Topp’s Aurum, which was underwritten by the Joyce Theater’s Rudolf Nureyev Prize for New Dance. The work, choreographed to music by Ludovico Einaudi, was inspired by the Japanese craft of repairing cracked pottery with precious metals, known as kintsugi – and is also a metaphor of how people repair the cracks in their own lives.

Topp’s piece was the piece on the program that was most obviously influenced by modern dance styles and was carefully structured to make her philosophic point of view about life. In that respect it was the most adventurous piece on the program as well. Most eloquent was its quiet ending with only a couple on stage.

The ensemble of dancers dancing Aurum were Robyn Hendricks, Coco Mathieson, Amanda McGuigan, Karen Nanasca, Jill Ogai, Dana Stephensen, Nathan Brook,, Adam Bull, Kevin Jackson, Callum Linnane, Jarryd Madden, and Jake Mangakahia.

All of these pieces showcased the Australian Ballet’s well-trained dancers, and the current Australian spin on multiple dance styles.

I hope that this engagement will make it possible for the company to appear more often here in New York and also continue to perform its ballets and new works that make up a wide range of dance styles that are part of the company’s repertoire.

MasterVoices’ Lady in the Dark

City Center

April 26, 2019

By Mark Kappel

MasterVoices has been sponsoring concerts of vocal symphonic pieces and operas on regular basis in New York City. Every now and again MasterVoices has employed its chorus in presenting a concert version of a Broadway musical – Song of Norway – or an operetta – The Pirates of Penzance.

Bearing these artistic choices in mind, musical director, Ted Sperling, has collaborated with the Orchestra of St. Lukes and Doug Varone’s Dancers for MasterVoices presentations and from April 25-27, 2019 MasterVoices is presenting a concert version of Lady in the Dark, a musical which had premiered on Broadway in 1941. Lady in the Dark is rarely performed and represents an interesting theatrical enigma.

The collaborative team for Lady in the Dark was Kurt Weill as composer, Ira Gershwin as lyricist, and Moss Hart as the book writer. The focus of Lady in the Dark is the story of Liza Elliott, an unhappy editor of a fashion magazine who is undergoing psychoanalysis.

Besides the music being totally integrated into the story, this musical’s narrative is presented in three dream sequences, entitled Glamour Dream, Wedding Dream, and Circus Dream, with the fashion magazine’s staff members and Liza’s love interests taking on such roles roles of a snake charmer and a lion tamer to fit into this dream motif. Most important is that all of these “dreams” were meant to illustrate what was going on inside Liza Elliott’s head.

Weill and Gershwin restricted their music to the dream sequences and flashbacks in this musical with the composers’ past experiences influencing their contributions. Weill had composed 1-act operas in the past and Gershwin, seeking his own inspiration, from patter songs that might appear in operettas.

The story was inspired by Moss Hart’s own treatment by a psychoanalyst, and the acceptance of Sigmund Freud’s theory that universal human discontent is a form of illness -- and as part of that philosophy was the interpretation of dreams. MasterVoices’ concert version employed a script adapted by Christopher Hart and Kim Kowalke which was seasoned with some excellent one-liners and self-deprecating humor.

The role of Liza Elliott was created on Broadway by the inimitable Gertrude Lawrence. Danny Kaye was recognized as a star playing the role of fashion photographer Russell Paxton and singing the tour de force, "Tschaikovsky", a patter song with its roots in Gilbert & Sullivan.

To enhance this concert version of Lady in the Dark, musical director Ted Sperling took up Anna Wintour’s recommendation to work with Vogue editor Hamish Bowles to find current fashion designers to realize the costumes and look of the individual dream sequences with the Glamour Dream designed by Zac Posen, the Circus Dream designed by Thom Browne, and Marchesa designing Liza’s bridal gown in the Wedding Dream. Costume designer Tracy Christensen provided the clothing for the real-life scenes and supplement and coordinate the work of these three fashion designers’ contributions to this concert version of Lady in the Dark.

When we come upon Liza Elliott she seems to be a confident business woman, editor of a successful fashion magazine, Allure, who is described as glamorous and successful – and much admired. But her life is falling apart and making any kind of decisions seems to be difficult for her.

In seeking the help of a psychoanalyst Liza’s dreams are analyzed and much of the story telling emerges from those dreams.

Act I of Lady in the Dark is comprised of The Glamour Dream and The Wedding Dream (less of a dream than a nightmare) and Act II is comprised of The Circus Dream with the Ringmaster singing, “Tschaikovsky”, Liza expressing her reasons for being indecisive in “The Saga of Jennie, and ending on the more tranquil but emotional note of “My Ship”. One could describe each dream vignette as an opera unto itself, and thereby lends itself to the concert treatment that was offered by MasterVoices.

Victoria Clark’s performance as Liza Elliott was a tour de force and was especially moving in the musical numbers, “The Saga of Jenny” and “My Ship”. But there was also the luxury casting of Ashley Park as Miss Foster, Montego Glover as Maggie Grant, David Pittu as Russell Paxton (who delivers an excellent rendition of “Tschaikovsky”), Amy Irving as Liza’s psychiatrist, Dr. Brooks, Ben Davis as Randy Curtis, a Hollywood Star, Christopher Invar as Charley Johnson, and Ron Raines as Kendall Nesbitt.

MasterVoices’ concert version of Lady in the Dark has a great deal to offer in and of itself, but also gives one the opportunity to appreciate what a major musical theatre work that Lady in the Dark is.

Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory’s Spring Gala

Symphony Space

April 20, 2019

By Mark Kappel

In spite of the fact that the Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory has moved its home based from New York City to Norwalk, Connecticut, the Conservatory is continuing its tradition of having its students perform in New York City.

On April 20, 2019, these students were presented on stage in a varied program including excerpts from the 19th century classics, and commissioned new works which were created for the Conservatory students. Featured among the students were medalists and award winners from the recent Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition which was held in March of this year.

The first piece on the program was the opening sequence from Act II of Giselle which featured the student dancers as Queen of the Wilis and the Wilis corps de ballet evoking the mysteries of the Romantic ballet era. Other excerpts from the classics included the Four Little Swans from Swan Lake, Nikiya’s Death Scene from La Bayadere, and Paquita.

Also included in the classical aspect of this program was Joseph Mazilier’s Satanella Pas de Deux which was well danced by Jillian Schubert and Justin Valentine.
The program also included six short contemporary pieces choreographed by Nina M. Buisson in which the Conservatory students expressed another side of their dancing.

Wonderful to see these students getting stage performance time and feeling comfortable in their skins as they danced this challenging repertoire.

Benny and Joon - The Musical

Paper Mill Playhouse

April 20, 2019

By Mark Kappel

From April 4-May 5, 2019, the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey is presenting the East Coast premiere of a new musical, Benny & Joon, based on the 1993 film which starred Johnny Depp, Aidan Quinn, and Mary Stuart Masterson.

With a score by Nolan Gasser (music), and Mindi Dickstein (lyrics), a book by Kirsten Guenther, and under the direction of Jack Cummings III, Benny and Joon explores the engine of a family relationship, particularly the relationship between Joon, a young woman dealing with mental illness, and her brother, Benny, who is her protector and care taker. Their lives change when an eccentric stranger, Sam, enters the picture.

Joon (played by Hannah Elless) is a functioning schizophrenic whose flight of fantasies and mental health issues are exacerbated after her parents die in an auto accident. Since the time of that accident her brother Benny (played by Claybourne Elder) changes his life completely to be Joon’s caretaker.

Joon uses painting as her escape while brother Benny has closed himself off to relationships because he feels a strong obligation to be his sister’s guardian.

Benny works for a local auto garage and also participates in a regular card game with his co-workers. Joon wants in on the card game and in losing one of the hands, Benny and Joon take on the responsibility of the cousin of one of Benny’s co-workers.

Enter Sam who is an eccentric, to the say least, dealing with his own personal demons and seems intimidated by all others. He is a devoted movie fan and quotes from classic films, and he is recruited to be Joon’s temporary caretaker. This unusual trio evolves into a family unit and ultimately a stronger relationship develops between Sam and Joon which does not meet Benny’s approval. And it is how these relationships evolve further and resolve themselves that is the core of Benny and Joon as a musical.

Set against the landscape of Spokane, Washington in the 1990’s this quirky and emotionally charged story is set to music that is equally quirky and transparent. The score created by Nolan Gasser and Mindi Dickstein reveals every character, their feelings, and their desperation to resolve a set of circumstances that can only be described as complicated. Kirsten Guenther’s book doesn’t replicate the film but does reflect the movie’s quirkiness and absurdities. Coping with mental illness is not a joy but somehow all could work out for the better.

Benny and Joon’s story is told and interpreted well by its excellent cast. Benny’s earnestness is articulated well by Claybourne Elder. Hannah Elless’s Joon is eccentric and her thoughts are expressed beautifully in song, and then there is Conor Ryan who interprets Sam as combination of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin -- and there is also the compassion of Benny’s love interest Ruthie as played by Tatiana Wechsler.

One comes away from Benny and Joon that these wonderful characters have found a reality that they can cope with and survive in, and one has taken an emotional -- and amusing and charming – ride with them.

Manhattan Theatre Club Presents Broadway Premiere of Ink

Samuel Friedman Theatre

April 19, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The Manhattan Theatre Club has scored a coup in being able to present the Broadway premiere of James Graham’s Ink. Ink is an involving and provocative play – wonderfully directed and acted – which exposes one to the lack of transparency in the media and the media’s influences on public discourse.

Originally produced by London’s Almeida Theater, this Broadway production has Rupert Goold repeating his direction, and also includes among its cast members, Bertie Carvill, who created the role of Rupert Murdoch in the London production. These contributions give Graham’s Ink a remarkable authenticity and intensity.

Set in London in 1969 this tale unfolds when media mogul Rupert Murdoch purchases a struggling newspaper, The Sun, and brings in an unconventional editor, Larry Lamb to rejuvenate this tabloid newspaper with the ulterior motive to cause a disruption on London’s Fleet Street, the reverential home of Britain’s major newspapers.

The relationship between Murdoch and Lamb is the core of Ink, and they are portrayed as competitors in a poker game. But Murdoch knows his mark and presents Lamb with the challenge of surpassing The Daily Mirror’s sales figures to become the market leader in a year – no matter how this goal is achieved.

Murdock’s aim was to create a populist newspaper and populist tabloid for the masses. It is how Murdoch and Lamb accomplish this feat and who gets the credit for it – and the collateral damage that results in the process – that is examined in Ink. Also revealed is the underbelly of the newspaper business, a bit of blind ambition, greed and sensationalism.

Although the focus of Ink is on Murdoch’s skirmish with the London publishing elite in the late 1960’s, there are lots of hints of what is to come as Murdoch builds his international media empire – in many respects one feels that one is looking through the rear view mirror in experiencing this play and knowing what was to happen in only a few decades.

This story is conveyed somewhat like a vaudeville piece with a mixture of serious dialogue, comic turns, and music – which can be a bit mawkish but nevertheless hits the mark with every word and gesture. The central visual image of desks piled on top of each other, and watching a flood of ink drowning it, all like lava coming out of a volcano, is a compelling metaphor which was deftly realized by scenery designer Bunny Christie and lighting designer Neil Austin.

As a whole Rupert Goold’s directorial choices are also compelling and expand the focus of the play as well as the telling of this intriguing tale.

Bertie Carvill as Rupert Murdoch and Jonny Lee Miller as Larry Lamb give virtuoso performances – truly a master class in acting. This is a message play and both actors communicate the message in a remarkable fashion.

James Graham’s Ink is a significant play for our time but could apply to any time, and this production of Ink, presented by the Manhattan Theatre Club, is an example of what theatre should be – thought provoking, absorbing and entertaining.

Merce Cunningham Celebration at Joyce Theater

Joyce Theater

April 17, 2019

By Mark Kappel

To celebrate the Merce Cunningham Centennial, the Joyce Theater is presenting a Merce Cunningham Celebration from April 17-21, 2019 making it possible for three dance companies to perform three of Cunningham’s significant works.

Cunningham, even after his passing in 2009, remains an icon in the dance world with his major contributions not only in choreography but also in the visual arts. He involved himself in collaborations with other iconic artists including Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Charles Atlas, Elliot Kaplan and John Cage, and those collaborations were noted in the dance pieces that were presented as part of this Cunningham tribute.

Although Cunningham is most famous for the works he created for his own company, several of his pieces have been acquired by major ballet companies as well. As Cunningham’s own company has been disbanded, his works are now finding homes in the repertoire of other dance companies.

The closest direct association with Cunningham on this program was represented by the participation of Compagnie CNDC-Angers/Robert Swinston, which was founded in 1978 and has contributed to the legacy of contemporary dance in France. Robert Swinston, a former member of Cunningham’s dance company, is Angers’ director and Swinston has added Cunningham’s works to this company’s repertoire.

For its participation in this Festival, Compagnie CNDC-Angers/Robert Swinston performed Cunningham’s Suite for Five, a work that Cunningham created for his own company in 1956, choreographed to music composed by John Cage.

Suite for Five had been revised by Cunningham several times during his lifetime and in its final version only two of the solos were retained. The piece, in fact, opens with one of the male solos with the choreography as a whole reflecting Cunningham’s angular and calculated movement – slow and deliberate – in conjunction with Cage’s dissonant music.

Suite for Five was danced with great reverence by the cast of Anna Chirescu, Gianni Joseph, Catarina Pernao, Carlo Schiavo, Claire Seigle-Goujon.

Becoming a more frequent participant in the New York dance scene Ballet West, directed by Adam Sklute, and based in Salt Lake City, Utah, performed Cunningham’s Summerspace, a work that Cunningham created for his own company in 1958 and was added to Ballet West’s repertoire only in the last year.

Summerspace is choreographed to music by Morton Feldman and is danced in front of a scene scape that was created by Robert Rauschenberg -- an abstract pointillist back drop with matching costumes.

In Summerspace Cunningham included his randomness of movement and filling stage space, and one feels that the participants in the piece are meant to experience the joy of being within the scenic environment that Rauschenberg had created.

That enthusiasm was communicated by the cast of Katlyn Addison, Katie Critchlow, Kyle Davis, Jenna Rae Herrera, Chelsea Keefer, and Joshua Shutkind.

The third company to participate in this celebration was the Washington Ballet, an infrequent visitor to New York, now directed by former principal of American Ballet Theatre, Julie Kent.

The Washington Ballet performed Cunningham’s Duets which Cunningham's company premiered in 1980, and a work only recently added to the Washington Ballet’s repertoire.

Duets is another collaboration between Cunningham and John Cage and primarily consists of a series of duets which are interrupted or interspersed by brief appearances of an additional couple on the stage appearing at the beginning, during or at the end of each duet. Duets ultimately ends with a tableau of all of the dancers in the piece. The dancers are costumed simply but in different colors which do create significant and “colorful” images during this piece.

The cast of Ayano Kimura, Corey Landolt, Sona Kharatian & Tamas Krizsa, Victoria Arrea, Stephen Nakagawa, Sarah Steele, Daniel Roberge, Tamaka Miyazaki, Gilles Deleillio, Brittany Stone and Nicholas Cowden took up the challenges of Cunningham’s choreography in a sophisticated manner.

What was significant about this tribute was that all of these works were performed either with live music or appropriate recorded music which enhanced this performance considerably.

This was definitely a thought-provoking evening of dance.

Dance Theatre of Harlem Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary

City Center

April 13, 2019

By Mark Kappel

From April 12-13, 2019 the Dance Theatre of Harlem celebrated its 50th Anniversary, and the life of one of its founders, Arthur Mitchell, during an engagement at City Center. Mitchell passed away only in the last year and during his tenure as artistic director he made an indelible mark on the company.

Included in this program was a film tribute to Mitchell presenting the back story of his roots in dance, and his accomplishments, but primarily focused on his founding of the Dance Theatre of Harlem and how his spirit influences the Dance Theatre of Harlem now and will do so in the future.

In particular, two works on this mixed-bill program that were danced by the Dance Theatre of Harlem, had strong associations with Mitchell.

The first of which was one of his choreographic compositions, Tones II, which he choreographed for the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1970. This was a piece that he was reconstructing and revising just before his passing and this new version received its world premiere in March of this year. Also significant that Tania Leon composed the score for this work.

With choreography that was Balanchine inspired and also inspired by Leon’s music, Tones II is structured in the neo-classic mode with ensembles dances to open and close the piece, with a pas de deux in the middle section. But in all aspects Mitchell’s choreography is inspired by the music and also the Dance Theatre of Harlem dancers that danced this piece including Crystal Serrano, Amanda Smith, Alicia Mae Holloway, Alexandra Hutchinson, Lindsey Croop, Ingrid Silva, and Stephanie Rae Williams, Dylan Santos, Christopher Charles McDaniel, Anthony Santos, Dustin James, Derek Brockington, Kouadio Davis, and Choong Hoon Lee.

During his tenure Arthur Mitchell asked Geoffrey Holder to create one of his most enduring works, Dougla, for the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1974 which had become a signature work for the company. In Dougla Holder celebrated the rituals of a wedding in Trinidad. Holder’s choreography reflected pride and nobility in the piece, the processions and the rituals. This spectacular and extravagant piece – and the excitement it generated on the stage and among audience members -- was the appropriate closing work of this program. Particularly notable in the cast were Ingrid Silva and Da’Von Doane as the Bride and Bridegroom.

Also on the program were two recent commissions by the company. The first of which was Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Balamouk which was commissioned by the City Center Fall for Dance Festival in 2018. This ensemble work, choreographed to music by Les Yeux Noir, Rene Aubry, and Lisa Gerrado, employed both contemporary ballet and modern dance in its vocabulary. The choreography responded to the pulse of the music.

Balamouk is primarily an ensemble piece and was danced with commitment by Ingrid Silva, Alexandra Hutchinson, Yinet Fernandez, Daphne Lee, Lindsey Croop, Dustin James, Dylan Santos, Anthony Santos, Christopher Charles McDaniel, and Choong Hoon Lee.

Opening the program was the New York premiere or Robert Garland’s Nyman String Quartet #2. Performed on an exposed stage Garland’s choreography was notable for emphasizing its moments through repetition and the thoughtful movement of groups of dancers. Although dancers led sections in this piece it was primarily an ensemble work which featured Da’Von Doane, Derek Brockington, Christopher Charles McDaniel, Anthony Santos, Dylan Santos, Lindsey Croop, Amanda Smith, Alicia Mae Holloway, Alexandra Hutchinson, and Stephanie Rae Williams.

This City Center engagement marked how the Dance Theatre of Harlem is evolving artistically and also the level of the dancers.

Classic Stage Company Presents The Cradle Will Rock

Classic Stage Company

March 30, 2019

By Mark Kappel

The Classic Stage Company has recently garnered an excellent reputation for producing small-scale and re-thought revivals of musicals – musicals that might not have been otherwise produced – and also showcasing them in intimate surroundings. From March 21-May 12, 2019, CSC is presenting The Cradle Will Rock, an iconic musical that dates back to the time of the Great Depression.

The Cradle Will Rock is described as a “play in music in ten scenes” and is presented by the CSC in 90 minutes with no intermission. Representing a benchmark period in American history – The Cradle Will Rock is a bold expression of resistance against corruption, wealth and political power, and how those empowered threatened unionized labor and the poor. A message that still has resonance in the 21st century.

The Cradle Will Rock created such controversy when it was first performed for the Federal Theater Project in 1937 – with direction by Orson Welles and produced by John Houseman – that the production was temporarily shut down. An alternative venue was found, and the actors played their parts among the audience members.

This piece of political theatre with music, lyrics and book by Marc Blitzstein focuses on Larry Foreman (played by Tony Yazbeck), a labor activist who unionizes steel workers against the wishes of a greedy industrialist, Mr. Mister (played by David Garrison).

The Cradle Will Rock takes place in Steeltown USA in 1937 and opens as the citizens of Steeltown are arrested for having demonstrated against the powers that be in the town. It appears that the town is under the thumb of Mr. Mister -- even the local man of the cloth Reverend Salvation. Mr. Mister throws money at Steeltown citizens to persuade them to support Mr. Mister’s politics and the local economy.

Mr. Mister’s particular target is union organizer Larry Foreman, but one can see that Mr. Mister is trying to exert control over everyone in Steeltown – a company town – even his own disreputable children and other citizens in Steeltown. Mr. Mister and other influential citizens plot against the union organizing but Larry Foreman is undeterred.

Besides the basic plot elements The Cradle Will Rock encompasses the plight of the poor, the working class, immigrants, and the challenges to the American spirit – albeit timely because history repeats itself.

Blitzstein’s score is mostly sung through and has jazz influences, parodies of classical music and pop tunes performed with only piano accompaniment. And all encapsulating the story-telling and the Brechtian influences in The Cradle Will Rock’s fable.

Although The Cradle Will Rock focuses on the character of Larry Foreman, The Cradle Will Rock is an ensemble piece with several members of the cast playing multiple roles. Therefore it is to the credit of the cast that all are standouts. Besides the aforementioned Tony Yazbeck as Larry Foreman, notable were Rema Webb as Ella, Sally Ann Triplett as Mrs. Mister, Lara Pulver as Moll, Kara Mikula as Sister Mister, Ken Barnett as Editor Daily, Eddie Cooper as Junior Mister, Benjamin Eakeley as Reverend Salvation, David Garrison as Mr. Mister and Ian Lowe as Yasha. All of these cast members play their parts with great intensity and commitment.

Although The Cradle Will Rock premiered in 1937, it is still a timely and engrossing piece of musical theatre, and director John Doyle has faithfully presented the spirit of this fascinating and relevant theatrical masterwork.