Swan Lake

[smallhobbit]

Last year spending the weekend between Christmas and New Year in London had been such a success we decided to repeat the experience.  Having seen all the family between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day (an extended celebration due to having nurses in the family) it was good to get away for a few days.

I'd been wanting to see Matthew Bourne's version of Swan Lake for some time, and realising it was on at Saddler's Wells over Christmas it seemed like the perfect opportunity to go.

This production has male swans and we saw Will Bozier as The Swan and Dominic North as The Prince.  The story is treated differently from the traditional production (the last performance I saw was by the Bolshoi), and not just for the casting.  More of the action takes place in the Prince's head.

It's a very monochrome production, with only the occasional character in bright clothing.  To me that made it harder to see what the individual dancers were doing when they were all wearing black - whereas with the white swans that wasn't a problem.  The swans wore feathered breeches which were effective, but it did give me a vision of the Ferret in costume.  And occasionally the choreography was such that although the music grew faster the dancing didn't.

However, those are minor points.  The orchestra was very good.  The dancers were excellent, and everything flowed beautifully.  It was the ideal Christmas outing.

Comments

[corvidology]

I'm such a HUGE Matthew Bourne fan and would have loved to have seen it.

Glad you got some time to take a break away.

[smallhobbit]

His Swan Lake has been on my 'to see' list for a few years, so I was delighted to get the opportunity. I've booked to see Romeo & Juliet, which is a new ballet of his, next summer.

[scfrankles]

The swans wore feathered breeches which were effective, but it did give me a vision of the Ferret in costume. That did make me smile ^____^ But I'm glad you enjoyed the performance ^__^

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yes, I was pleased we were able to see it.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Oooh the Ballet! Lovely! And I think reminding you of Ferret is a plus! Look forward to hearing how does in pointe shoes and a tutu.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - of course the Ocelot is the one for the tutu - Ferret would be in feathered breeches and with little wings attached.

[luthienberen]

Sounds like you had a great time despite a few minor niggles. :) Though I admit, the monochrome theme would make it difficult for me to also separate individual dancers, (and I do love bright colours in general).

I sympathise with you re nurses in the family. My mum is a retired nurse and we always had to juggle our celebration on Christmas Eve with how my mum would work nights.

I would love to go to a ballet (and opera) and intend to try this year, so keeping an eye open on any traditional performances that might pop up near me. Hope you are resting now!

[smallhobbit]

We did, thank you. I would have liked more colours - the dancers did tend to merge into each other.

Yes - we went to my son's on Christmas Eve and then my daughter came down Boxing Day. It was good to spread the celebrations out.

I hope you get to see a ballet in 2019.

[luthienberen]

Thank you! I hope you see many lovely productions in 2019 too.

[mafief]

I’m guessing you got to see your grandkid?

Swan lake with male swans seems interesting.

“The swans wore feathered breeches which were effective, but it did give me a vision of the Ferret in costume.” - hehe! Oh I can almost see that. :)

[smallhobbit]

Yes, we saw my granddaughter on Christmas Eve.

It was a different performance. I'm sure there will be an opportunity for the Ferret to wear feathery breeches.

[vix_spes]

Very interesting to read this ... I'm taking my mum to see it as her birthday present in a couple of weeks. I think we're even seeing the same dancer!

[smallhobbit]

I'm sure she'll enjoy it. There were niggles for me, but I'm very pleased I got to see it.