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Fonty

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Everything posted by Fonty

  1. Fonty
    Yes, there are endless possibilities for Worst Swan Lake Ever. i have to say I thought the swan costumes in the clip from the Wheeldon German SL were rather unflattering. Those tutu skirts are massive, and it made the girls look like dancing dandelion clocks. I don't see why a new production has to be so different from the old one as far as the dancing is concerned. Or is it obligatory for the person staging it to either commission or create large chunks of new choreography?
  2. Fonty
    I've just read Mr Crisp's review. I don't remember the 3rd act polonaise at all! Is he saying it is terrible at every performance, or just the one he was referring to?
  3. Fonty
    Oh dear, how annoying. I hope she really was quick. I have to say that when I went to the ROH last week, the audience behaved impeccably. All phones switched off, no rustling, talking, shifting about, and everyone was perfectly polite when I left my seat at the intervals. In fact, there was absolutely nothing to complain about. I think that might be a first for me!
  4. Fonty
    I remember when we flew from Portugal to Spain, there was no passport control at either end, and we just breezed through. However, we did need our passports to check in, but this was in the days before on-line check in. I don't know what the situation would be now, if travelling between Schengen countries. You still have to show ID with your boarding card when getting on the plane, I assume?
  5. Fonty
    Yes, I do that as well, but I have to say that I sometimes struggle to get cleansing lotion out the little pots I have. They don't squeeze very well as they are rather rigid. Can anyone recommend a decent set of plastic travel bottles? Also, I find it very odd that things such as tweezers should be deemed dangerous. Last time I was at the airport, someone had some nailclippers confiscated. Yet several women walked (or should I say tottered) through on shoes with 5 inch narrow heels that would have made remarkably effective weapons.
  6. Fonty
    Yes, I agree completely with that. Having said that, whose tradition? Not the Russians', I hope. Maybe I am being unfair, but I always associate any Russian production with fussy scenery, irritating extras taking up far too much glorious music while they faff about, and short bursts of flashy choreography at inappropriate moments, followed by 3 minutes of standing and milking the audience for applause.
  7. Fonty
    Oh dear. Why is it that any mention of a "new" production fills me with dread? I can see myself in about 10 years time, reading posts moaning about the current production, and thinking back wistfully to the previous one with its "dramatic sets" and "colourful characters". All I can say is that I hope the next version has better lighting. The last time I saw this, it looked as if they were trying to save money on their electricity bill.
  8. Fonty
    I wasn't looking forward to ID cards, but I didn't mind either. We use our photo driving licences everywhere when we are abroad, they seem to be accepted in most places. A real pain having to have ID for internal flights. Anyone with mischief in mind would simply take the train or the coach, so I don't know why it was introduced.
  9. Fonty
    Oh Janet, I wish I had!
  10. Fonty

    Eurovision

    Fonty replied to Dance*is*life's topic in Not Dance

    I used to like Eurovision, but now there are so many competitors, I get a bit bored. And it seems ludicrous to open the voting to the public before everyone has performed.
  11. Fonty
    Well, I don't know about sparkling centre, but she would certainly have to mature into the role that was expected of her by her marriage. Her husband's postion would make it obligatory for her to be an accomplished hostess, wouldn't it? Of course, I have not read the original, so I have no idea what Tatiana is supposed to be like, I can only go by the performances I have seen. And one of things I love about seeing various casts is the different interpretations of the roles. If Gremin is played as a rather reserved man not given to displays of emotion, then I would expect Tatiana to act differently as well.
  12. Fonty
    In the past, I have seen the Act 3 pdd danced with mature elegance, but with such cool detachment on the part of Tatiana that it seemed clear that she married her husband for the status and security he could provide, with no real emotion on her part. So when Onegin suddenly appears again, I've often wondered how she managed to show him the door. In the case of Bonelli's Onegin, he was so good looking, and oozed such sex appeal, it made him almost irresistible. If Morera hadn't previously displayed such genuine affection for her husband, I would have found it hard to believe she could reject him!
  13. Fonty
    I got given a ticket for yesterday's matinee at the last minute, as a friend of mine couldn't go. I haven't seen any of the other casts, so cannot make any comparisons, but all I can say is that this performance was absolutely fabulous. I thought Bonelli and Morera were sensational together, and I felt it was a real privilege to see such wonderful dancing. In fact, the whole company seemed in top form, and everyone fully deserved the shouts and cheers at the end. My hands were quite sore from all the clapping!
  14. Fonty
    Yes, it does seem a bit daft to have Odette dressed completely differently to the rest of the flock. I am quite surprised so many of the people on here like the long skirts. I agree they look very beautiful, but I don't think they look very swan like, myself.
  15. Fonty
    Ok, thanks everyone. I think all this must have been happening while I was away!
  16. Fonty
    I was just checking something on the ROH website, and I hit the wrong button. Instead of what I wanted, I got the list of artists for the Royal Ballet. Under Principals, it lists 7 guest artists, which seems a huge number. I can remember the days when there where only one or, at the most, two. Also, listed among that number are Alessandra Ferri, and Mara Galeazzi. Anybody any idea what they might be doing?
  17. Fonty
    Lovely pictures, Dave, but looking at them reminds me how much I dislike the costumes for the Swans in this production. This ballet is the one ballet that must have tutus, IMO.
  18. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    I think some people just use the weather as an excuse for a day off. A couple of years ago, I was working somewhere near Farnborough, which is hardly the middle of nowhere. The snow started to come down, and all the staff could talk about was what time they should shoot off "in case they got snowed in." As most of them drove 4 x 4 vehicles, and lived about a 10 minute drive away, I thought they were overdoing it a bit. But by 3.30pm the office was practically empty.
  19. Fonty

    Geraldine McEwan

    Fonty replied to Melody's topic in Not Dance

    I have only just read this, very sad. I couldn 't believe she was 82. I had no idea she was that old.
  20. Fonty
    I think he must find it quite difficult having so many partners. Especially as he forged such a special one with Klimentova.
  21. Fonty
    I am just wondering if there is a device that theatres could install to block the mobile phone signal? I still find it astonishing that if there is a musical interlude between acts, people HAVE to get their phones out and check to see if some important text/email has come in. When I went to see Swan Lake at the Coliseum, I was behind a gentleman who kept tilting his head over to one side, and then back over to the other side. As the seats had marvellous sight lines, there was absolutely no need for it, but each time he did it to the left, I would have to move my head the other way. His female companion was quite still to start with, but then seemed to get infected with the urge to do the same, and after a while it was driving me nuts. And I don't suppose those sitting behind me were exactly overjoyed either. At a suitable moment I tapped them both on the shoulder and asked them rather sharply to stop moving about. They looked at each other and laughed, but they did stop. In the interval I heard them babbling away to each other in a foreign language, so they had obviously understood my tone, rather than the words!
  22. Fonty
    Me neither, and I am not Over There.
  23. Fonty
    i always got the impression that she was taller than both Bussell and Guillem, but I don't know how tall the latter is, I can't find any info with a quick search. I see no reason why she should not have done all the things that they did, unless that extra height made partnering very difficult?
  24. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    The reason given at my friend's local school is that a lot of the teachers can't get there "because it is too dangerous to drive." As the school is in Kent, and on a perfectly good main road, I am wondering where on earth the teachers are coming from? Scotland?
  25. Fonty

    Room 101

    Fonty replied to taxi4ballet's topic in Not Dance

    Well, surely they can't stop people ordering over the internet? Hershey's must have a very low opinion of the average consumer's ability to be able to tell the difference between one product and another by reading the name on the front of the wrapper.
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