Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – until 28 September 2019
Reviewed by Ian K Johnson
5*****
Cinderella a ballet by David Nixon OBE
This is one of the classic well loved ballets. Loved by all for many years.
This is the first revival of Cinderella by Northern Ballet since its world premier in 2013 and ended in 2014.
Cinderella played by Rachael Gillespie (as young Cinders) and Abigail Prudames (older Cinders) are both played so faultless and express many emotions from a gentle, vulnerable young girl to a confident one who manages to stand up to her stepmother.
The story opens on a scene to celebrate Cinderellas birthday. She is there with family, friends and Prince and Princess Mulakov and their handsome young son Prince Mikhail (Kevin Poeung) who gives her a gift of a bracelet.
Her beloved father (Mlindi Kulashe) has a special gift for his daughter, a beautiful shawl. Her father has a wife, step-mother to Cinderella (Mariana Rodrigues) along with two step-sisters Natasha & Sophie (Kyungka Kwak and Ayami Miyata).
Natasha and Sophie tease Cinderella by throwing the shawl to each other, it ends up in the river, the girls have been warned not to cross the bridge over the river so Cinderellas father goes and gets it for her, on his way back we hear a gun shot and tragedy strikes.
We are taken smoothly and effortlessly through the various scenes from the pleasent countryside into the kitchen of the house where the step-mother, her daughters and Cinderella now reside, here the stepmother treats Cinderella as a servant.
Time passes and we find Cinderella in the market and faced with various circus acts inc jugglers, stilt walker, acrobats, a magician and a dancing bear. She has a happy time here. Cinderella returns home and her stepsisters want to interact with her but her stepmother puts a stop to all frivolity and reminds Cinderella not to have anything to do with her stepsisters.
Cinderella escapes life in the kitchen and flees to a beautiful lake which looks like crystal. Here she sees villagers skating along with the Prince who like Cinderella has grown (Joseph Taylor plays the older Prince Mikhail). He sees Cinderella skating and is impressed at what he sees. The costumes of the skaters are so beautiful and look like shimmering snowflakes on the lake.
On returning home the family have all recieved invitations to a Winter Ball but her stepmother tears up the invitation meant for Cinderella and points out to her that she belongs downstairs.
All alone in the kitchen Cinderella hears a knock and finds the market square magician in the dark and cold. She invites him in and he insists that she will go to the ball. After turning her rags into a stunning gown fit for any princess he then conjures up a carriage to take her along with three beautiful huskies to pull her to the ball.
Act two and we are transported to the palace of Prince and Princess Mulakov, the guests are dressed in such beautiful costumes and the handsome dashing gentlemen are in burgundy tunic tops. Cinderella enters and is swept off her feet by Prince Mikhail.
Cinderella is spotted by her stepmother and is afraid she will be discredited by her so she flees the ball but leaves behind a glass slipper.
Prince Mikhail tries to find the girl whos foot fits and while at the stepmothers house it is pointed out that its the girl who has just served him, he is embarrassed and leaves in anger at being made a fool of.
This is where Cinderella gains her confidence and turns on her stepmother. She leaves and finds herself back at the side of the crystal lake, the magician is there too on his own. Cinderella is there to say goodbye when the prince arrives and after apologising for his behavious he eventually persuades her to stay.
Thus living happy ever after.