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| Photo Credit Bella Kotak |
Anticipation was building. We had enjoyed meeting one of the dancers and trying on ballet costumes in the Audience Open Day. Now, as we walked into the Hippodrome’s auditorium we could sense the buzz of excitement. Before taking our seats, we peeped over into the orchestra pit. Seeing the full orchestra tuning up and the range of instruments was very impressive - definitely be nosey!
Most children will know the story of Beauty and the Beast really well. This was certainly the case with Little Lady and it helped her to enjoy and understand the ballet. We read the story in the programme as there are some slight variations and additional characters, such as Cochon and the Wild Girl . There was also a prologue, which explained how the Prince had been turned into the Beast by the Woodsman. The core plot though remained the same and was easy for children and adults to follow.
We meet Belle’s vain and selfish sisters in Act 1. Their interactions with each other amused us all throughout. They danced with elegance and beauty, yet throughout were competing with each other to marry Cochon. They squabbled and argued without words and ended up pulling the hapless Cochon to and fro. Cochon was surprisingly a favourite character. We had met him before the performance in the foyer and seen his little piggy snout first hand. Watching him on stage though was very funny. He danced around the stage fully in role almost as if on trotters with a little portly belly to complete his look.
As the scene shifted to the Beast’s castle, darkness descended on the stage. A storm blew up and the orchestral music thundered around the auditorium creating a sense of foreboding. As the merchant entered the empty castle we witnessed food and drink being served by invisible hands and gifts being delivered for his older daughters. My family loved this part of the ballet as it was so cleverly done. We also knew that, as Belle’s father left, he would meet the Beast…
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| Photo Credit Bella Kotak |
I had forewarned Little Lady that the Beast might be frightening but she only gave him 5/10 for scariness. Knowing the full story definitely helped. Belle made her way to the Beast’s castle in a spectacular dance where Belle was lifted up by the Birds of the Air. We loved the bird costumes with their bustling tail feathers.
Act II began with a glamorous ball in the Beast’s castle with other masked animals who had fallen under the same Woodsman’s curse as the Beast. This made for a stunning dance with the stage full. We were transfixed as Belle danced beautifully with the Beast and then left hurriedly causing the Beast to fall into a terrible rage because she had refused to marry him.
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| Photo Credit Caroline Holden |
Back at the merchant’s house the wedding scene in which Cochon could not bring himself to decide which sister to marry, brought a lighter comedy edge to the performance. Little Lady’s favourite character was an old lady who caused chaos and confusion amongst others as she went the wrong way in dances and befuddled Belle’s father. This, along with Belle’s sisters’ squabbles, made it a popular scene with us and the rest of the chuckling audience.
But if the wedding scene was light and amusing, the final scene was quite spectacular. As the Beast was left dying, Belle finally returned and agreed to marry him. All was put right with the world again as we witnessed the Beast transforming back into the Prince and all the other animals becoming human again. The final dance, with Belle and the Prince in their glowing costumes, was a fitting finale to this impressive show. Birmingham Royal Ballet did not disappoint! Their world class dance, music and costumes combined to create a stunning performance which was a real family treat this half term.
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| Photo Credit Caroline Holden |
Special thanks to Birmingham Royal Ballet for inviting us to review this performance.
Beauty and the Beast runs at Birmingham Hippodrome until 2nd March before going on tour to Plymouth, Edinburgh, Salford, Sunderland and Bristol.
https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/beauty-and-the-beast-2019
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| Photo Credit Roy Smiljanic |
The Ballet is performed in a shorter less complex show as a
First Steps show for children who are younger or new to ballet.
Relaxed performances are also available at Birmingham and Southampton.
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