Hull New Theatre – until 19 October 2019
Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams
5 *****
Northern Ballet’s production of Cinderella has everything you could wish for, and more, prepare to be taken out of yourself and away to another place. It is a sumptuous, sublime piece, quite simply it is magical.
Of course we all think we know the story of Cinderella, so I was rather puzzled when Cinderella was dancing with the Prince at the beginning of the story, but all became clear when her father was killed and she then found herself in the kitchen of her stepmother. The story then continues some years later. There are of course no pantomime style characters, instead there is elegance and style in abundance. David Nixon has set the story in Russia and his costume design and Duncan Hayler’s set design are stunning.
The dancing is superb and David Nixon’s choreography wonderful. The Russian setting means that we see a range of dancing from Cossack style, ice skating, circus, ball dances, beautiful solos and fabulous duets. The scene changes were slick and very very clever.
Miki Akuta is the young Cinderella, she is gleeful and happy and full of youthful charm at one moment and then lost and lonely the next, the raw emotion pouring off the stage.
The step-sisters Heather Lehan and Rachael Gillespie dance their parts to perfection and it never becomes a parody. There is humour, youthful high spirits and a wonderful dance when they are teasing/bullying Cinderella with her scarf.
Sarah Chun is a rather terrifying step-mother, basically I would have done everything she asked at double speed! I was in awe that with one simple movement she was able to express so much, a superb performance.
Minju Kang is the older Cinderella and her performance is wonderful. She oozes emotion and there were breath taking moments as well as moments when I was holding my breath for her. Her final dance with Prince Mikhail (Javier Torres) had me in tears. The dances with the step-sisters are wonderful as are the moments when she is with The Magician.
Ashley Dixon is The Magician who helps Cinderella, he was full of humour and quirkiness and his dancing was an utter treat, from his slipping on the ice to the magic making. His costume was inspired.
Javier Torres was the perfect Prince Mikhail, haughty and imperious and then lost in his dancing with Cinderella at the ball and distraught that she has gone.
The Northern Ballet Sinfonia, conducted by Jonathan Lo provided wonderful music for the ballet, and it was good to see Jonathan Lo come on to the stage to take a bow.
I cannot tell you about whether the dancing was technically perfect or the names of any of the ballet positions but what I can tell you is how this ballet made me feel. I was completely lost in the dancing, I was transported to Cinderella’s world, hoping that it would come right for her, and gasping in awe as she did at the ice skating and the circus. The evening went far too fast, this was a visual and musical treat for the senses, full of raw emotion and stunning dancing. I shall repeat what I said at the beginning, this is a sumptuous, sublime piece, quite simply it is magical.
Treat yourself to a wonderful piece of magic, and transport yourself to another world.