VARNA INTERNATIONAL BALLET: CINDERELLA

The stage at Brighton’s beautiful Theatre Royal is small and yet from time to time a company will arrive and use that space so well that it seems expansive. Varna Ballet’s production of Prokofiev’s Cinderella did just that, the simple projected setting left the stage free for the excellent cast to command that space so elegantly.

Prokofiev’s score is a delight with some very familiar themes and plenty of opportunity for both drama and comedy, and Varna use it to full effect.

The Cinderella story is very much intact, there’s none of the additional pantomime matter of course, just the essential tale and in many ways it is better for that. Character led this production balances the style of classic Russian “white” ballet with the more stylised influence of Diaghilev and the Ballet Russe. Sparkling white tutus contrasting with bold constructivist motifs in red, black and white to great effect. The projected animated sets are at times a little too busy but in some scenes work so well.

Andrea Conforti danced Cinderella beautifully, reserved elegance in rags and stunning agility when transformed for the ball. The relationship with the prince, Timofei Fedotov, works well, his powerful physicality matching her willowy charm although his facial expressions were a little too stolid throughout.

Roberta Pereira made a marvellous step mother and was almost equally wicked to her two real daughters as she was to Cinderella, a very characterful performance. Agnes di dio Masa and Alba Barrasa were excellent as the step sisters, dancing prowess matched by excellent comedic timing and expression, dance and acting coming together so well. The fairy, Pauline Faget, transformed from woodland hag to towering spirit perfectly and every moment of her presence on that stage was pure magic.

The corps de ballet danced with precision and the cameo dances that illustrate the Prince’s search for the crystal slipper allowed some their moment to shine.

A full pit orchestra delivered the score with both precision and power making the whole evening very special.

Andrew Kay

29 January

Theatre Royal Brighton

[rating:4/5}