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JennyTaylor

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  1. JennyTaylor
    It will be my 3rd viewing of this pairing, as I hit the jackpot when I saw them at the Friends rehearsal. How lovely that the rehearsal is now filmed for posterity. I was fascinated to hear them talking about it too - when Fumi said she had goosebumps when she danced the role with Will right from the start. They feel a connection and are able to convey this to the audience.
  2. JennyTaylor
    So, we are going to have Marianela Nunez performing Myrthe in Giselle. What an added bonus!!
  3. JennyTaylor
    I think I heard Lesley Collier say "magic" quietly in the background half way through. Can't wait for Saturday
  4. JennyTaylor
    A very good mix of Principals, more junior dancers
  5. JennyTaylor
    Back to R&J. The Ballet Boyz film was on BBC4 last night and I watched it for the umpteenth time. So interesting to compare the film versus the stage version so fresh in my mind. Thrilled and excited that I have a double whammy of R&J on Saturday where I will see all the major participants of the film in one or other of the performances. I am expecting supreme romance in the matinee followed by fireworks in the evening.
  6. JennyTaylor
    I haven't been offended by anyone's comments. It's factual to say there was a laugh at one point (Act 3, I think). I was right at the other side of the auditorium from the action where it happened, so couldn't comment more on the action, but it was more than one person, that's for sure. We all have differing opinions, that's what this Forum is all about. Only when comments become personal does it become unacceptable. I see this at work all the time, where people are now worried about writing or saying anything critical with the upshot that all feedback is glowing. We now call areas for development "even better ifs". So, I would say about Vadim and Yasmine. The dancing was excellent, but it would have been even better if I had seen an emotional connection between them. That's my personal view, and I have no problem if others did see that connection: indeed I'm delighted if they did.
  7. JennyTaylor
    Back to the ballet and the relative merits of our various Romeo and Juliet casts. The production is high class, whomever you see, so I would not worry about whether or not you will enjoy one particular performance. You will! I really enjoyed last night: particular nuances and emotional impact are entirely individual so we will all feel differently. I think that is what this Forum is all about. I really enjoy reading everyone's different impressions.
  8. JennyTaylor
    I heard Kevin O'Hare's message once audibly and once very faintly during the interval. Mask wearing last night was dismal and I felt uncomfortable at times.
  9. JennyTaylor
    I think Matthew Ball has raised the bar on Tybalt so high now. I haven't seen him yet in this run, but last time round, I couldn't take my eyes off him. Up until then, my favourite Tybalt's had been Gary Avis and Thiago Soares. Giving the part to a "younger" Principal and then seeing what he can do, has been a complete game changer. Hirano also gave it a very good shot last Saturday, but I agree that Tom Whitehead was not quite up in that league. He played it as very nasty, and looked the part but it was a "standard" performance. Nothing wrong at all, just not reaching the same heights.
  10. JennyTaylor
    I found her much more moving than Vadim, though of course, his dancing was superb.
  11. JennyTaylor
    And very good is was too from all 3 of them: Claire, Gina and Hannah Grennell. Joe Sissens was in the Mandolin Dance, so hopefully we will see him on Saturday as Benvolio. Luca Acri outstanding again as Mercutio. His speed of execution of steps is superb. I wonder what everyone else thought of David Donnelly as Paris. I felt it was a very sympathetic portrayal with some smiles early on, though reverted more to type in later scenes. Yasmine Naghdi was a superb dramatic Juliet. Utterly heart breaking in Act 3.
  12. JennyTaylor
    For those interested in the monks, Vadim didn't follow them round the corner, he just stood in the doorway for a long time before it was his cue to come forward and kill Paris. Not sure if he would have still been visible towards the back of the theatre, though he did have the cloak open so you could see his white shirt. I was right the other side of the stage this evening, but I could just see him (because I was looking for him). Vadim also sat down on his cloak and tuned his mandolin, as did Will Bracewell. As per a previous comment in this thread though, I don't recall other Romeo's doing this before. (I like it). Another difference, Will Bracewell had the poison in the left side of his belt, Vadim in his right.
  13. JennyTaylor
    I walked out of a production of Candide (I think at the Coliseum but can't be sure.) I saw Jonathan Miller's production at the Old Vic and was completely blown away with its brilliance. I expected the same experience when I booked to see another production several years later. It was hideous: updated, modern and something to do with Marilyn Monroe - I have really no idea what they were thinking. Anyway I sat through the first act and then thought, I can't stand this any longer. Ghastly. If ballet, I'm sure I must have given a Wayne McGregor a miss at some point.
  14. JennyTaylor
    I was looking for Romeo at the back of the monk's line too and I was in Row 6 of the Orch Stalls and on the right side of the auditorium to be directly opposite. I just managed to see Romeo come in (white shirt) but then he seemed to disappear for a while and then re-emerge. if I hadn't known he was there, I would never have spotted him. Putting that example aside, I have a huge problem with the RB lighting of ballets. Appalling is an understatement. I always sit near the front but still have issues. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to everyone in the Amphi - no, actually - the rest of the entire theatre.
  15. JennyTaylor
  16. JennyTaylor
    I think Mercutios often do "outdo" Romeos in bravura dancing, because that is how the choreography is written. Look at Marcelino Sambe as Mercutio - unmatched! But, Romeo has the lyrical dancing which is equally technically challenging but different steps and tone. For me Lucra Acri (who was brilliant) and Will Bracewell were equally superb in their respective, very different roles. (Calvin Richardson as Benvolio was wonderful too). I'm struggling to pick out my favourite moments, as I'm still in the beautific dream which the whole show engendered, but I always love the 3 male friends' divertissements and it was gut wrenching today to see the joy and fun of Act 1 and early Act 2, to how it all finishes in tragedy.
  17. JennyTaylor
    I think words really do fail me on this occasion as I cannot think of sufficient superlatives to describe the performance I've just seen, and that's for Will and Fumi, let alone the other members of this glorious cast. Thank you for posting such beautiful photos.
  18. JennyTaylor
    Mmm - is William Bracewell the ultimate Romeo? Discuss. He certainly gets my vote on today's rehearsal performance. Oh, what a joy to see a full length, dramatic ballet at last! Joseph Sissons and Luca Acri as Benvolio and Mercutio respectively also shone brightly. Lots of mouth watering casts ahead for us all to savour. Was there once a rule where you are not supposed to applaud during rehearsals? It certainly didn't apply today. Very appreciative audience.
  19. JennyTaylor
    Here's the full programme. I hope you can read it!
  20. JennyTaylor
    Hats didn't really affect the view. However, the seating area was flat, so no rake - that affected the view far more. We were in row P, so not much chance of seeing the dancers feet at all times.
  21. JennyTaylor
    Hi everyone, I attended today's performance and thoroughly enjoyed it. More of that later, but if you are going tomorrow - take large hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. It's extremely hot. Also, don't trust your SatNav. Go back to the tried and trusted, good old fashioned maps.
  22. JennyTaylor
    I've seen this programme live now, with 3 different casts and have still to watch the live stream with another different cast. I booked more performances because I was beguiled by the lure of the Sleeping Beauty with the full cast. Sadly this had never happened but we were closer to it last night than ever before and I found myself getting excited about the number of couples coming on stage - this is REALLY sad, but a sign of our COVID times. Overall, my experience has reinforced my booking preferences going forwards, if we ever get back to normal. I have not experienced any emotional pull during these performances. The closest I've got to any hairs on the back of the neck has been Marianela/ Vadim in Winter Dreams (all too short), Francesca Hayward/Alexander Campbell in Beauty and the joy of seeing Laura Morera perform. I don't doubt the quality of all the other dancers but I've had enough of triple bills and party pieces. So, I will be picking my R&J's, Giselle's, Nutcrackers and Swan Lake's with care and passing on the rest, but am extremely concerned by those seating plans with so many seats greyed out.
  23. JennyTaylor
    I've booked. I have no idea where I am going, but I'm sure I will work it out. Still feeling starved of live ballet so can't pass up this chance. Gary Avis being involved is perfectly good for me.
  24. JennyTaylor
    Listening to Valentino Zucchetti at the latest Ballet Association meeting. What a joy he is. He commented that very few people are now choreographing classical ballet so he is going to concentrate on that - hurrah!
  25. JennyTaylor
    I've just watched the stream. A mixed viewing experience from my perspective, but I did love the Roya Ballet's contribution which was choreographed by Valentino Zucchetti.
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