Review- Manon
November 12, 2008
Date Reviewed: 12th November, 2008
Venue: Palace Theatre
For some of us ballet will always bring to mind vague images of sugarplum fairies. The dark tale of Manon, therefore, comes as something of a shock.
The ballet opens with the darkly attractive figure of Lescaut (Fabian Reimair) whose masculine leaps and bounds mark him out as a dominant figure. Actually he is little more than a pimp selling desperate courtesans to the wealthy but decadent aristocrats who slum it in his seedy Inn.
His sister Manon ( Daria Klimentrova) visits and the vulnerability and innocence of her tip-toed dance attracts the jaded attention of Monsieur GM (Antony Dowson). Whilst he and Lescaut haggle over a price Manon is attracted to the student Des Grieux (Friedemann Vogel) whose disciplined and sensitive dance is in marked contrast with those we have seen so far.
They elope and it soon becomes clear that they are not intellectually compatible. Manon lies on a lavish four poster bed, whilst across the bare stage, Des Grieux labours at a tiny table. The dance that follows, however, makes clear their mutual physical attraction. Manon’s movements have gained a seductive quality and her dance with her lover is sensuous and passionate full of extended twists and acrobatic lifting as she wraps herself around his body.
Lavish gifts from her brother succeed in tempting Manon to become Monsieur GM ’s mistress. The return to the Inn shows a number of changes. Although it is more lavish Lescaut is feeling guilt at his actions and his decline from his confident introduction is shown in a drunken dance with his mistress (Sarah McIIroy) which, although a rare comic moment, cannot hide his desperation.
The main change is, however, in Manon who, now confident of her power over men, performs a seductive dance. Her place in society is made clear when, at the instruction of Monsieur GM, she is passed from man to man more like a possession than a person. This shame is made complete when she again meets Des Grieux who is trying to gamble enough funds to win her back. The desperate actions of the lovers move the ballet to a tragic climax.
Choreographer Kenneth McMillian is ambiguous as to the extent to which Manon is sinned against or sinner. Daria Klimentrova’s performance, however, suggests that the character is motivated less by greed than by a more basic need - a hunger for all that life has to offer. She satisfies her appetite with sexual gratification and material goods but has a curiosity that suggests, had another path been taken, she could have found fulfilment in intellectual or spiritual ways.
In such a heated atmosphere Jules Massenet’s music acts as a balance often providing a counter to the passion on stage. It is a pleasure to see artistic director Wayne Eagling make use of every inch of the vast stage at The Palace. The crowded opening scene makes great use of the talents of the cast to catch the decadence of 18th Century France with aristocrats pushing through, and being mocked by ,harlots and beggars. The later scene inside the Inn is more opulent, showing off the designs of Mia Stensgaard, but the desperate atmosphere of a human meat market is the same.
Manon is definitely a surprise for newcomers to ballet and this dark yet beautiful production can only leave them wondering if there are any more of the same quality.
-Dave Cunningham
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As the previous review by Dave Cunningham stated I am indeed looking forward to more productions of the same quality. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I wasn’t disappointed
Jules Massenet’s music was superb
The atmosphere in the last act was spell binding.
As a virgin Ballet attendee I was looking forward to my first visit with great expectations.
I was not disappointed.
The English National Ballet were amazing, each dancer played their part during every scene, my daughter and I were captivated right from the opening curtain.
The dancing was beautiful, the choreography was mezmerizing and the music was perfect.
A brilliant nights entertainment, even for a novice like me.
Karen and Abigail