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Black Maria - Ballet
Oct. 26th, 2007 12:28 pmYesterday I took the afternoon off work so I could go to see "Black Maria" a ballet based on the book by Diana Wynne Jones. This was at the Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadlers Wells, which is only 15 minutes walk from work.
The previous afternoon there was a Q & A with Diana followed by a signing, which I managed to get to. Diana was wonderfully charming and informative, even with questions she must have answered hundreds of times.
The ballet was very well done and I enjoyed it very much BUT as with Opera if it tels a story, it's helpful if you know the story BEFORE you go to the ballet. Having no dialogue tends to minimise the informational content.
The dancers were excellent, and the costumes and minimal props were perfect, Aunt Maria "wheel chair" being particularly effective. The use of pre-recorded film being used as the only scenery was a bit disconcerting, especially when the film mirrored the action on stage.
It's just a pity it finishes it's run on Saturday, it should get a wider audience.
The previous afternoon there was a Q & A with Diana followed by a signing, which I managed to get to. Diana was wonderfully charming and informative, even with questions she must have answered hundreds of times.
The ballet was very well done and I enjoyed it very much BUT as with Opera if it tels a story, it's helpful if you know the story BEFORE you go to the ballet. Having no dialogue tends to minimise the informational content.
The dancers were excellent, and the costumes and minimal props were perfect, Aunt Maria "wheel chair" being particularly effective. The use of pre-recorded film being used as the only scenery was a bit disconcerting, especially when the film mirrored the action on stage.
It's just a pity it finishes it's run on Saturday, it should get a wider audience.
