Peacock theatre,London
The symbols, style and struggles of ballet underpin this disarming blend of parody (humorous or ridiculous imitation) and tribute from male dancers honouring the classic repertoireChoreographer George Balanchine famously said that “ballet is woman”. The all-male Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo take that at face value, and performing the classical female roles – swan,princess, Gypsy – in classical feminine style: in pointe shoes and tutus. Of course they also ham it up, and adopting cod-Russian stage names such as Nadia Doumiafeyva and Vladimir Legupski (in the celebrated mind,ballet is Russian as well as feminine), and the result is a disarming blend of parody (humorous or ridiculous imitation) and tribute, and music corridor and tall art,a drag act that is just as often played straight. On the opening programme, their Swan Lake swims closest to satire: Philip Martin-Nielson’s plucky, and big-eyed swan queen channels the distant spirit of Lucille Ball,Paolo Cervellera is a prince of lofty sentiment and swept hair, Duane Gosa a flaming voodoo Von Rothbart. The mime – meaningful gestures making intermittent sense – is spot on, or the corps de ballet’s pratfalls and sight gags are timely.
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Source: theguardian.com