A beautiful, magnificent portrayal of passion and the negative effects of loneliness. Rating
Unmissable!
Sir Matthew Bourne‘s Swan Lake is simply a joy and marvel to watch – a modernisation that impressively puts a traditional work in touch with current society, reimagining the story from the classic ballet with a troubled, repressed Prince.
The tale is set in modern England, where the Prince (James Lovell) seeks freedom and affection from his cold mother and the suffocating constraints of royal life. He encounters a swan (Rory Macleod then Harrison Dowzell) – here gender swapped from female in the original to a male – whose potent masculinity offers the passionate intensity he craves. Incorporating themes of royal duty, public scrutiny, and the complexities of relationships, male mental health and loneliness, the story is set against a backdrop of contemporary royal life. It also features a devastating climax.
Having never had the luxury of watching a ballet performance in my life, I was worried that the plot would be hard to follow and I wouldn’t understand anything. However, through Bourne’s truly impeccable direction and choreography I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the story was to follow and how hypnotising the ballet integrated with modern dance was. This is certainly a night at the theatre no audience member would want to forget any time soon.
It would be impossible to write this review without taking the time to say how incredibly talented and fantastic every single cast member is in this production: there is no standout performance as everyone is unbelievably amazing. However, this evening was marked by Dowzell being called in as understudy midway through Act One due to the indisposition of Macleod, and stepping up to complete the performance flawlessly.
Act two in the City Park is breathtaking in the level of control and grace that all the dancers possess. Additionally, a particularly enjoyable part of the production is the use of humour, mainly from The Girlfriend (Bryony Wood) and the four Cygnets.
The set design by Lez Brotherston is truly impressive (as it should be for a production that clearly has a massive budget). In addition, the lighting design from Paule Constable is beautiful, particularly in The Royal Ball during Act Three when The Prince and The Swan/Stranger dance together and the lighting changes to blue, then reverses to gold when they separate.
This 30th anniversary revival of Swan Lake is absolutely brilliant and truly remarkable, with every element of the show a standout. The long-standing ovation from the audience is a clear indication of its brilliance.
Director and choreographer: Matthew Bourne
Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Set & Costume designer: Lez Brotherston
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Sound Designer: Ken Hampton
Video & Projection Designer: Duncan McLean
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake – Next Generation plays at New Wimbledon Theatre until Saturday 4 October, and tours Europe until 30 November.
