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| Storytime Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty Photo: Jeff Busby |
The
Australian Ballet Kids,
Canberra
Theatre Centre daily until 23rd January
Reviewed by
Bill Stephens
The Canberra
Theatre Centre foyer was abuzz with tiny ballerinas and princesses, and more
than a few young princes, for the Canberra premiere of the Australian Ballet’s
latest initiative “Storytime Ballet”.
Early
arrivals soon discovered the dress-up room where they could try on some of the
gorgeous costumes and big girls ballet shoes thoughtfully provided by the
ballet company, while mums, grannies and grandads purchased tiaras, crowns and
swords as essential souvenirs.Too soon,
the bells were ringing and it was time to hurry into the theatre and settle
down for the show.
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| Montana Rubin and Timothy Coleman Photo: Jeff Busby |
This
production of “The Sleeping Beauty” has been designed as in introduction to
ballet for children as young as three years old. With this target audience in mind, David
McAllister, in collaboration with Nicolette Fraillon, has skilfully reduced the
original three-act ballet into a performance lasting a nicely judged fifty
minutes.
The cast of
ten young dancers from the company are costumed in the Hugh Coleman’s gorgeous storybook costumes, and perform on part
of his setting which was originally created for Maina Gielgud’s 1984 production
of “The Sleeping Beauty”. The Prince’s
secretary, Catalabutte, (Sean McGrath) engages directly with the young audience.
His narration is witty and informative, keeping his young audience informed about
exactly what is happening as the dancers perform sections of the original
Petipa choreography to Tchaikovsky’s glorious music
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| Storytime Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty Photo: Jeff Busby |
In response his audience enthusiastically
help him make magic to wake up the palace guests from their 100 year sleep, and
scream warnings to him when the wicked fairy, Carabosse, slinks with intent in
the background.
The charm of
this enchanting production is that it retains all the essential elements of the
original, captures much of the magic, and is perfectly pitched at its target
audience, who left no doubt as to how much they enjoyed it, as they excitedly
spilled out into the foyer afterwards. As such it works equally well as an inspirational
experience for budding young dancers and as a charming introduction for the
uninitiated, or curious, to the often mysterious world of classical ballet.
If
you haven’t a young prince or princess of your own, beg, borrow or steal a
couple from your neighbour and give yourself a treat.
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| Storytime Ballet - The Sleeping Beauty Photo: Jeff Busby |
This review first published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 20th January 2016