The Joffrey Ballet.The Joffrey Ballet Auditorium Theater, Chicago, IL October 4-15, 2006 A perfect fairy-tale ballet, Ashton's Cinderella drew crowds to the majestic Auditorium Theater. Staged by Wendy Ellis Somes, it is the first time an American company has performed Ashton's 1948 ballet. Launching the ballet in the first few minutes are the two stepsisters, played with gusto by a larger-than-life Christian Holder and a sly Gary Chryst. They dominate the action with magnificently rhythmic bickering bick·er intr.v. bick·ered, bick·er·ing, bick·ers 1. To engage in a petty, bad-tempered quarrel; squabble. See Synonyms at argue. 2. and stitching (wonderfully miming needlework needlework, work done with a needle, either plain sewing, mending, or ornamental work such as embroidery, quilting, smocking, hemstitching, fagoting, some kinds of lace making (see lace), patchwork, and appliqué. ). Holder brims with energy, a maniacally precise cartoon of vanity. The scenes ebb and flow the alternate ebb and flood of the tide; often used figuratively. See also: Ebb between the sweetness of Cinderella and the stepsisters' brashness. Ashton was such a masterful choreographer that even his big ballets have a sense of intimacy. The Prokofiev music, played beautifully by the Chicago Sinfonietta sin·fo·niet·ta n. 1. A symphony that is shorter than usual or that calls for fewer than the usual number of instruments. 2. A small symphony orchestra, especially one consisting of stringed instruments only. , embeds strains of sadness within the happily-ever-after tale. This is a Cinderella with layers. In addition to the Fairy Godmother, there are four season fairies, each with her own sweet solo and two attendants. Twelve snowflakes--oops, I mean "stars"--seem to be everywhere, thickening the pageantry but detracting from the narrative's momentum. Julianne Kepley infused her neglected-girl-turned-princess with warmth and joy. As Cinderella enters the ball, she descends the stairs one by one, on pointe, looking straight ahead. This passage is as delicate and tension-filled as the Rose Adagio a·da·gio adv. & adj. Music In a slow tempo, usually considered to be slower than andante but faster than larghetto. Used chiefly as a direction. n. pl. a·da·gios 1. , but Kepley never faltered. Later, during the ballroom pas de deux pas de deux (French; “step for two”) Dance for two performers. A characteristic part of classical ballet, it includes an adagio, or slow dance, by the ballerina and her partner; solo variations by the male dancer and then the ballerina; and a coda, or , her finger-turns spun into chaines around her Prince (Michael Levine), as if he had set her in motion. The greatest excitement comes when the clock strikes midnight and Cinderella races from side to side in panic as rows of guests in lavish finery wash over her. The music not only ticks but clangs and thunders. The heady choreographic traffic--and an unnamed double--give the illusion that Cinderella suddenly reverts to her rags and rushes up the stairs and out. Two things are missing. One is the setup for the Prince's discovery of Cinderella's glittery shoe. Since she had been dancing in plain pink pointe shoes, the bejeweled be·jew·eled or be·jew·elled adj. Decorated with or as if with jewels. shoe came out of nowhere. And never do we see the Prince fall in love with the heroine. Once she is transformed by her tutu tutu coriariaarborea. and pumpkin coach, it's assumed that he'll fall for her. But they have no steps that allow them to get to know each other (as in Kudelka's version decades later). Still, this production tells a classic tale with depth and flourish. Ashton's Cinderella is one to cherish. See www.joffrey.com. |
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