Ballet Masterworks

Ballet Masterworks
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
February 17-26, 2017

Ballet Masterworks is an annual event for the Colorado Ballet – but it is not what most people expect when they attend. It’s not a single story like the other productions put on through the year. Instead, it is a series of short dances set to the music of masters like Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Stravinsky. It’s a different experience than a traditional ballet.

The first dance was Serenade. It was beautifully costumed and choreographed. The dance attempted a weak storyline, but without the captions it wasn’t clear just what was going on. Despite that, the sequence was filled with clever choreography and exquisite tableaus.

The next piece was titled Petit Mort, set to the music of Mozart. This was a modern dance with flesh colored costumes and no real story at all. It began with the men dancing with swords – a very masculine series of moves. After the sword play, the women joined and throughout we watched pairs of dancers take turns performing alternately. It was a more intimate feeling than usually seen at the ballet.

The show concluded with Stravinsky’s The Firebird, a fairytale like story, much like a classic ballet. Unlike the previous selections, this ballet included elaborate sets. The backdrop used as the demons danced was spectacular.

At the performance I attended, Maria Mosina danced the title role. She has gotten additional attention after announcing she will retire at the end of the season. And her dancing was everything you would expect from a prima ballerina. The long ovation she received at the end was well-deserved after 21 years with the Colorado Ballet.

Sabrina Fair

Sabrina Fair
Spotlight Theatre Company
John Hand Theatre
Denver, CO
February 17 - March 10, 2017


The play Sabrina Fair is not as well-known as the two films named Sabrina which are based in it. But fans of the films will find much to enjoy in the original play.

The action of the play took place on one set – the patio of the wealthy Larrabee family. It was a lovely set with many levels and areas for the action to take place. It was a lovely space and we could imagine how luxurious the rest of the home would be. The staging was so well thought out that we knew exactly which room each door lead to. And the actors used every inch of it effectively.


The costumes were interesting and told the audience quite a bit about each character. The women’s outfits were especially interesting, evoking the 1950’s as well as the mood and social status of each character.

Each member of the cast seemed perfectly suited for their role. While there may not have been  overwhelming chemistry between any of the actors, the relationships were believable. And despite everyone’s obvious flaws, each was likable. The love triangle which develops doesn’t have an obvious favorite for the audience.

Sabrina Fair provided an enjoyable evening of theater. It’s not a deep or profound story, but not every show has to be. There is a place for delightful entertainment such as this.

Myth

Myth
Aurora Fox Theater
Aurora, CO
January 20 - February 19, 2017

It’s not often a local theater takes a chance on a never before produced play by a local author. But the Aurora Fox did just that with its world premiere of Myth. On the surface, it is a play about the search for Bigfoot. But it delved into much deeper topics.

Myth ultimately was a story about loss and the desire to keep a piece of a loved one alive after they are gone. We met two characters – Jason and Cass. When the story began they seemed to be on opposite sides of the “myth.” But as the play progressed they awkwardly found much common ground.

While the story is intriguing, the script had some difficulties. While the erratic behavior of Cass was somewhat cliché, it also crossed the line to criminal. We did eventually learn his motivation, but some of his acts were criminal and impossible to overlook.

Despite the imperfections in the script, the story’s message did not get lost. It gave the audience much to think about and the emotional impact was real.

The set for the performance was a character itself. The action was all centered in the Canadian woods. While it was a small space, it reflected the specific spot Jason wanted to find. The trees, rocks and outcroppings felt real. When Jason lit a campfire, even the smell of it seemed real. The forest sound effects never became annoying and the crunch of pine needles underfoot only added to the authenticity of the scene.

Myth was not a typical play, but it is art in its truest form – it created many emotional responses and gave the audience plenty to reflect on well after the lights went down.

The Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty
Russian National Ballet Theater
Lone Tree Arts Center
Lone Tree, CO
February 16, 2017

For those who enjoy watching the ballet, the opportunity to see a Russian ballet company is a special treat. The Russian National Ballet Theater has stopped in other Colorado locations before., On this trip they presented Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty.

The Lone Tree Arts Center is an intimate venue which gives the audience a rare opportunity to see professional ballet dancers up close. Being able to see the detail in the exquisite costumes was a real treat. Each costume was stunning in the fabric and design.

The costumes and set took us to the fairytale land where it is set. It was a bit strange that the second set was nearly identical to the first – with the exception of the stained glass windows. In some scenes it was not clear who the ballerinas were depicting in a scene.

The dancers are obviously very skilled, however, the constant change of ballets and roles clearly has taken its toll. In some sequences the chemistry between dancers is not what you expect at such a high performance level. In her famous scene with the four suitors, Princess Aurora seemed unsure of her hand coordination from suitor to suitor.

The talent of individual dancers was on constant display. The Violet Fairy was poised and strong.  The leaping ability of the Prince was astonishing. Princess Aurora was young and energetic. The dancers in the ensemble were often more set dressing than participants in each scene. Even in that capacity, they were beautiful.

The audience was filled with families and this performance was tailored for that. And the decision to perform the ballet with one intermission instead of two showed an understanding of the spectators.

Peter and the Wolf

Peter and the Wolf
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
February 12, 2017

The Colorado Symphony offers many opportunities to introduce children to classical music. Their presentation of Peter and the Wolf was less gimmicky than their other family concerts this season, but it was no less interesting to young audiences
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From the moment conductor Christopher Dragon walked on stage, he was the center of attention. His hair was standing up on end, making him look like a mad scientist. But it was his antics on stage that stole the show.

His energetic direction of the symphony became an extension of the music. His wild facial expressions matched the tone of each piece and his body movements evoked the action the story told. During the less familiar pieces his conduction kept the attention of the children in the audience. After the William Tell Overture, he rested as if he had just taken part in the horse chase.

For Peter and the Wolf, a narrator was brought on to tell the story. The timing between the narrator and the symphony was perfect. The combination easily led the audience through the musical themes that young children might miss.

While this concert was heavier on the classical side, it was still a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to the symphony. Christopher Dragon’s charisma made the music fun for all.