Manon Lescaut by Royal English Ballet June 18, 2008

Time: 2008/6/18-2008/6/20
Venue: The National Centre for the Performing Arts-Opera House
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Tel: 86-10-64177845

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Performed by Royal English Ballet

Synopsis
Thisballet is action-packed -- ensemble scenes have the rich detail of aHogarth engraving. Even when principal dancers step forward, engagingbits of business erupt around the edges of the scene. As the storybegins, young Manon has met an attractive student, Des Grieux, just asher brother Lescaut intends her for wealthy Monsieur G.M. When she andDes Grieux escape with money she stole from her would-be suitor, thecomplications are ultimately disastrous. The second act is set in abrothel, and the third finds Manon deported to New Orleans, sick and dying, feebly defending herself from the brutal Gaoler.
As Manon, Tamara Rojo has charisma and superb skills. She has a signature step as the girlish Manon, delicately rising up en pointe andadvancing downstage almost in a mince. Her attraction to Des Grieux atfirst playful and exultant, and later, clearly tortured. Acosta's pasde deuxs with Rojo are tender and smoldering. He's also a dancer whosemid-air leaps and turns are so elaborate and slow, you wonder whetherhe's bouncing off a hidden trampoline. When predatory Monsieur G.M.presents her with jewels and furs, her girlishness literally slips awayas she promenades with her new finery.
Acttwo has enormous comedy when Lescaut turns up drunk at the brothel. AsLescaut, Jose Martin has heeded that aphorism used by actors who playdrunks -- play drunk while trying to seem sober. His solo and then duetwith his Mistress is all legs and windmilling arms. The two of themplay off one another masterfully -- he sags when she's in his arms, yetsomehow manages to hoist her up. There's even unexpected subtlety whenhe apes her hand movements.
What'sremarkable about this ballet is its emphatic and even cheerful (untilact three) amorality. In the 18th century, you paid for your sins, butyou could go down swinging. And though there's little redemption forManon, her plight becomes a human-scale tragedy, told with a gloriouslarger-than-life-size production.

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