OK, before I start I must admit to something… until last Thursday the only bit of live Ballet I’d seen performed in a theatre was in ‘Billy Elliott’! Right, that cultural confession is out of the way now, let’s get down to business…
It’s pretty damned-near impossible to leave me speechless, but Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of ‘Dracula’, choreographed by David Nixon, almost did just that, and I was half-tempted to write: “One word: WOW!” But that’s not my style either, so I’ll continue, as briefly as I can!
Despite appearances these truly talented, toned performers are not suspended on wires at any point during the show, and if ever I needed another incentive to continue with my Pilates classes I found it here!
It’s an erotically-charged production with some dark undertones and theatrical metaphors for drugs, alcohol and of course sex – though there’s plenty of the last one laid bare (almost literally in places!) too.
My very knowledgeable theatre-buddy – a very talented writer, but I’ve not asked her permission to disclose her identity so we’ll call her ‘Dorothy’ – informed me in the interval that some of Count Dracula’s performance reminded her of the late, great Sir Robert Helpmann – who you may know best as ‘The Child Catcher’ in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Sir Robert was also a wonderfully-talented Ballet dancer and, Dorothy tells me, studied the movements of spiders to inspire his performance in ‘Chitty’. Pretty accurate, yes? This observation was then proven to be even more astute (she’s a clever cookie is our Dorothy!) when witnessing the spectacular Christopher Hinton-Lewis as Count Dracula, during the scene in Act II which was performed to Michael Daugherty’s ‘Red Cape Tango’ – just breathtaking.
Some other merely personal observations from Dorothy and myself are as follows…
The music, in places in Act I, is designed, we thought, to set you on edge and leave you feeling uncomfortably nervous, but you’re not quite sure why until you think about it afterwards. So I hope I’ve saved you some shuffling in your seat and not spoiled it for you here! This is by no means a criticism though, the music is just beautiful and more than plays its part in a perfect production – gosh, I hope I’ve not offended anyone now, I’ll stop digging, shall I?!
Dracula is on at the West Yorkshire Playhouse now until Saturday 19th September 2009, with tickets priced from £17 (concessions are available as are a limited number of free tickets are available for the under 26s Mon-Thurs too). For times and to book visit http://www.wyp.org.uk/events/event_details.asp?event_ID=5517 or call the Box Office on 0113 213 7700
Enjoy!
Clancy
@clancywalker
Dracula was superb! I was there on Thursday too, as a newcomer to the ballet. Totally won over – it was sensuous and scary. Mind you, I can see why the dancers may have left quickly, they must be knackered after the performance!
Was a fantastic opening night – think the whole audience was impressed judging by the standing ovation! Think it appeals on several levels from seasoned ballet-philes, to the younger crowd interested in the gothic vampire angle. Nice to see the Playhouse supporting a break from the normal theatre productions.