POSTED ON JUNE 7, 2014 – LILY OLASON
FANTASTIC FAIRIES
Dreamy Midsummer from NBT
by J. Frank Wilson
In this year of Midsummer, we’ve already been treated to an opera version at Western Washington University and this weekend Northwest Ballet Theater’s production opens at Mount Baker Theatre. What is arguably Shakespeare’s most popular play remains ever-vibrant thanks to the many different interpretations of the enchanting fantasy.
The ballet version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream features Felix Mendelssohn’s captivating music and the sensational choreography of NBT Artistic Director John Bishop. It is a visual spectacle that is, indeed, the stuff of dreams.
Those who have followed NBT productions over the years have seen many young dancers grow and blossom. This year’s most beautiful bloom is unquestionably Chloe Johnson who dances the role of Titania. The 16-year-old has been dancing since she was four and brings an appropriately regal stage presence to the Fairy Queen. Her confidence and maturity as a dancer are enhanced by some serious acting chops.
King Oberon is danced by Ryan Sims at the Bellingham performance and by NBT regular Joshua D. Deininger when the production moves to Mount Vernon’s McIntyre Hall next weekend. Sims was powerful in tonight’s opener, making the leaps and lifts look easy. That, along with making the ballerina look good, is what male ballet dancers are all about.
As often happens in Midsummer, Puck steals the show. Ashley Henderson delivers a marvelously androgynous performance that displays an astonishing range of physicality. Just try to take your eyes off her when she’s onstage. Good luck with that.
Hailey Forsberg is another NBT veteran who has seriously come into her own. The diminutive dancer portrays Hermia with a winsome charm that will win some serious applause. Delci Syvertson is thoroughly melodramatic as the lovelorn Helena who gets her man in the end.
Aeden Conafley and Warren Woo play Lysander and Demetrius respectively and bring thoroughly thrilling swordplay to the roles as they battle over who will win which woman. Ryann Lewis delivers an artfully Amazonian Hippolyta whose tribe may have been conquered by Theseus but who does some conquering of her own. Reese Rollison plays the conquered conqueror with macho military style.
The redoubtable NBT stalwart Angus McLane delights as Peter Quince, nominal leader of The Mechanicals. They perform the play-within-a-play with the help of a little dialogue that is unusual in the normally nonverbal world of ballet. NBT guru John Bishop keeps threatening to retire from dancing, but his performance as Bottom makes everyone wish that those threats continue to be empty. One thing that is worth the ticket price alone is John French’s brief ballet debut as Egeus. He and Wilbur (his prosthetic leg) dance a memorable pas-de-deux.
No production of Midsummer would be complete without a plethora of fairies. NBT’s plethora is plentiful and they’re predictably adorable. Don’t let that distract you from the fact that these kids can seriously dance.
There’s just one more performance at the MBT, Saturday at 7:00 p.m. You can score tickets through the Mount Baker Theatre box office by calling (360) 734-6080 or at their website. If you miss the Bellingham shows, don’t despair. You can catch next weekend’s performances at Mt. Vernon’s McIntyre Hall Saturday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. or Sunday, June 15, at 2:00 p.m. Call the box office at (866) 624-6897 Ex. 2 or order online.
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