{"id":81,"date":"2014-04-29T09:18:07","date_gmt":"2014-04-29T09:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/?p=81"},"modified":"2014-08-06T10:23:53","modified_gmt":"2014-08-06T09:23:53","slug":"the-winters-tale-at-the-royal-opera-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stuffbysofia.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/the-winters-tale-at-the-royal-opera-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Bribe, beg and all the rest to see The Winter’s Tale at the Royal Opera House"},"content":{"rendered":"

I don’t expect this to be happening too often (I am a bit of a nag) but this is a post where I’m going to be raving about EVERYTHING.<\/p>\n

If you know me (some people have been reading me for a number of years through my other online activities<\/a>) and trust me (a smaller percentage no doubt) you only need to know this: DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER to watch The Winter’s Tale<\/strong>. There.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

For the rest, here is my view.<\/p>\n

The Winter’s Tale<\/a> is a new ballet by Christopher Wheeldon<\/a>, the extraordinary choreographer who took the world by storm with his Alice in Wonderland a few years back. Sadly I missed that and I was not about to repeat the same mistake. Clutching my \u00a322 tickets for the Upper Amphitheatre (here’s my trick for getting cheap-er tickets<\/a>) I sat down on time, leafing through the programme.<\/p>\n

Apparently, reading your programme before the performance is recommended (honestly, Wheeldon says so himself in the interview included). This is because the man is choreographing Shakespeare. I chuckled when I read that, I read my programme before watching Shakespeare in theatre, let along in ballet.<\/p>\n

\"Edward<\/a>
Edward Watson as Leontes, Lauren Cuthbertson as Hermione and Federico Bonelli as Polixenes in The Winter’s Tale \u00a9 ROH \/ Johan Persson, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Winter’s Tale\u00a0(read the synopsis<\/a> here) as realised by Wheeldon and as understood by yours truly, is basically about the catastrophic effects of jealousy and the paranoia associated with it, as well as its repercussions across the years and lives of all it affects.<\/p>\n

Sure, there is a redemption – of sorts – in\u00a0the end but there are always the scars of catastrophic past actions. This seeps through the choreography, with essentially a new language being developed here (very Shakespearean that, in a way). Classical movement, modern movement, amazing pas des deux and simply breathtaking choreography for the corps de ballet – with the brilliant dancers to match.<\/p>\n

Edward Watson<\/strong><\/a> as Leontes is the amazing “spider king” – an eloquent and very accurate description by Molly Flatt<\/a> on twitter.<\/p>\n

\"mollyflatt\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The man has the grace and pathos to pull this off and then some. I saw him in Mayerling <\/a>last year\u00a0and he was the main reason I was glued to my seat.\u00a0Watson as Leontes in The Winter’s Tale\u00a0embodies\u00a0the paranoia of jealousy as well as the heart-rending guilt and remorse. Their\u00a0pas de deux with Cuthberson when she is finally revealed to be alive (not much of a spoiler, but sorry about that) is immensely powerful.<\/p>\n

Cuthbertson<\/strong><\/a> as Hermione just excels in a very strong and at times claustrophobic role and Yanowsky<\/strong><\/a> as Paulina pulls the strands\u00a0of grief (and a bitter joy) together brilliantly and expressively.<\/p>\n

My personal favourites are Steven McRae<\/strong><\/a> and Sarah Lamb<\/strong><\/a>. They bring a tenderness of sorts to the stage, a sense of youth and energy. Their pas de deux is vibrant, their expressions soft, their concern for each other is very touching.<\/p>\n

\"Sarah<\/a>
Sarah Lamb and Steven McRae \u00a9 ROH\/Johan Persson, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sarah<\/a>
Sarah Lamb and Steven McRae in rehearsal for The Winter’s Tale \u00a9 ROH\/Johan Persson, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I mean just look at this photo! Look at the precise movement, so beautifully choreographed<\/strong>, their perfect lines, the tender hold, the girly abandon. That woman can play 16 likes nobody’s business and that guy has an energy that shouts “I am young and will never die”.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0jealousy that sets everything in motion is not only brilliantly realised by the choreography but brought to life by\u00a0the\u00a0music<\/strong>\u00a0too. Joby Talbot<\/a> composed a near perfect ballet score (I can’t say ‘perfect’ cause I just don’t know music). The paranoia just flows through the instruments, it’s quite unnerving. My favourite feature of the score though was the use of an on-stage band (very Chicago revival style) for the Bohemian May celebration scenes and the use of what I think was the\u00a0santouri<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>(or something similar), which has a distinct melodic and very nostalgic sound. Correct me if it was a different instrument please.<\/p>\n

Apart from the brilliant choreography and music, lighting\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0plays a huge role here. I can’t remember the last time I was so excited by the lighting design. It perfectly matches the tone, sets the mood, takes the audience along on an amazing journey – this is all the work of the brilliant Natasha Katz<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Finally, I really do have to mention the designs<\/strong>. (Designs by Bob Crowley, Silk Effects Designer – Basil Twist and Projection Designer Daniel Brodie). This is where\u00a0the whole thing comes together. The contradiction of the two countries, the sea journeys, the ships and last but not least\u00a0one of Shakespeare’s most famous stage directions: “Exit, pursued by a bear.<\/strong>” But I’m not giving you any spoilers on that. And seeing how tickets seem to have disappeared you will probably have to wait for the DVD.<\/p>\n

With: Watson, Cuthbertson, Lamb, Yanowsky, McRae, Bonelli.<\/em><\/p>\n

——————————
\nDisclosure:<\/strong> Watched The Winter’s Tale on 28 April 2014 and paid for my ticket. No prior discussion with the venue took place.
\n——————————<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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