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Matthew Bourne/New Adventures: The Red Shoes, 2016

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Geoff

Geoff

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Posted

I organised two tickets for visitors from abroad (hence my asking how the show works for those who don't know the film). My guests went on Thursday night. Their comments are interesting: story, dancing, sets, costumes, all lovely BUT the music turned them against the production...

 

Even though there was a live band, apparently the music is also powerfully amplified (to the extent of distortion, they could hear the speakers crashing). They found the sound levels painfully distracting and it spoiled their evening.

 

Anyone else find this?

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Jan McNulty

Jan McNulty

Posted
Posted

I organised two tickets for visitors from abroad (hence my asking how the show works for those who don't know the film). My guests went on Thursday night. Their comments are interesting: story, dancing, sets, costumes, all lovely BUT the music turned them against the production...

 

Even though there was a live band, apparently the music is also powerfully amplified (to the extent of distortion, they could hear the speakers crashing). They found the sound levels painfully distracting and it spoiled their evening.

 

Anyone else find this?

 

 

 

One of my friends did not like the music because she found it too frantic but not because of over-distortion at The Lowry.  Do you think it may be a problem with the sound system at Sadler's Wells?

 

I have found some of Matthew Bourne's recorded scores distorted at The Lowry but not this.

Beryl H

Beryl H

Posted
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Saw last night's show which I think was the first cast, and agree the music was very loud but it was a nice change to feel the impact for once, usually I'm too high up.

 

I was pleased just to be there at all with the worsening train crisis and a swapped ticket, so I was in a good mood, but I think this is another huge hit for Matthew Bourne, not sure about some of the humour in the first act which lessened the tragic story a bit, but the second act is more dramatic. I knew the story but perhaps those who didn't might have been baffled at times.

 

Great designs and lighting too, and fast moving scenery changes, this show couldn't be more up to date!

 

I really think they could print out daily cast sheets, I didn't see any in the second circle, or a notice pinned up, but it was very crowded.

zxDaveM

zxDaveM

Posted
Posted

 

 

I really think they could print out daily cast sheets, I didn't see any in the second circle, or a notice pinned up, but it was very crowded.

 

I think they produce a 6ft cast 'board' placed on the ground floor bar/foyer area.

capybara

capybara

Posted
Posted

I think they produce a 6ft cast 'board' placed on the ground floor bar/foyer area.

 

I have been to many Bourne shows at SW and have never seen a board. The foyer is always so crowded (which is good, of course!).

MAB

MAB

Posted
Posted

I spotted it easily enough, a lot of people were following the tip posted here and taking a photo of it,

Mary

Mary

Posted
Posted

I think they produce a 6ft cast 'board' placed on the ground floor bar/foyer area.

so handy to slip into my handbag!

Hmm, not ideal when one wants to write a review on the forum next day....

alison

alison

Posted
Posted

 

I have been to many Bourne shows at SW and have never seen a board. The foyer is always so crowded (which is good, of course!).

 

You tend to need to look for it.  I've been to numerous Bourne productions, at numerous theatres, over the decades, and have usually found the board once I've remember that I need to look for it.

Blossom

Blossom

Posted
Posted

Love the photos, really beautiful and now can't wait even more to see it in January.

 

Already so excited for the show as it was such a much loved movie for my grandma - after seeing it with her best friend when it first came out, they ducked down in their seats as one lot of people went out and the next came in, I think they watched it 3 times back to back.  She would have loved to have seen it.

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tabitha

tabitha

Posted
Posted (edited)

Several reviews appear to be suggesting that Ashley Page and others just not convincing as an elite classical ballet company and not up to the pointe shoe dancing, which of course MB dancers never usually do. Probably would have worked as a MB interpretation but in choosing to recreate the film so closely, then the feeling seems to be that elite classical dancers of Royal Ballet standard or similar should be used?

Edited by tabitha
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Pas de Quatre

Pas de Quatre

Posted
Posted

Haven't seen it live yet, I shall have to wait for until March for that, but the still photos I have seen look exactly like the dancers of that era. Today's dancers and technique would look wrong in that context.

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Coated

Coated

Posted
Posted

There might have been the odd tiny pointe wobble, but I don't think that distracted enough to be an issue. Bourne is firmly dance theatre in my mind, and the pointe bits were just quick illusions of classical ballet rather than attempting to please hardcore ballet masters.

 

Overall I liked Red Shoes well enough (this translates to no consideration of skipping the second half) but didn't really get emotional involved. I marvelled at the clever proscenium arch, enjoyed the staging of the ballet within the ballet (but not having a bleeding light shining into my eye...), thoroughly disliked the usual Bourne-has-a-'fun'-nightclub/equivalent-scene-in-every-show and eventually learned to keep the samey characters apart. In short, I thought it was clever, but not all that engaging.

thewinelake

thewinelake

Posted
Posted (edited)

I think that's fair. The fun bits were fun, but they clashed with the best bits (the more dramatic scenes), particularly the bedroom scene. Liked it very much, didn't love it. Not as good overall as Sleeping Beauty or similar things from the Royal Ballet (eg Alice), but did love being able to afford decent seats.....

Edited by thewinelake
  • 2 weeks later...
Ian Macmillan

Ian Macmillan

Posted
Posted

We saw it earlier this evening, a most satisfactory Christmas present.  Some very amusing moments, highly effective staging as so many others have mentioned, and the spirit of the film neatly translated to the stage.  (And full marks to MD Benjamin Pope, resplendent in bright red patent shoes at the curtain calls.)

LinMM

LinMM

Posted
Posted

Well inspite of everything (another thread) and not being in the best of health yesterday I really enjoyed the Red Shoes yesterday afternoon but would like to see it again especially the first act.

I loved the sets and costumes and the overall score suited the work really well ......I could hear Hitchcock overtones in parts....and the whole show was very cinematic in character ....as Bourne seems to enjoy ....and required lost of quick scene changes but this didn't detract from the story or dancing ....really well done.

The second Act was particularly good ....loved the fast moving scene of the celebration of the end of the tour and the lovely duet ( there is also a lovely duet in Act one) and the scene with the battle for her soul between the two people who loved her ( but for very different reasons) was brilliant ....very fine acting from the cast. I know Cordelia Braithwaite played the main role but not sure of the two men I think Sam Archer was one of them. Liam Mower played the role of the male dancer in the Company and he was very good.

The ending was exceptionally well done ...wow.

Because I had not been able to fully engage with this performance I would like to see it again but feel as some others have said that this is another triumph for Bourne.....and a brave one ....to put his dancers on pointe ....but I think the Company pulled it off ....so much life in the dancing.

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aileen

aileen

Posted
Posted (edited)

I saw this last night. The staging and music were great and the story was (IMO) clearly told, although I did read the synopsis of the film beforehand. I did have some reservations about the ballet sequences in the first act. I wasn't sure if they were supposed to be a bit comedic or if they were supposed to reflect the lower technical standards of a small provincial ballet company of the 1940s. Many of the Bourne dancers have trained at vocational ballet schools, Central and Rambert in particular, so they will have had elite training in ballet but Les Sylphides requires really pristine dancing and I did find this section a bit uncomfortable. I had no problem with Ashley Shaw on pointe, and I wondered how the women coped with the pointe sequences as I assume that pointe work does not form part of the daily company class. Were specialist ballet teachers brought in to coach the pointe sequences? The story is very clever with so many parallels between Vicky Page and the girl in the HCA ballet. I loved the way that the HCA ballet was done and thought that it would make a good one act ballet today. Has anyone done it? Turning to the characterisation, I feel that the character of Lermontov was a bit under-developed and that more time should have been given to the 'tug-of-love' between Craster and Lermontov / Vicky's dedication to her art.

Edited by aileen
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Odyssey

Odyssey

Posted
Posted

I see that the entire run (7 plus weeks) is completely sold out. Amazing. I'll be seeing it next week.

Just managed to pick up two tickets at Milton Keynes - so chuffed ( so it is worth keep checking back to the various venues)

nottsballetlover

nottsballetlover

Posted
Posted (edited)

Just managed to pick up two tickets at Milton Keynes - so chuffed ( so it is worth keep checking back to the various venues)

 

Quite right. Keep checking for returns as it is pretty much sold out for the whole run. However, for those able to get to Salford Lowry, they have added in an extra week there in July and currently, there are plenty of good tickets available. Also they may add in further extra venues; I have seen a tweet by Matthew Bourne indicating a certain venue being added in June but I won't say more until officially confirmed!

 

I'm starting to feel guilty I have tickets to a total of 8 performances. I feel greedy....!! And lucky in this case  :D

Edited by nottsballetlover
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Jan McNulty

Jan McNulty

Posted
Posted

I've found it on the Lowry website.  What has cheesed me off is that I am a Friend of The Lowry and we are supposed to get priority booking!  I see more dance has been added in too.

 

Thanks for the tip off and happy new year to you too Nicola!

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