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| Natalie Cawte - The Ghost of Christmas Past Ballet Theatre UK - A Christmas Carol |
Professional ballet retuned to Sidmouth this week as dancers
from the touring Ballet Theatre UK gave a scintillating performance of A
Christmas Carol this week, writes Di Bowerman.
The group is set to return to the town again next spring
with Alice in Wonderland and although billed as suitable for young and old, I imagine
next years offering will be less sinister then this Dickens’ tale, which may
have made a few of the youngsters in the audience jump at the appearance of the
ghostly Jacob Marley, his dead business partner, wrapped in chains of greed and
want.
There was a true Dickensian feel to this production, which,
after a sombre funeral scene, sprang to life with a Christmas gathering of
London street shoppers, bustling to get last minuet gifts.
Three young dancers from Lynne Thorn’s East Devon Dance appeared
briefly as the Cratchit children.
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| Luca Varone - Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come Ballet Theatre UK - A Christmas Carol |
With a dark grey set and black and brown costumes, Artistic
Director Christopher Moore transported us back in time to the mid 19th
century when Dickens wrote this book.
The role of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge was a testing one, and
David Brewer made an excellent job of it.
His penny-pinching ways are brought home to him in a dream
when he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, who
make him understand the true meaning of Christmas.
The elegant Natalie Cawte was the ghost of Christmas past
and used the stage to her best advantage. Her dancing was full of aplomb,
graceful and a delight to watch.
So too was Helena Casado Cortes as Belle, Scrooge’s fiancé,
who came to him during a vision of past times, when he had been a happy man and
in love, until Belle breaks off her engagement.
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| Natalie Cawte as Ghost of Christmas Past, David Brewer as Scrooge, Luca Varone as Young Scrooge and Helena Casado Cortes as Belle Ballet Theatre UK - A Christmas Carol |
Another memorable performance was given by Luca Varone as
the young Scrooge, and ghost of Christmas yet to come. His roles were testing,
with many lifts, and little time to take a breath between scenes, yet he gave a
riveting performance.
With just four male dancers in the company parts were shared
about, and Joseph Mackie-Graves gave a sensitive performance as the downtrodden
clerk Bob Cratchit, while Vincnt Cabot, who shares the role of Scrooge, was, in
the Sidmouth production, the sinister ghost of Jacob Marley.
This production was a feast for the eyes from start to
finish, combining traditional ballet with dramatic theatre and classical score,
along with some stunning costumes.
Ballet Theatre UK will be returning to Sidmouth on the 25th and 26th of May 2013.
Do not miss this fantastic company...book tickets today!
http://www.manorpavilion.com/newtheatrewhatson.phtml
Box Office Tel: 01395-514413
I saw it last Saturday at the Beck in Hayes. I enjoyed last year's production but this is even better - thanks. PS I hope you don't mind me linking in a picture on my blog - I can remove it or add any copyright I need to.
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