Thank you Hull New Theatre for starting your 2023 theatre programme with one of my favourite genres – ballet.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Varna International Ballet Company brought Coppélia to the stage, to delight and cheer us on a cold, icy night.
Performing in the UK for the first time, Coppélia heralds the start of a week of ballet by this Bulgarian company, who will also perform Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Giselle.
The theatre was far from full – maybe ballet fans had opted to buy tickets for the more well-known productions there later in the week.
At curtain-up, the stage backdrop looked very muted colour-wise, but it soon became obvious the hues were purposefully chosen so as not to clash with the gloriously colourful costumes worn by all and sundry on stage.
Coppélia tells of the mischievous Swanilda (Anastasia Lebedyk) and her impetuous suitor Franz (Marcello Pellizoni). All is well between the flirtatious couple, until Franz looks up to the window of a local toymaker’s shop and is instantly smitten by a beautiful “girl” he sees there; but he doesn’t realise the “girl” is really an automated doll.
The toymaker, Dr Coppélius (Federico Farina), seeing Franz’s interest, activates the doll’s arms so she appears to wave at Franz, then throws a flower down to him.
Of course, Swanilda is outraged and nothing Franz does mollifies her.
On a drunken night out, the toymaker drops his key, only for Swanilda and her chums to use it to gain entry to the toyshop, so she can confront her rival.
Relieved at realising the rival is just a doll, Swanilda and her friends dance for joy.
Also in the shop is Franz who has sneaked in to see the beautiful “girl”. Swanilda decides to play a prank on him and changes clothes and places with the doll.
But the Doctor returns, only to chase everyone out of his shop, leaving Swanilda and Franz.
The toymaker works his “magic” on the couple, unaware his doll has been replaced by a real-life girl. Swanilda starts to dance stiffly and doll-like, giving him the impression his spells have worked.
After the truth dawns on him, the lovers escape the toy shop and live happily ever after.
This production was a mesmeric joy from curtain-up to the lengthy ovation at the end of the night.
The aforementioned colourful costumes enhanced the performances of the extremely talented and skilful ballet dancers who danced en pointe more than in any ballet production I have ever seen – and I’ve seen plenty in my time as a reviewer.
The prolonged pointe work by the female dancers simply took my breath away. The energetic male dancers were equally amazing – and the fantastic live music from the orchestra was the icing on the cake.
To my untrained eye, there was only one teeny, blink-and-you’d-miss it mishap (for want of a better word), but that was after a lengthy and very vigorous routine – these people are only human after all!
Thank you to all concerned for a truly magical night. I loved it.
The Varna International Ballet & Orchestra, presented by Raymond Gubbay
Programme includes Giselle on Wednesday, January 18th; Swan Lake on Thursday and Friday, 19th & 20th, and The Nutcracker on Saturday, 21st January 2023. Performances at 7.30pm nightly, with a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday, 21st. Tickets from £23. To book, call (01482) 300306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk
Reviewer: Jackie Foottit
Reviewed: 17th January 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★