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<p class=""><b style><span style="font-family:Palatino">Brilliantly conceived and performed SLEEPING
BEAUTY @ Palace Theatre</span></b></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Palatino">(Member,
American Theatre Critics Association, Cleveland Critics Circle)</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">When the list of
productions for the 2013-2014 Key Bank Broadway series was announced, many
predicted that the number of season tickets holders would drop.<span style> </span>There was no new blockbuster, no WAR
HORSE or BOOK OF MORMON, even a couple of shows that have previously had their
Cleveland runs, and a ballet.<span style> </span>Just
like the predictions of the demise of Cleveland Play House due to its move to
the Allen complex on Playhouse Square, the doomsayers were wrong.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Gina Vernaci, Senior Vice
President of Theater Operations, once again seems to have selected an offering
of shows that is aimed to please.<span style>
</span>Last year’s record for season ticket sales has been exceeded.<span style> </span>As of opening night of this season’s
first show, SLEEPING BEAUTY, 27,600 patrons have bought the series, making it
one of the largest group of advance purchasers in the country.<span style> </span>(And, by the way, Cleveland Play House
is doing a booming business.)</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Matthew Bourne’s SLEEPING
BEAUTY A Gothic Romance, is a ballet.<span style>
</span>Yes, a show with all dancing, no singing, no lines.<span style> </span>But it’s like no ballet you’ve ever
seen or might see.<span style> </span>There isn’t a
tutu, leotard or toe shoe in sight</span><span style="font-family:Palatino"> </span>
</p><p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">What there is, is an
exciting, well conceived, brilliantly performed story filled with laughter,
intrigue, gothic overtones, and wonderful costumes, which flows from Edwardian
to modern times in a swirl of breathtaking visual wonder. </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Matthew Bourne is a
choreographic genius.<span style> </span>Since 1992
when he staged THE NUTCRACKER, to SWAN LAKE, his 1995 international hit, the
name Bourne and sold out audiences have become synonymous.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Bourne is fearless.<span style> </span>He refashioned SWAN LAKE, a story about
a serious search for love and what people are willing to do for it, into a
humor-filled modern ballet with a flocks of swans, who are usually portrayed by
delicate females, into a corps of bare-chested men in feathery breeches.<span style> </span>All this to the delight of audiences
and critics. </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Who says ballet has to be
high-brow?<span style> </span>Bourne stresses the
original once upon a time story, reinventing it where necessary, adding humor
and intrigue and arranges the dance movements to be real and not affected.<span style> </span>For example, an<span style> </span>infant, which is usually a motionless
doll, is portrayed by a stick manipulated puppet, similar to the horses in WAR HORSE.<span style> </span>The results were, “ohs,” “ahs,” and
titters of glee from the audience.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Instead of a prince, with
no connection to the princess, who he kisses and brings out of her long sleep, the
girl’s childhood commoner boy friend turns out to have the secret weapon
lips.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Add gothic vampires, flying
monkeys, a poisoned black rose, and a treadmill that carries dancers across the
stage so they appear to be floating without leaving the ground, and you have a
fascinating evening.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(26,26,26)"></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">SLEEPING BEAUTY is the story of
Aurora, a young princess, cursed because of an agreement gone bad between her
parents, who were unable to conceive, and the dark fairy.<span style> </span>When the dark fairy is scorned, Aurora
is cursed. The original story was turned into a ballet in 1800 by Marius Petipa
and staged to the gorgeous music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">Bourne’s places his story in the
fin-de-Siècle period when fairies, vampires and affluence created a gothic
image.<span style> </span>He adds the intrigue of
Caradoc, the secret son of the dark fairy, who desires to seek revenge via a
poisoned black rose.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">Following the very specific time line
laid out in the original tale, the story jumps ahead from Aurora’s christening
(1890), to 1911, when we find Aurora, now living in the uptight Edwardian
era.<span style> </span>Not only has the child grown
into a young woman, and the clothing styles changed, but the choreographer
leaves behind the old style of dancing, and creates movement which echoes the
dance crazes of the new era.<span style> </span>Through
the machinations of Caradoc, the princess pricks her finger on the poisoned black
rose and falls into a deep permanent sleep.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">We are transformed to 2011.<span style> </span>Costumes (contemporary jeans), scenery
(a disco with mod neo lights), and attitudes have changed.<span style> </span>So does Bourne’s choreographic style,
with modern body and hand moves, many echoing contemporary choreographers’
styles.<span style> </span>There’s a little Bob
Fosse, a little Michael Kidd, and a lot of current Michael Bourne!</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">Don’t worry about following the
storyline.<span style> </span>The tale is explained
with a series of lettered graphics projected onto the front curtain during the
overture, and at each time change.<span style>
</span>If you are really interested in understanding all the subtleties, get to
the Palace early and read Bourne’s excellent notes in the program.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">Petite Hannah Vassallo is glorious as
Aurora.<span style> </span>She moves like her feet
aren’t <span style> </span>touching the floor, her
face and body project every mood, her footwork is meticulous, her leaps are incredible.<span style> </span>This is one very, very talented dancer
and actress.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">Dominic North is charming as Leo, Aurora’s
boyhood friend and eventual “prince charming.”<span style> </span>He moves with confidence and ability, displays the right
balance between boyhood and manhood, and is totally convincing.<span style> </span>His lifts, carries and catches are
precise.</span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">Adam Maskell is evil incarnate as
both Carabosse, the dark fairy and Caradoc, her son.<span style> </span>The Adam Lambert (of AMERICAN IDOL fame) look-alike,
captures the stage with his powerful and convincing movements.</span><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)"> </span>
</p><p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">The rest of cast is impressive. <span style> </span>These are well trained, effectively
choreographed dancers.<span style> </span></span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)">Lez Brotherston’s costumes, Paule
Constable’s lighting, and Paul Groothuis’s sound designs all enhance the
production.</span><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)"> </span>
</p><p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Cleveland is the last stop on the
company’s short American tour, before it moves to New York City Center for a
late October staging.<span style> </span></span><span style="font-family:Palatino;color:rgb(26,26,26)"></span></p>
<p class=""><i style><span style="font-family:Palatino">CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:<span style> </span>Matthew Bourne’s SLEEPING BEAUTY: Gothic fairy tale,
is a ballet not only for the ballet aficionado, but for the person who knows
nothing about the dance form, but wants to see a well told tale, marvelously
performed, as one will probably never see it again.<span style> </span>As a male acquaintance, who only went because he had
subscriber’s tickets said to me the day after the performance, “I never thought
that I’d go to a ballet, but would say that it was one of the best things I’ve
ever seen on stage.”<span style> </span>Yes, this is
an absolute MUST SEE!</span></i></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino">Tickets for<i style> </i>Matthew Bourne’s SLEEPING BEUATY A
GOTHIC ROMANCE , which runs through October 13, 2013 at the Palace Theatre, can
be ordered by calling 216-241-6000 or going to <a href="http://www.playhousesquare.org/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">www.playhousesquare.org</span></a>.</span></p><p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"><span style="color:rgb(0,255,255)">••••••••••••••••••••••••••••</span></span></p>
<p class=""><br><span style="font-family:Palatino"></span></p><p class=""><span style="font-family:Palatino"><br></span></p></div>