© John Ross Bolshoi 'Romeo' reviews 'Romeo' reviews recent Bolshoi reviews more Philip Bichard reviews Discuss this review (Open for at least 6 months)

As posted on our Postings pages...

The dancers were fine, the energy and commitment beyond reproach, but one could only wriggle in discomfort at the shouting and screaming they were asked to inflict upon us, and the long period of silence so beloved of first-time... choreographers? Whatever. Leaving aside the inexplicable decisions in changing the story (Shakespeare gave his input but it is clear who is in charge, goodness me so it is) and re-arranging the sublime music (though remixing it into maybe a house or garage version would have been more fitting), the broadness of the brushstrokes - the sheer crudity - at this level of art beggared belief. After about 3 minutes I thought that this was something a ballet student might have created - we would pick out the promising bits and smile encouragingly at the rest - but after 5 minutes I had to mentally retract that insult to children. A further scene of dull blandness wrapped in literal hysteria led to me to ponder how this Emperor could possibly get this clothes line approved, and at such a noble house of couture as well.
 

Perhaps Donnellan's next venture will be in architecture or nuclear physics perhaps - some other technical discipline where you can't possibly make things up as you go along. Or so they thought. The history of ballet has many fine collaborations where different disciplines have worked together created great works - but not where the least qualified of them all has been the dictator.

Forget MacMillan - it's Bernstein who will be turning in his grave. This Emperor is not only naked, with the the crouched corps de ballet pointing at him and shouting "He's naked", but he is carrying a sign saying "I'm naked". And waving it in time precisely to the music.