Willie

Let me look at my program ... let's see, here it is: Lavastus ja puvut (sets and costumes) - Susan Benson. Thanks for that bit of information, Katherine!

Oh, sorry. I intended to write it in the topic title. John Cranko.

For me, Romeo & Juliet is all about the two main characters, Romeo and Juliet. The principal dancers’ main job is to convince me that they are, in fact, Romeo and Juliet. Tiina Myllymäki (Juliet) and Jani Talo (Romeo) did just that. Tiina made me believe that she was Juliet, a playful child who received her first party dress. I felt the infatuation between Tiina and Jani when they first saw each other at the ball. During the balcony pas de deux, I was convinced that Tiina and Jani were falling in love before my very eyes ... and that’s when the tears started rolling down my checks (I’m glad I brought my handkerchief). Then during the bedroom pas de deux, I was absolutely convinced that Tiina and Jani could not live without each other. {cue more tears}. And even though I know how the story ends, I was devastated when they took their own lives. As the cast took their bows, I found it difficult to clap and wipe my eyes at the same time. It was a beautiful spectacle to witness. ... and what a wonderful audience. Quiet and respectful throughout the entire performance. Everyone was seated on time. No excessive talking. No ringing phones. No photos. No food and drink issues. No head issues (a function of the theater’s seating). And everyone remained seated until the last bow was taken. A perfect audience in a perfect theater for a perfect performance by an outstanding ballet company.

The Miami City Ballet routinely performs in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Florida. Two years ago I flew from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale to see Romeo & Juliet. When I got to the theater I noticed signs for the musical “Wicked.” I asked a theater attendant, “Is the Miami City Ballet performing Romeo & Juliet today?” “Yes,” the attendant said politely, “in West Palm Beach!”

I very much enjoyed the beginning, too. I wanted to see the U.S. team, but I fell asleep at some point during the pile of poo.

...and I enjoyed the second and third acts. So much for my day at work...

I, too, enjoyed the first act. Osipova and Vasiliev dance well, and look great, together.

Thanks for the info, Joan. Let's see ... the curtain rises at 10:30 am in Chicago. I suppose I'll be watching at work.

I enjoy guest dancers, because sometimes it’s a reunion dance and other times it’s a precursor of things to come. Recently, I saw Anastasia and Denis Matvienko in Swan Lake at the Mariinsky (Denis left the Mariinsky, right?). So I consider that a reunion guest dance. They have great chemistry. Also recently, I saw Polina Semionova guest dance and David Hallberg in La Bayadère at the Met in New York. As it turned out, that was a precursor of things to come. I fell in love with Polina’s dancing.