Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Autumn Glory is like the ballet’s version of an equinox.
The three pieces, Checkmate, Sympahonic Variations and Pineapple Poll revealed a glimpse of sunshine of English Ballet on a rainy October day.
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| Symphonic Variations Copyright to BRB. |
Checkmate (Ninette de Valois’s) was the first of the trio from the company that brings the checkered board to life with the performers in character to their pieces. The choreography uses high amounts of symmetry and strong lines to create tension and accuracy to playing the game and leaves the audience in the centre of the action between love and death. The red Knights stallions took on a high attack against the black Queen and endurance and praise must go to Tzu-Chao for a charging performance. The black Queen (Samara Downs) is seductive and graceful in her attack in taking down the red set and eventually killing the king.
Symphonic Variations (Frederick Ashton) was a classical graceful piece due to the composition only from the piano, violin and harp. The six dancers showed great technical ability due to the amount of Arabesques and Port de bras showed there was no room for imperfections in the dancers. The poise of the piece draws you towards this English rosey classic.
Finally, Pineapple Poll (John Cranko) is a pantomimed comical tale of the handsome Captain Belaye (Matthew Lawrence) and who wooes the females shore side including Poll (Anglea Paul). It seems that the captain and the girls have different journeys planned once they are onboard the navel boat and Poll is left disappointed but she is rescued by Jasper who loves her faithfully. The characterisation of ballet resembles Popeye and Olive Oil and with the added costumes and set created a joyful end to the trio.
Overall the trilogy revealed the diversity and technical ability that can only be found with Birmingham Royal Ballet and to give glory and praise for ballet at its fullness.
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