Royal Ballet Cinderella, December 2024-January 2025

[Emeralds]

I remember the curtain reopening for the two performances I attended in 2023, but they were all before mid April. Could it be due to timing in the later performances- perhaps they were close to running late, so they made that change and decided to keep it till end of the run so as not to confuse everyone? Then maybe for this year maybe they want to try doing it the original intended way again? (Just a guess.) I think in performances of the old productions that I saw, they always did the reopening. 

[oncnp]

If you like the production (or Alice) and are thinking of repainting........ 

 

New paint range: Royal Ballet and Opera Colour Collection

[Sophoife]

9 minutes ago, oncnp said:

If you like the production (or Alice) and are thinking of repainting........ 

 

New paint range: Royal Ballet and Opera Colour Collection

 

"Fairy Godmother Grey"?! Good grief.

[Suffolkgal]

Gary Avis depositing the Prince for his bows! So funny

[Rob S]

13 minutes ago, oncnp said:

If you like the production (or Alice) and are thinking of repainting........ 

 

New paint range: Royal Ballet and Opera Colour Collection

 

Reminds me of the TV ad where the sales assistant is suggesting shades of white paint like 'scrubbed cauliflower', 'snowman's bone'...and now we can add 'Moonlit Slipper' and 'White Rabbit Whisker'.

And they've missed the chance of offering two shades of Alice Dress Lilac, Pantuso or Hinkis!!😄

Edited December 3, 2024 by Rob S

[Rob S]

2 minutes ago, Suffolkgal said:

Gary Avis depositing the Prince for his bows! So funny

 

It was Bennet Gartside 🙂

[Sophoife]

29 minutes ago, Rob S said:

 

It was Bennet Gartside 🙂

 

Yes, it was on Andrej Uspenski's Instagram.

[JohnS]

Schools Matinee cast with Hayward/Corrales:

 

https://www.cast-sheets.rbo.org.uk/cast-sheet/cinderella/60240

 

Good to see Arestis and McNally as the sisters, Mendizabel as Fairy Godmother, Masciari as the Jester, and Dean, Pajdak, Dias and Roscoe as the season fairies. Hopefully Saturday evening’s cast too.

 

I’m sure the schools are in for a treat!

 

I thought at some point last run principal casting was given on the website for 5 or 6 roles and it will be great to know who will be dancing the sisters, fairy godmother, jester etc.

[San Perregrino]

4 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Schools Matinee cast with Hayward/Corrales:

 

https://www.cast-sheets.rbo.org.uk/cast-sheet/cinderella/60240

 

Good to see Arestis and McNally as the sisters, Mendizabel as Fairy Godmother, Masciari as the Jester, and Dean, Pajdak, Dias and Roscoe as the sisters. Hopefully Saturday evening’s cast too.

 

I’m sure the schools are in for a treat!

 

I thought at some point last run principal casting was given on the website for 5 or 6 roles and it will be great to know who will be dancing the sisters, fairy godmother, jester etc.

we had Gartside & Hay last night, Aretis & McNally this afternoon so by elimination I'd say tonight will be Avis & Acri

Jester last night was Ikarashi, Masciari this afternoon so tonight maybe Boswell (who danced Napoleon last night opposite Bell's Wellington), Jun, Nakao or an outside possibility of Lench

[JohnS]

With 9 Cinderellas, I’m sure there’ll be sharing a number of sisters/fairy godmothers/jesters and it will be good to see the various permutations. I believe Caspar Lench is dancing the jester in the Takada/Sissens cast.

 

I see we now have some fairy godmothers on the website - Mayara Magri tonight (as well as tomorrow) and Annette Buvoli with the O’Sullivan/Sambe cast. Hopefully further details will be made available.

[Suffolkgal]

2 hours ago, Sophoife said:

 

Yes, it was on Andrej Uspenski's Instagram.

Oops! My eyesight is terrible made me larf anyway…

[Linnzi5]

1 hour ago, Suffolkgal said:

Oops! My eyesight is terrible made me larf anyway…

Made me laugh too! 

[Sophoife]

4 hours ago, JohnS said:

Hopefully further details will be made available.

 

AusBallet only has Drosselmeyer, Clara, SPF, Prince, Snow Fairy and Rose Fairy listed for the whole run (four shows in), and that's highly unlikely to change 😡

[Mary]

A very enjoyable first night.

Brilliant choreography and a thrilling score..that I appreciate more these days.

Fine performances and playing all round I thought: Clarke a perfect Prince..not overdoing the acting.and

Nunez was superb. 

Gorgeous corps.

 

I have gone off the designs of this production though ..too much clashing colour..those bows..the awful mens' hair (well done Reece for resisting the cartoon look) and fear the sisters become a little too much of a good thing.

[Rob S]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ginny]

2 hours ago, Mary said:

A very enjoyable first night.

Brilliant choreography and a thrilling score..that I appreciate more these days.

Fine performances and playing all round I thought: Clarke a perfect Prince..not overdoing the acting.and

Nunez was superb. 

Gorgeous corps.

 

I have gone off the designs of this production though ..too much clashing colour..those bows..the awful mens' hair (well done Reece for resisting the cartoon look) and fear the sisters become a little too much of a good thing.

I have only had the joy of watching this Cinderella production on the streaming service, and I love so much about it, but am inclined to agree with you on the costume color palette. So much beauty happening on stage, but I wish every color were just a shade softer/more muted. Especially the yellow that was chosen, it seems garish to me.  (But TBH, the only yellow tutu I have ever loved is the one in Scenes de Ballet!). 
 

Now seeing the excitement of this opening night, I am going to have to go watch again online (from the US). I can’t wait to read more reactions from opening night. 

[alison]

14 hours ago, oncnp said:

If you like the production (or Alice) and are thinking of repainting........ 

 

New paint range: Royal Ballet and Opera Colour Collection

 

Marvellous view, though.  I've often wondered what it was like under that dome.

[RobR]

3 hours ago, Ginny said:

I have only had the joy of watching this Cinderella production on the streaming service, and I love so much about it, but am inclined to agree with you on the costume color palette. So much beauty happening on stage, but I wish every color were just a shade softer/more muted. Especially the yellow that was chosen, it seems garish to me.  (But TBH, the only yellow tutu I have ever loved is the one in Scenes de Ballet!). 
 

For my part, and I appreciate that it may very well be an entirely personal view, I liked the yellow tutu worn by the Queen of the Dryads in Don Q.

[Mary]

It was the first time I've seen the orchestra come on stage for a curtain call. Nice to see.

[Linnzi5]

5 hours ago, Ginny said:

I have only had the joy of watching this Cinderella production on the streaming service, and I love so much about it, but am inclined to agree with you on the costume color palette. So much beauty happening on stage, but I wish every color were just a shade softer/more muted. Especially the yellow that was chosen, it seems garish to me.  (But TBH, the only yellow tutu I have ever loved is the one in Scenes de Ballet!). 
 

Now seeing the excitement of this opening night, I am going to have to go watch again online (from the US). I can’t wait to read more reactions from opening night. 

Hopefully, the live cinema relay on 10th December will make its way onto the streaming service too.  

[Linnzi5]

21 minutes ago, Mary said:

It was the first time I've seen the orchestra come on stage for a curtain call. Nice to see.

That is quite unusual? I've seen soloists appear on stage before, but not so many musicians - lovely to see! 

[JohnS]

I’d got pretty high expectations of Cinderella and there was much to admire: Marianela Nunez, if a touch regal for my ideal Cinderella; Mayara Magri and the Fairies; and I thought Teo Dubreuil made the most of the Dancing Master. But for me the performance didn’t have the joy and fizz I recall from the last run: the sisters seemed a bit laboured; and I didn’t think the four Prince’s friends were as tidy as usual.
 

I do wonder if there needed to be more of a gap between Saturday’s final Maddaddam performances and the opening of Cinderella, not only for the dancers but perhaps for audience members who went to Maddaddam on Saturday and the opening night Cinderella.

 

And to be honest I don't recall a first night where the audience reception for such a ballet seemed a little lacklustre, to my ears at least. 

The final curtain call with the orchestra on stage was a surprise to me. At the front desk I was told the orchestra were on stage as it was opening night and like others above, I don’t recall that occurring before. I do though recall with great affection the orchestra on stage after triumphant Ring Cycles and music director retirements. Perhaps opening night is to become a new tradition although I think I might prefer closing night.

 

I'm hoping future performances quickly settle and I’m very keen to see how I find today’s and Saturday’s performances.

[Mary]

The reception was very rousing in the amphi.

Not so much for the sisters though and I must agree with you there, John. 

[Neverdancedjustamum]

I was at the schools matinee yesterday and it was so joyous and uplifting to hear the most enthusiastic audience I’ve ever encountered. After almost every scene, the school children went nuts (in a good way) but seemed/sounded well-behaved and respectful otherwise from what I can hear from where I was seated.  During the interval I asked a couple of stage management staff if it was always such an appreciative audience and they said schools matinees are often like this. It was wonderful to see children I assume aren’t normally exposed to ballet appear so excited and riveted by the magic onstage. 

[Sim]

51 minutes ago, Neverdancedjustamum said:

I was at the schools matinee yesterday and it was so joyous and uplifting to hear the most enthusiastic audience I’ve ever encountered. After almost every scene, the school children went nuts (in a good way) but seemed/sounded well-behaved and respectful otherwise from what I can hear from where I was seated.  During the interval I asked a couple of stage management staff if it was always such an appreciative audience and they said schools matinees are often like this. It was wonderful to see children I assume aren’t normally exposed to ballet appear so excited and riveted by the magic onstage. 

This is so lovely to hear.  I love seeing the clips of the schools matinee that the ROH posts onto social media...the enthusiasm of the kids makes me smile from ear to ear!  Maybe they will post something from yesterday as well. 

 

[LinMM]

Well an afternoon off school helps with the happy mood I’m sure 😂

No Im sure they absolutely loved it ..what’s not to like! 
I’ve never forgotten at a schools matinee at the Coli some years back now when Beryl Grey came out front and gave a bit of a ballet steps demo just before the show started and when she did a grand Battement the whole place erupted into wolf whistles!! 

[Richard LH]

4 hours ago, JohnS said:

there was much to admire: Marianela Nunez, if a touch regal for my ideal Cinderella

Perhaps she can foresee that  she will become a Princess?! 🤔

[Mora]

14 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

Perhaps she can foresee that  she will become a Princess?! 🤔

Jaja good point! I believe that unconsciously (at least in her métier) she already perceives herself as a bit of a queen.

[San Perregrino]

1 hour ago, Mora said:

Jaja good point! I believe that unconsciously (at least in her métier) she already perceives herself as a bit of a queen.

She is not of low birth but has always been the daughter of a nobleman and would have grown up as such until enslaved and forced into domestic servitude by her father’s new family. 

[Mary]

I've had a survey for Cinderella- a bit different to the last one. There is a second section which contains an open box for other feedback, so I gave some.

 

I think the announcement about filming etc could be a lot clearer. The current one is made by a recording of a lady with a heavy head cold and the slightly mumbled words 'all recording and photogrpahy is strictly forbidden' is not the clearest for those whose first language is not English. it would be much clearer to say something like:

'Please turn off your phone. Please do not use your phone during the performance. Do not take any photos or film during the performance'

Direct imperative mode is always clearer- and signal the announcement with a trumpet or something.

 

The lady in front of me last night started texting and filming immediately after the announcement and looked very aggrieved when we told her please stop.

 

I honestly think some people don't understand it.

 

The question on the production was hopeless- is it Good or Poor  - or am I Neutral? None of those, it is complicated! I do like aspects of this production but have serious reservations. But there is no question about the actual performance which is the main reason I am there in the first place....and which I thought was 'excellent', and would like to say.

Ah well.

 

 

 

[bridiem]

59 minutes ago, San Perregrino said:

She is not of low birth but has always been the daughter of a nobleman and would have grown up as such until enslaved and forced into domestic servitude by her father’s new family. 

 

I think this is partly why I so dislike the Sisters costumes, especially the very visible (and very male) vests under their dresses in the Ball scene. Their costumes are obviously meant to be OTT, but surely not grotesque; they're well-born 'women' seeking to be glamorous potential brides for the Prince after all.

[DVDfan]

I don't understand the vests that are so very visible under the sisters' ball gowns.  Male dancers aren't usually concerned about stripping to the waist (goodness, most of them have a god-like physique, after all) so why worry about showing some shoulder? If there's a practical reason for it to do with costume changes or something, shouldn't the vests be made of flesh coloured material? I also notice they don't wear 'falsies', which seems a bit strange. I think they do in most 'en travesty' roles?

When the ladies dance the sisters, do they wear the same vests, does anyone remember?

[Dawnstar]

24 minutes ago, DVDfan said:

When the ladies dance the sisters, do they wear the same vests, does anyone remember?

 

Yes, Arestis & McNally did in the last run.