11:06am Saturday 20th March 2010
By Viv Hardwick
IT’S not hard to see why this stunning work remains a constant in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s repertoire, even though there’s a full ten minutes of Tchaikovsky’s music and beautifully-costumed movement before the first dancers appear.
The beautiful Royal Opera House scenery, set, costumes, props, head-dresses, wigs and jewellery ensures that a large audience is given the full benefit of inviting an international-class ballet company to the North-East.
Natasha Oughtred recovered from a few nervous starting movements and a stumble to exude confidence as she took her turn in the leading role of Princess Aurora.
First soloist Alexander Campbell moved up to the central role of Prince Florimund, taking over from Chi Cao, and demonstrated a strong technique. He is, after all, all the more anxious by having to select a beauty who is displaying all the signs of sleeping sickness.
Many might be tempted to ignore “the bird in the bushes”, in the overgrown palace, for the 13 beauties led by The Lilac Fairy (Lei Zhao) trying to persuade him to grapple with the undergrowth on a rescue mission.
A lively display from Carabosse (Marion Tait), rolling splendidly onto the stage atop a jet-black saddled version of a sedan-chair carried by hornpipe dancing henchmen, is the essential baddie required for any fairytale worth its salt.
The news that BRB director David Bintley is working on a new production of Cinderella, which is likely to tour next year after Romeo and Juliet in the autumn, means that Sunderland is unlikely to slumber through lack of exciting dance for many months to come.
■ The Sleeping Beauty runs until today, at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets: £11 to £25.
Call 0844-847-2499 or go to SunderlandEmpire.org.uk
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