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Julie 2 Milner

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Everything posted by Julie 2 Milner

  1. I came on here after watching the live screening last night expecting nothing but universal praise and "wow" for "The Cellist". I had not read any reviews so I'm rather surprised at the large amount of negativity. I loved it. Unfortunately Tunbridge Wells also lost the last few minutes which was actually gut wrenching. I'm usually fairly sanguine when these things happen but not this time which I think shows how much it had swept me up. I do love this style of dance and for me, I simply thought it amazing and so incredibly moving. I even looked up to see if there were still tickets as I cannot go to the recorded screening. I did think though some might not enjoy the style. Re "Gatherings" yes it was great. Lovely to see some of the most senior members of the Company together. It is a pure celebration of dance. However, and there is one, I think it is around 10 mins too long. I thought this must just be me but in the interval heard a lot of others saying the same. Back to "The Cellist" and a complete segue, the group seating next to me obviously knew Hetty Snell. Very lovely listening to their excited comments. The mixed reactions, I guess, really do show "one man's meat" etc and that can only be good for any artistic endeavour.
  2. Well, for comparison I've just sat down to watch the stage "Cats". It was broadcast a few days ago on Sky Arts and I recorded it. I'm sure it can still be downloaded. Should be interesting but the first thing is one criticism was that boobs were evident in the film. Well they are very evident in the stage version too, certainly with screen close ups. The costumes though heaps better than the cgi and therefore one is not focussing on the anatomy so much. The cast I'm watching now is: Grizabella the Glamour Cat Elaine Paige Gus the Theatre Cat John Mills Old Deuteronomy Ken Page Bombalurina Rosemarie Ford Munkustrap Michael Gruber Rum Tum Tugger John Partridge Demeter Aeva May Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat Geoffrey Garratt Jennyanydots the Gumbie Cat Susie McKenna Magical Mr Mistoffelees Jacob Brent I also realise I didn't mention Rebel Wilson as Jennyanydots….sorry thought she was awful. I read the lawyers review as posted above which I thought was pretty fair. Also forgot the Rum Tugger played by Jason Derulo. He was okay I thought. The weird thing is if one looks at individual performances there is a lot of "great" "fine" and "ok" and relatively little awful so I'm now wondering why the film has jarred with so many. Is it just the cgi?
  3. I went with one son and daughter. The son is not my ballet dancer son. As a child the stage performance mesmerised him. So what did we think? My daughter thought it beyond dreadful, my son agreed it was awful but not the worst he's seen and I was pretty much in that category too. After all did anyone see the first every Pokémon movie? That was the worst.😊 But to give a more serious critique I do think there were some outstanding performances. I thought the narrator brilliant. He carried his role so well, moved well and just did everything very well. Mr Mistoffelees too I felt was very watchable. Steven Mcrae's tap was wonderful. I loved his tap in "Alice in Wonderland" and loved it here too. Ian Mckellen I found spellbinding. The part was made for him. As I think others have commented his was a very stationary, set role and piece which was definitely a benefit. Francesca Hayward was good. For the film I think her singing held up just. So, I guess I think she did very well with what it was but I didn't feel it allowed her to demonstrate hugely any great acting ability. I'm sure she could move that way if she wanted though. Her dancing is very expressive and she is one of the RB dancers one feels confident can act a part and not just dance it. Now to others. Judi Dench did little for me in this. I've just seen her in the screening of "A Winter's Tale" in which she was just wonderful. She wasn't awful in "Cats" but, for me, she somehow remained a "name", a star they wanted to attract folks in. I'm afraid I though the final song awful. That song normally has a deep resonating richness which was very lacking here. Jennifer Hudson I didn't warm to as Grizabella. Singing "Memory" must be very much a poisoned chalice as there have been so many wonderful renditions. For me, this wasn't that. The close up of a rather snot covered face didn't help either. Mind you that is always an issue with films/screenings rather than stage, sometimes too close is not good! I know she has very much divided people. James Corden is someone I'm afraid I just never much like, a fault with me I', sure. He was fine. Taylor Swift well I didn't even recognise who she was tbh. I thought her singing was ok and her performance also fine. My daughter however really didn't like that bit. Idris Elba for me was a huge disappointment. I studied "Old Possum's..." and Macavity was always my favourite poem. I think here the poor cgi really showed. His was the one suit I was very distracted by. Again, he wasn't awful. I would say I saw some cracking dancing and the singing wasn't awful and in places it was very good. One could not avoid the reviews but I tried to. I knew it had been panned but didn't read any until I had watched it. It isn't awful. It certainly is less than brilliant but for me was far better than the awful Les Mis film (Russell Crowe😖) and I also thought better than the Chicago film with Zeta Jones. There were some outstanding performers let down by some of the concepts and the cgi and method of filming. As others have said go to watch with an open mind. It is what it is. If you like the music it is still there. Perhaps too much was expected. Anyway, if you do go enjoy. Happy New Year to all.
  4. I too saw this today. Chudin sublime; floats on air. I thought it a very interesting production. I've not seen a Bolshoi ballet for many many years and this reminded me why I got so frustrated. I remember feeling so irritated with all the times the performance is effectively halted to take applause etc. It drives me nuts. A full curtain call at the interval seems unnecessary! Re the actual performance it was fascinating to note the differences between this and other performances. I've seen a lot of "Nutcrackers" from amateur to top companies. Bizarrely one of my favourites was by the Vienna State (Opera) Ballet who changed the toys to more modern representations (Pokémon!) and used VT. My son, an apprentice with VSOB at the time, not in the production, didn't like it and said it wasn't popular with the company. It some ways this production seemed quite pantomime. The opening scene is almost hammed up. The men particularly seemed caricatures of themselves. Drosselmeyer seemed a younger part than the Royal Ballet. I really like this. A puppet master for sure. Bolshoi seem to use more elements from the original story , (keeps the name etc) . I found the use of the sheep ( not real) distracting. The lady next to me was in fits of laughter. I think the screening does need work from a production viewpoint. They have been doing this for 10 years yet it is pretty clunky. Scheduled for a 2 pm start yet then we have endless views of the Bolshoi theatre. (I found these fascinating; the world round takes selfies in front of a Christmas tree.) We then have the tri-lingual intro. Surely they could now make this more flowing? It seems this is a common thought. Maybe two presenters. It did make me wonder how the Royal Ballet screenings are done elsewhere. I must ask those I know who watch in Spain. Final point...I thought the male Chinese dancer was also sublime. He was a joy to watch. Apologies if this is a ramble but these are the thoughts buzzing around my head right now.
  5. I'd completely agree re the book. I simply meant as a piece of theatre. I tried hard not to "compare" with the book. I'm one of these strange people who really don't like costume drama of books I've read, so never watch on TV. The characters never look how I've imagined them etc. To a certain extent this was true of NB's Dracula. I suspect I always envision Dracula as more Vincent Price/ Christopher Lee etc; a tall elegant figure. I now have an urge to re-read "Dracula"...
  6. I seem to be in a real minority (of 1) here, I really didn't enjoy it. The opening scene was astounding but thereafter it just didn't grab me at all. I was expecting to love it. I felt it bordered on the ham acting many times. I think cinematic close ups are to blame for this. From a distance I'm sure it all seems balanced but a facial close up distracted. I found the cape an irritant especially when he nearly tripped up. Very unusually for me I actually went home at the interval. I also had a slight cough and I always feel worried if I'm irritating folks though I don't think I did. As said I was expecting to love it. Their 3 Musketeers is one of my favourites. Maybe not feeling top notch coloured my view of Dracula but just didn't enjoy. Edited to add I wasn't keen on the music either.
  7. The Prinzregenten is a lovely theatre. Went to see Martin there a few times when he was with the Bavarian State Ballet. It has a more intimate atmosphere than the Opera House.
  8. We actually took the really easy option. A black marker pen and just coloured the shoes in. His teachers suggestion. Not sure we did the toe darning very well though!!! My daughter was never on pointe so hadn't experienced that.
  9. My son joined in pointe classes whilst at our local school. At the same time he went up to Central and the head of male ballet there was dead against it. I honestly cannot remember him doing any when he went to Elmhurst to train. We bought him pointe shoes and dyed them black. Of course can be tough to get shoes..we got ours at Bloch in London. He still has those and uses them when he makes some of the videos he does. (Just something he does for fun not to do with the Company he is with.) Of course there is one company where Male and pointe are joined..The Trogs (Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo) . My son enjoyed/enjoys it as a bit of fun rather than a serious element of his ballet life.
  10. My son started in a theatre thing similar to Stagecoach.He was 10. Immediately he was asked to do a dance festival. He did a modern and a ballet. Comments were need to work on your ballet. He had never done a day! So he decided he would. Then tap, Jazz etc. He joined Kent Youth Ballet, became a RB senior associate and eventually decided to give auditioning at 16 a go. He went to Elmhurst.We thought he'd prefer musical theatre but whilst at KYB he won a bursary award and I think that made him concentrate more on his ballet. From Elmhurst he became an apprentice with The Vienna State Ballet and then had 4 years with The Bavarian State Ballet. Then he decided he wanted a change and is now down in Cape Town as a soloist with the Cape Town City Ballet. His sister did dance too but actually only took it up when he did. They had both done some gymnastics and diving together too. Youngest son mind you never set foot in the dance world...is a very good fencer though .
  11. No trains to Tunbridge Wells after 9pm Mondays and Tuesdays at the moment....not ballet but I now have a midnight drive to pick husband and son up from Tonbridge. ( Been to watch The Gunners). I like some of you just decided not to book things in London. With the London Bridge work the Tun Wells line has major disruption and late at night it is not good. Thank goodness for the live screening..was nice to enjoy Nutcracker and walk home.
  12. Sadly they don't seem to come to Tunbridge Wells any more. Which is a shame. We get less and less ballet now. In fact virtually none. We do get the Russian State Ballet and Opera House but the Nutcracker of theirs I went to was shockingly poor with dancers who seemed not to care. I always enjoyed the Ballet Theatre Uk performances.
  13. My son was with Munich though he left last summer (voluntarily). As long as the company gives the full notice they can do what they like. Equally the dancers have to give notice before a certain time or be fined. That of course makes it pretty miserable as once notice is given, before Christmas, they are unlikely to be used much. All very dispiriting really. I guess that is the ballet world though. Except for the odd "stars" the director has all the power, often not wielded wisely or well. Sad news about Munich but I guess the new director wants his own soloists and above. It is certainly a tough world for them all.
  14. I am sad to see Tunbridge Wells has been cancelled. I hadn't booked this time as just could not fit it in. I've always really enjoyed the performances I've seen.
  15. Ellie that is a good point. I do know of those who went on from Elmhurst to more contemporary training. Or indeed who left during their Elmhurst training to change route to a different dance style.
  16. Think there are a couple of things here. Yes probably is slightly different for boys and girls but still those who leave training until after A levels are at a disadvantage. I think we are focussing to much on the number 16 here. What I understood really is to go after GCSE rather than post A level. Of course some will be nearer 17 than 16 in the September but they have started their 3 years post GCSS. When my son started at Elmhurst they specifically mentioned that the boys matured later and also that the boys during their 6th form there would go through periods of complete discordination ( sorry think I made up that word but isn't simply lack of coordination) because of this. Girls were expected to have largely finished maturing. Of course this isn't actually the case and is why many girls develop boobs and struggle more with weight during times in the 6th form. Foreign students ages do vary tremendously. Some young and some old. But the old ones have usually done some training and may be doing another year or just feel and English school on their CV is good. Of course has to be an English school that gains recognition when auditioning abroad. It is a sad hard fact that the first thing companies look at is where you did your training and they do not give equal weighting to all. Indeed even having RB associates is a true help because some just see Royal Ballet. Ridiculous maybe but true. UK companies of course know the various UK schools better . Re taking in older students who may have little chance of getting jobs. Honestly believe the schools aren't too bothered. They obviously need a good Graduate destination list but they need money too. Many of the dance and drama training establishments will seldom produce those who go on to have careers. Even the top 3 or 4 if you look at who is still working 4-5 years after graduation you might be shocked. Age is a consideration when auditioning for companies, corps de ballet, of course. Junior companies are becoming more common. Munich, Zurich etc have then and I think Dutch Ballet does or is about to. These a brilliant because they allow a young, newly qualified, dancer to get experience without full on company life. Even at 19 many bodies are just not up to the rigours of company life. Especially when that company is small and they are dancing a lot. Many of the junior companies are up to 21/22 . Of course you can go straight into the main company too. I've noticed though many Companies now do seem to put an upper age limit for their corps auditions. Must admit didn't realise LSC no longer took at 16. It is a minefield and tremendously hard work. It is a fact though that the numbers training is large and competition is fierce. Someone mentioned luck and that does play a part . Luck in what teachers you get at vocational. even at the top schools some well...... I mustn't be rude! You need dedicated teachers that care, not that have favourites. Teachers who teach in an atmosphere of encouragement and expectation that you will work your hardest. Teachers who want you to do your best and help. Then you do need some luck at auditions. The huge numbers mean getting noticed becomes an art:-) Then through your career that you have good directors and ballet masters/mistresses etc. But I would still say for Classical post GCSE is better than post A level in the vast majority of caes.
  17. Yes 16 really for Classical. As said there are exceptions but few and far between. Rambert is slightly different I think they do take 18 but in itself it is a slightly different route from " straight classical". Sorry if that is a strange way to describe it. Contemporary older is an advantage. Good luck.xx
  18. I haven't contributed as my son did not audition at year 7. But felt I had to re giving up. My son didn't start ballet until 10/11. Didn't try for vocational until 16. Went to Elmhurst and has been a professional dancer for the last 5 years now with the Bavarian State Ballet. He worked so hard but it is possible. Some just aren't ready at 11 and some who do go at 11 never go into the profession. It is a strange route. If it is a no just make sure he enjoys it locally and gets the best teacher he can for him. He must keep the joy of dancing. Good Luck and good luck to all those auditioning. It is such a tough time and agony for parents too. Just wait until they are auditioning for companies. lol Even worse as I'm sure JulieW will agree with :-)
  19. Well at least they are coming to us next year. Think Eastbourne or Brighton got their Nutcracker.
  20. Apologies did not get a programme. Clara and the prince/Nutcracker were ok. SPF really let her company down and her prince was mediocre. sadly Tunbridge Wells did choose this over UK Ballet Theatre. They have been twice and are back next year. I would have liked to see how they coped with Nutcracker given they are a small company. Do they use local dance schools? Must say I like little ones being used. Re use of students in Russian State Ballet. Very possible. I have never seen a group of dancers whose shoulders were carried so high and so tense. The tension in their jaws was uncomfortable to watch. Now it might maybe have clarified in the programme but certainly they are not mentioned in the advertising blurb.
  21. They are touring the country I think. South East at the moment. Been in Tunbridge Wells. Also doing Eastbourne and Hastings I think. this is a link http://amande-concerts.co.uk/russian-state-ballet-and-opera-house/ Those mouse heads!!!!!! I really would love to hear someone else who has seen this. Have someone or saw their Romeo and Juliet and said she was cross too at their apparent boredom. So maybe not just me!
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