'Swan Lake' reviews Schepaciova in reviews Litvinov in reviews recent Chisinau National reviews more Trog Woolley reviews Discuss this review (Open for at least 6 months)

It is typical of the productions by the modest companies from Eastern Europe. You know that you will see the mechanical swans (with reflection) swim across the back of the stage at the start of Act II, you know that the Jester is going to have the best of Act I, and that the ballet will have the happy ending. You can also expect to see some good looking costumes, a full corps (in spite of the size of the stage) and quite ropy dancing (usually very imprecise footwork), and that usually only the principal lady shows any promise. You also can be sure that the audiences will love it. They will be entertained and that's all that really matters.

The company tour with their own live orchestra (who probably also play with the Opera company that tours along side of the Ballet company). The orchestra played the score as if they've played it thousands of times before (which of course they have), generally very workman like but adequate for the purpose. One complaint was that the harp was very out of tune (sounded like rubber bands stretched over a cigar box); it really grated during the main pdd in Act II (the harp/violin duet); a moving scene ruined by the awful noise.

As previously stated, we saw a full corps of 24 swans, which is a real squeeze on the Grand Theatre's Stage. During some of the diagonal lines, the two at the back were hidden by the tabs, so really didn't have do to a lot. Also with that many dancers in such a small space (tutus do take up a lot of room), there wasn't scope for much leg movement. It would have been prudent to have left several swans in the coop. I guess the company always perform the same show the same way; it is easier to do this rather than fiddle about with cuts.

Speaking of cuts, most of the mime is missing from Act II; no lake of tears, no indication that Rothbart turned the girls into swans or why Odette must find a betrothed, so when Sigi swears his undying love to Odette, there is no good reason for him to do so. The large swans in Act II were missing too (or perhaps I had just nodded off?) The ending features an odd twist; Rothbart duffs up Siegfried who dies, Odette sees his body and also dies (presumably of a broken heart), and just when you think the curtain is about to come down, Rothbart carks it too! This is almost as many dead on stage as in the Duchess of Malfi.

In the dual role of Odette/Odile Nadezhda Schepaciova was far more convincing as Odette, her Odile isn't anywhere near menacing enough or in the slightest but seductive. We saw a technically perfect Odile (technique wise) with very poor acting. Sigi (Andrei Litvinov) looked like he was flying on Valium for the entire show; yes he doesn't have a whole lot to do, but he could show some enthusiasm.

I found Act III by far the strongest, the Spanish and Polish dances were exceptionally well done, very dynamic and visual. All of the costumes for the country dances were bright, colourful and really looked the part.

The entrepreneur is to be applauded for bringing a large, overseas ballet and opera company on a tour of British regional centres. This is probably a major financial nightmare and I do hope that they recover their investment (if numbers at last nights performance are an indicator, then it's in the bank).

The audience went away entertained and happy; there were lots of "Well wasn't that lovely" comments to be heard.

Yes, I enjoyed myself too...