ENB ‘Romeo’ reviews all ‘Romeo’ reviews recent ENB reviews

The production
The production is more of an ‘ice-show’ than ballet. 120 dancers moving in formation, busy crowd scenes and the principals being followed by a spotlight. Male dancers had to make running entrances half way up the arena to be in the centre of the action. There are novelties such as the 4 tarts who travel the length of the arena flashing their knickers, the revolving balcony and the bed that transforms itself into a tomb.

The costumes
The costumes by Roberta Giudi di Bagno were designed to give the look and feel of Renaissance Italy. The ballroom theme was red and burgundy velvet and if you sat in certain aisles you could see the quality of the evening wear close up.The quality was good- but at times the design was lacking. Putting Juliet and especially Daria Klimentova who has the ballet body to die for in a red velvet maternity smock for the ballroom scene is a travesty. Paris could be improved if he could lose the velvet biscuit tin hat.

The dancers
What a difference 3 years has made Monica Perego’s Juliet- I had always labelled her as a fine dancer who could spin like a top and expected her Juliet to be ‘knowing’, assertive with little emotional depth. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She was shy and skittish as a young girl and just got better with her ‘coup de foudre’ in the ballroom and she was so eager to get to her Romeo she jumped off the balcony before it stopped moving! Unfortunately this scene was marred by the blinding ‘searchlight’ that chased her and her partner and prevented them from fully living the roles. Despite this, she projected emotion to reach the ceiling - and it did.

Vladislav Bubnov, the dark and well schooled Russian was a gentle and sensitive Romeo. An elegant mover, everything he did was just so aesthetically pleasing and the soaring grand jetes which travelled the length of the arena certainly impressed. The sword fighting and violence were too vulgar for him. As always a convincing actor,you could not fail to be moved by his reaction after killing Tybalt and the tomb pas de deux was done with such reckless intensity that it was beautiful to watch. He is certainly Scottish Ballet’s loss and ENB's gain - and they have acknowledged it by his recent and well deserved promotion.

Daniel Jones as Tybalt was magnificent. He was a menacing, badly dressed thug always spoiling for a fight and looked most at ease with any choreography that involved violence, his sword fighting and jumping at his opponent were frightening. If Tybalt attracted trouble the leering Chang as Mercutio was attracted to the tarts like a magnet, he added some much needed wit and showed some spectacular manege.

Overall
The Saturday matinee was nearly full, so despite the flaws the production was a highly enjoyable afternoon.