![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/IMG_5293JPG-e1506062621917.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
I waited all year for this exquisite dance show to arrive, and my anticipation was rewarded. And correct! It was as stunning as I expected it to be. And as fabulous as I tell you The Red<\/em> Shoes<\/em> is, it\u2019s so much more. You really just have to experience it for yourself. [Note: I think many of you know how food-obsessed I am, but I was so enraptured with this dance that, even though I had barely eaten all day, my mind didn\u2019t wander onto that fact for even a second! That\u2019s a first!]<\/p>\n Karen Salkin and Sir Matthew Bourne at their previous meeting. Photo by Mr. X.<\/p><\/div>\n Really, is there more of a creative genius than Matthew Bourne? I think not. He is soooo brilliant! How does one man envision all that?! It just does not seem possible. And he\u2019s such a nice, personable, down-to-earth guy, to boot! I\u2019ve met him twice now, (including after this opening night performance,) and I marvel at how normal he is, even with those gorgeous visions in his brain. I was near him in this audience, and I still can\u2019t believe that the man enjoys sitting with the rest of us, watching his own magical work, hopefully with the same joy that he gives the entire assemblage!<\/p>\n Okay, now let\u2019s get to The Red Shoes<\/em> in specific. I can\u2019t imagine that any of you don\u2019t already know this, but, of course, it\u2019s the same story that\u2019s portrayed in the iconic 1948 film of the same name. Basically, ballerina Vicky Page has to choose between her two loves\u2014ballet and her boyfriend. (I know that\u2019s really simplifying it, but I don\u2019t have time to go into the psychology of the arts here.) And in-between, she dances the lead in the ballet The Red Shoes<\/em>, which is a horrible story (in my opinion) by Hans Christian Andersen. (If you feel you need to know more of the plot than that, it\u2019s very easy to research.)<\/p>\n Ashley Shaw. Photo by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n I\u2019ve always been aware that every ballet girl is supposed to say The Red Shoes<\/em> is one of her favorite movies, but, since I\u2019m always honest, I have to admit that it is not mine. I hate sadness, especially when it borders on horror. (I\u2019m just shocked that I haven\u2019t been terrrified of red footware my entire life!) And just seeing Robert Helpmann, (even though he plays a good guy in this<\/em> film,) has always given me the willies, since I had first seen him in Tales of<\/em> Hoffman<\/em> on TV when I was a little girl.<\/p>\n But I absolutely adore Moira Shearer, the star of the film, so I have<\/em> seen it several times. She\u2019s always been my image of what a ballerina should be. (I wonder if she\u2019s the reason I have red hair now!) I\u2019m very aware that The Red Shoes<\/em> is a classic film, and I so appreciate the wonderful ballet dancing in it. There\u2019s way too little dancing like that on film.<\/p>\n Photo by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n But this Matthew Bourne ballet is soooo much better than the movie to me. On every level. Even though the story is equally dramatic and sad, he injects much humor into his version, as he always does with all his work. And these fabulous dancers convey so much with just one little hand movement or cock of the head! It\u2019s truly amazing, (and you all know that I do not<\/em> use that word lightly.)<\/p>\n Sir Bourne\u2019s \u201cballet-within-the-ballet,\u201d of The Red Shoes<\/em>, is absolutely breathtaking! I\u2019m not the only one who gasped during that segment on opening night, as danced by Ashley Shaw, with Liam Mower as her boyfriend and Glenn Graham as the evil Shoemaker. Before I saw the show, I could not imagine how they were going to pull-off that lengthy and dramatic piece of the puzzle. It\u2019s the only part of the film that I love, and I had no idea how the vast, sweeping locations portrayed in the movie could possibly be emulated on stage.<\/p>\n Ashley Shaw. Photo by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n But the entire section was literally perfect, and not just<\/em> the magnificent choreography. The dancing, (of course,) the sets, (by Lez Brotherston, who also designed the costumes,) special effects projections (by Duncan McLean,) and Vicky\u2019s costume in it (that looked like my favorite Barbie prom dress,) were all a dream come true for dance and theatre fans. And fans of beauty<\/em>, in general. If the entire presentation had been solely that twenty-minute Act I-closer ballet, I would have still gone home happy. (The only problem is\u2014I want to see that part again and again. And right away!) [Note: I must commend Ms. Shaw for something additional on opening night. The tattered costume that she changes into during this section opened in the back while she was dancing, which had to be not<\/em> on purpose. I\u2019m sure she was aware of it, but she did not miss a beat.]<\/p>\n The “swirly skirt” number. Photo by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n It wasn\u2019t only that one costume that caught my eye; it was just about all of them. When Vicky and her beau, Julian, (played that night by Dominic North,) do a dance in what would be considered street clothing, the swirl of her skirt reminded me of a big reason I originally loved all things ballet as a tiny girl. That one almost plain-looking outfit, (with the ulterior motive of the swirling skirt,) made my whole night.<\/p>\n Mr. X is a krump dancer, which is about as far from ballet as one can get, but he was as impressed as I was. He kept raving about how precise all the movements are.<\/p>\n Ashley Shaw with the dreaded red shoes. Photo by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n One interesting note about this version of The Red Shoes<\/em> is that, unlike most of his previous works, Matthew Bourne did not seem to change much of the original story. In his mouth-watering Swan Lake<\/em>, he changed the swans to males, and he transformed Carmen <\/em>to The Car Man<\/em>, (which uses Bizet\u2019s score, but is actually the story of The Postman Always Rings Twice<\/em>.) And his Cinderella<\/em> takes place in London during World War II. But The Red Shoes<\/em> stays the same. There\u2019s so much going on in this story that I think he was wise to preserve it as is.<\/p>\n I\u2019m about to share other aspects of opening night with you, so I want to finish-up the actual review of the show by telling you it\u2019s a must-see! If I haven\u2019t used enough superlatives to describe this production, please use a thesaurus and apply all synonyms of \u201cbeautiful\u201d and \u201camazing\u201d to Matthew Bourne\u2019s The Red Shoes<\/em>, and you\u2019ll have the complete picture!<\/p>\n Lex Ishimoto on the right, with girlfriend, and fellow SYTYCD finalist, Taylor Sieve. I love that they’re in love!!! Photo by Mr. X.<\/p><\/div>\n Now, on an auxiliary note, I love how the dance world supports each other, I think perhaps more so than any of the other arts. I not only saw some local choreographers whom I know, but waiting to say hi to Matthew alongside me at the end were Dancing With The Stars<\/em>\u2019 judges Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. But the absolute most exciting sightings to me were the four finalists from this season\u2019s So You Think You Can Dance<\/em>, all together and sitting way up close! I would have loved to meet Lex Ishimoto, who had \u201cliked\u201d a tweet of mine the night before, where I said that if he doesn’t win, the show\u2019s voters are idiots!!! (A bit harsh perhaps? But I totally mean it\u2014I labeled him the winner from his very first audition! Mark my words!) That\u2019s actually the same way I feel about anybody in Southern California who misses The Red Shoes<\/em>!!!<\/p>\n And on a personal note, part of the fun of going to ballets is getting ready for them. I think that all dance girls do that, but most stop playing dress-up when they grow-up. But, luckily for me, I never grew-up, (which is why I\u2019m often referred to as \u201cPeter Pan,\u201d which is a story I hope that Matthew Bourne tells next, by the way,) so I still have that joy. As I was going through my closet that day, searching for my red sequined sneakers, (because I erroneously assumed that everyone<\/em> would be fun enough to wear red shoes to…The Red Shoes<\/em>…duh!,) I came upon\u2014wait for it\u2014red flats that are practically ballet slippers<\/em>! I hadn\u2019t worn them in probably a decade, and there they were, calling my name, as the Shoemaker\u2019s red toe shoes did to Vicky.<\/p>\n Photo by Mr. X.<\/p><\/div>\n So, I Cinderella step-sistered my feet into them, and decided to go with all black attire, so as to feature the shoes. Imagine how thrilled I was when I heard multiple attendees gasp, \u201cShe\u2019s wearing red shoes!,\u201d as I passed by! People even asked to take photos of them!<\/p>\n But did I stop at the shoes? Oh no! Have you met me??? I broke out my giant Lunch at the Ritz (remember that brand?,) earrings featuring…pink ballet slippers! And, of course, I polished my nails a very sparkly red. How much fun did I<\/em> have?! Probably more than anybody else there.<\/p>\n Okay, one last note here, and it\u2019s about this theatre\u2019s line-up: The Ahmanson is on a roll this season! It just may be their best one yet. Next up is Steve Martin\u2019s Broadway show, Bright Star<\/em>, followed by Something Rotten<\/em>, so if you were ever thinking of becoming a subscriber, this just may be the time. See you all there!<\/p>\n Matthew Bourne\u2019s The Red Shoes<\/em>\u00a0running through October 1, 2017<\/strong> THE RED SHOES I was too enthralled with Matthew Bourne\u2019s new ballet, The Red Shoes, at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown LA on opening night to write even one note! So, if this review is a bit scattered, please forgive me. All you really need to know is this: get tickets for the show this<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Ahmanson Theatre \u00a0135 N. Grand Ave. \u00a0213-972-4400 \u00a0www.CenterTheatreGroup.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"