SB 'Two Pigeons' reviews 'Two Pigeons' reviews Wildor in reviews recent SB reviews

Sorry to report that Glasgow's Theatre Royal was similarly 1/2 empty last night. It seems to me a sorry indictment of the state of Scottish Ballet and Robert North's tenure, that a ballet such as Two Pigeons cannot attract more of an audience than this.

And it seems evident that the claims that Mr North has popularised dance and biult up an audience for SB are just plainly untrue, however much his supporters (and the Board's critics) may want to believe it.

'Bach Dances' summed it all up for me. Yet another uninspired, soft-shoe ballet which challenged neither dancers nor audience. Bach alternately in harmony or discord with his Muse (the excellent Tomomi Sato who I have still to see in anything that uses her abilities in any kind of challenging way); and a corps of dancers for Bach to conduct.

Didn't we see this idea in 'Offenbach'? and what is it about men and muses anyway?

I feel churlish being critical of an outgoing AD, but I pay good money to see SB and we get precious little ballet in Glasgow. 90% of what we've had in the past 3 years has been Robert North's own, and we deserve better!

The company didn't even look that good in 'Bach Dances'. The choreography was so unchallenging that they should have looked great, but you get the impression they've been lulled into a complacent sense of security about their own abilities, and perhaps feel that they're "good enough".

OK Tirade over.

Sarah Wildor - What can I say - She was simply a delight to see, and I agree with all Michael's comments about her. 'Two Pigeons' is a lovely ballet, but I have to agree with Anne that though I enjoyed it, I thought it lacked a bit of verve and sparkle - even if it was a great antidote to 'Bach Dances'.

I thought Ivan Dinev and Lorna Scott did well too. It's not that the rest were bad, it's just that I feel they can do better than this, and that they deserve to be given the chance.

I feel more than ever though that SB's very future lies in the balance. Quite a challenge for the next AD - whoever it is.