Melody on the Move © John Ross 'Melody on the Move' reviews 'Rite of Spring' reviews 'Drink to Me' reviews McIlroy in reviews recent ENB reviews more Bruce Marriott reviews

What:
English National Ballet with a particularly strong triple bill or 'A trio of dynamic dance' as they put it. One piece is brand spanking new as well - and in a season when ENB have been doing more for new ballet in Britain than any other company.

Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes
This Mark Morris piece to Virgil Thomson's, by turns, discordant, folksy and easy listening piano Etudes was unveiled last November to much critical acclaim. Originally created for ABT in the late 80's, the dance takes its cues straight from the music and gives us stiff poses, formal ballet, through 20th variations, down to bubbly playground skipping. It's a strong test, technically and mind-wise I suspect, of the senior echelons in any company and ENB do it fine justice. Familiarity too starts to bring further enjoyment not least in the spirited playing of Jonathan Still, who is centre stage and every bit part of the action. A piece that shows Morris's sense of mischief and most of all his wide choreographic range. A hit before and a hit again.

Mark Morris's Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes
© John Ross

The Rite of Spring

MacMillan's The Rite of Spring
© John Ross

Monica Mason (the new Royal Ballet Director) was in the audience to see the role she first created over 40 years ago in the MacMillan/Stravinsky piece that is as scary as they come. No playground coyness here just the unremitting music and the ape/Neanderthal- inspired movement that makes sacrifice inevitable. Inventive is a much overused word but the movement here is very different from most dance you will see and Sarah McIlroy's a strong lead as The Chosen One: panting at the strain as both dancer and sacrificial girl. But this is a company piece, given as part of the International Celebration of Kenneth MacMillan's life and work, and ENB all go for it.

Melody on the Move  

Michael Corder's Melody on the Move
© John Ross

The new piece, which played before Rite, is about as light as light can be. A witty celebration of the 30's through 50's danced to a series of well-known period melodies it had everybody, of a certain age, talking in the interval afterwards about Bakelite, the Home service, Bex Bissell carpet sweepers, Odeons, wrap-around pinnies, and the home delivery of milk... Pure nostalgia from Michael Corder who delivers the steps and ideas to keep up the grins created by the music and Mark Bailey's fun designs.

Michael Corder's Melody on the Move
© John Ross

There were many terrific performances at the premiere but I particularly liked Simone Clarke as chief Mrs Mopp and Erina Takahashi and Yosvani Ramos in a weird Peanut Polka danced in Spanish and Hunting Pink designs. A crowd pleaser similar in touch to David Bintley's Nutcracker Sweeties for Birmingham.

Recommended?
You bet. A cracker of a night and any of the pieces is a compelling reason to see the company. ENB should be well pleased.