Royal Danish Ballet:
Jo Strømberg:
”Society of Lost Souls”
The Drama House
May 25, 2019
John Neumeier:
“Lady of the Camellias”
May 28, 2019
The Old Stage
In the Drama House, 10 dancers are reviving a small-scale hit that is more acting than dance. At the Old Stage + 60 dancers are reviving a big scale hit that combines dancing and acting. In both productions retired stars are bought back to shine once more. Same strategy – same results.
Each of the two performances make a strong statement for the Royal Danish Ballet prioritizing their tradition as a leading, and maybe the leading international dramatic ballet company. This is what the company does best.
Strong Characters
At the large stage, second cast of John Neumeier´s “Lady of the Camellias” are having their turn. Principal Kizzy Matiakis are new in the key role as Marguerite Dumas, the courtesan fighting tuberculosis. She filles the role very well. Her Armand is Soloist Alexander Bozinoff, a solid dancer, who in this production finally finds his acting gene and present a complex portrait of the young man.
However, the leading couple, while being so strong in their character building, are too cautious in their pas de deux´s, which limits the effects not only in the tricks, but also in the interpretations. A love story yes, but not one of the biggest known by human kind.
In the supporting cast, Benjamin Buza makes Armand´s father sympathetic and understanding. However, he cannot quite emulate first cast´s Sebastian Kloborg contact to the audience, however Buza presented a very fine and touching performance.
Strong Supporting Roles
Silvia Selvini and Marcin Kupinski managed to get the perfect mix between the elegance and the destruction of Manon Lescout and De Grieux, whom john Neumeier´s uses as a lead theme in the storytelling, while Astrid Elbo and Jonathan Chmelensky fills the role of the courtesan Prudence and the man about town Gaston Rioux.
Recently appointed soloist Guilherme de Menezes presents himself as a strong character dancer in the role as Count N, the kind and clumsy admirer of Marguerite. However, it became a faux pas to pair him with his identical twin Vitor de Menezes in one of the divertissements. Whether this was planned or not, it did not work well, and although it is no more than a blemish on an otherwise fine production, Guilherme de Menezes should not be part of a joke or a mistake, and neither should his brother.
Return from the Dead
When Norwegian choreographer and man of all trades Jo Strømgren created “The society of lost Souls” for the new in-house company CORPUS on a very tiny scene, it was amazing what the production could achieve with a small cast and hardly any space. Humor being a big part of the success.
For this run the RDB have brought back retired stars, soloist Femke Mølbach Slot and principal Mads Blangstrup. While Mølbach Slot was part of the original production, Mads Blangstrup is a welcome newcomer in the comedy. His stage appeal is intact and although the role of a manic dead person is very different from his starring turns as Romeo, James, Wronski and Basilio it is a very welcome return. I hope that the RDB will continue to invite their retired stars when there is suitable roles available. The “Society” was as funny and thought provoking as the first time.
Looking as these two productions, one is reminded of the big dramatic toolbox that is the DNA of the Royal Danish Ballet. Please continue to bring back the goods from yesteryears, which really display the ensemble as its best. Then there is this old fellow Bournonville, remember him? A few reruns now and then on his own premises would not hurt, quite the contrary.
Photos:
- Kizzy Matiakis as Marquerite in "Lady of the Camellias" by Henrik Stenberg, copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet
- Alexander Bozinoff as Armand and Kizzy Matiakis as Marquerite by Henrik Stenberg, copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet
- THe cast in "The Society of Lost Souls" by Jubai Battisti, copyright(c) Royal Danish Ballet
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