The bottom line to my whole lengthy-but-glowing review here is that any Angeleno who doesn\u2019t hie him-or-her-self straight over to see this magical theatrical experience is an absolute twit! Even if they\u2019ve seen it before.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>The impressive pre-show curtain, setting the scene for Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella at the Ahmanson. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
I saw this modern ballet when it was here in L.A. the last time\u2014twenty years ago!–and am thrilled that it returned. I\u2019m so happy to share it with Mr. X this go-round, now that he\u2019s also a fan of Matthew Bourne’s glorious choreography!<\/p>\n
As a matter of fact, Matthew\u2019s uber-creative works are such superior entertainment that they\u2019re just about the only<\/em> shows that Mr. X ever comes to willingly<\/em>! (Okay, outside of hip-hop performances that his krump-dancing self is into, of course.)<\/p>\n Karen Salkin and Sir Matthew Bourne at a previous meeting. Photo by Mr. X.<\/p><\/div>\n As much as I love this ballet itself, the absolute highlight of my night was running into the amazingly talented Matthew outside before the show, and finding-out that he remembered me! He even told me that our mutual friends who had introduced us two years ago were inside already!<\/p>\n As for this production, it is definitely not your Disney version of Cinderella<\/em>, with mice and pumpkins and horse-drawn carriages, and all, (although I do love that fairy tale stuff, as well. And I\u2019m actually getting to see that original film on a big screen later this month, so yay me.)<\/p>\n The narrative here is a World War II era romance in London, (because this company is British, after all,) complete with actual English newsreels before two of the three acts, which cleverly helped set the mood of the story. (And, by the way, never have three<\/em> acts and two<\/em> intermissions gone by so quickly! Much more quickly, in fact, than the four times as long that this review is taking me to write!!! I just don\u2019t want to leave any stoned unturned.)<\/p>\n And even though this version uses Prokofiev\u2019s classic Cinderella<\/em> music, (which was actually composed during this war,) it\u2019s nothing like any of the ballets of the same basic tale that came before. [Note: All fans of Matthew Bourne and his New Adventures company, know that; I\u2019m just stating it for the few nescients among you.]<\/p>\n Photo by Johan Persson, as is the one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n As I stated, I saw this same ballet two decades ago, and I have to admit that, after the color and pageantry and robust, powerful dancing of the mostly-male Swan Lake,<\/em> (the first and only other Matthew Bourne show I had ever seen at that point,) I was a tad disappointed with this semi-depressing saga back then. But now that I\u2019ve seen everything of Sir Bourne\u2019s that\u2019s been on offer in LA through the years, I came at this incarnation of it with a whole different mindset, and with much excitement and anticipation. And…I loved it this time! I knew of the change in setting going in, and that the male in question is an injured RAF pilot, as opposed to the usual prince.<\/p>\n But no worries\u2014there\u2019s still sparkling footwear, an evil step-mother, Cinderella, and her true love, of course. But, as always with New Adventures, there are a few twists, such as a male Angel rather than a Godmother, and three step-brothers, who each has his own personality quirk, (which I\u2019ll leave you to discover for yourselves,) rounding-out the siblings.<\/p>\n Ashley Shaw and Andrew Monaghan. Photo by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n Since Matthew\u2019s works always feature not only new choreography<\/em>, but whole new innovative takes on the basic scenarios, I do<\/em> have to admit that I didn\u2019t understand what was going on at all times in war-time Cinderella<\/em>. (At times, I didn\u2019t know if the lovers were having an Enchanted Cottage<\/em> moment, or if, as in the fairy tale, their physical attractiveness was based in reality.) But it really didn\u2019t matter. I was riveted to the stage and enthralled by it all, every step and pirouette of the way.<\/p>\n Ashley Shaw and Andrew Monaghan. Photo by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n And, as in all Bourne creations, there is much humor, which I adore. In addition, there\u2019s often so much happening in each scene that one would have to see a specific work multiple times to take in every nuance, which I would not mind doing at all, actually.<\/p>\n And even with all that going on, Mr. X said, \u201cThat\u2019s the magic of Matthew Bourne\u2014he knows how to focus your attention on what matters most,\u201d even in the scenes with lots of people and activity.<\/p>\n I\u2019m so glad that I got to see my two favorite New Adventures dancers on opening night, along with some newbies to me.<\/p>\n Liam Mower. Photo by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n Mr. X and I first fell in collective love with Ashley Shaw when she brilliantly danced The Red Shoes<\/em> here last year, and that romance continues. We were blown away by her once again, even though her Cinderella<\/em> choreography is much more subtle than that of Vicky Page\u2019s at-times-frenzied (in a great way) steps.<\/p>\n Also of note is the striking and stunning work of Liam Mower as The Angel; he just about took my breath away at times. Stepmother Madelaine Brennan\u2019s comic relief as the villain is a major highlight of this production. And Andrew Monaghan as The Pilot, who not only has to dance as both injured and healthy, but also as a mannequin version of himself, is equally convincing as all of them.<\/p>\n But to see Alan Vincent after so many years was such a supreme pleasure! When I noticed beforehand that he was sharing the role of The Father, I was just praying that he would dance it on opening night. I had first gone nuts over him when I saw him on this very stage many years ago, dancing the lead in Matthew Bourne\u2019s Car Man<\/em>.<\/p>\n Karen Salkin, showing her doctored Alan Vincent pic on her former televison show. Photo by…Karen Salkin!<\/p><\/div>\n And the original showed-up in this giant poster on the wall of one of the side lobbies of the Ahmanson! Can you spot it? Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n When reviewing that piece on my TV show at the time, I admired that someone who the Los Angeles Times had described as being \u201cbeefy\u201d could leap that high! He was truly amazing. My taste had always run to skinny guys, but his beefy body, and, much more importantly, his incredible talent, got to me. I was so taken with him that, as part of my review of Car Man<\/em>, I showed a publicity still of Alan with his love interest, in which I had replaced his leading lady\u2019s face with…my own!!! That was almost twenty years ago, and I would still do the same again today, only with photoshop! My how I’ve matured. (No worries–I\u2019m not a psychopath\u2014I\u2019m just a comedienne. Also no worries about Mr. X being jealous\u2014he helped me do it!) [Note 1: Alan was also in the original Cinderella<\/em>, but I don\u2019t remember him from that one.] [Note 2: If I can figure out how to get that televised review onto my YouTube channel, I promise to do it soon. It\u2019s a good one, if I do say so myself.]<\/p>\n Karen Salkin on her TV show back in the day, getting a kick out of the doctored photo of herself with Alan Vincent. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n And, on this<\/em> opening night, I had written that the guy who played The Bandleader in the club, (who I had erroneously thought was the maitre d\u2019 or a waiter) was charming before I even realized that he was also<\/em> Alan! Who knew that a guy who had previously danced one of the sexiest roles ever<\/em> could be so amusing?!<\/p>\n [Note: While I\u2019m reviewing these particular dancers, please take note that the main roles in Cinderella are double-and-triple-cast, so plan accordingly if these are the exact ones you want to see. But, even without having witnessed the others in action, I can pretty much vouch for every<\/em> dancer Matthew Bourne chooses, so you\u2019re sure to see a winner, no matter what.]<\/p>\n I\u2019m also a fan of Lez Brotherston\u2019s set and costume designs. Gray is my favorite color, (if it is actually a color<\/em> at all,) so Act I\u2019s all-shades-of-gray set and costumes made my mouth water. It was amazing that he was able to accomplish that, even with the dancers’ faces being normal; I actually noticed no<\/em> real color at all\u2014it all looked like an old black-and-white movie, (which is most likely what they were going for.)<\/p>\n There’s so much more gray, but this image will have to to do for now. Photo by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n I enjoyed every little touch of the presentation. I especially appreciated that the house number where the family lives is \u201c12,\u201d which was situated at the top of the curved window above their transom, like midnight on a clock, which is Cinderella\u2019s curfew. (And also that it\u2019s backwards when they\u2019re in the house and then turns around when Cinderella steps outside!)<\/p>\n Karen Salkin’s nails with the Cinderella program. Photo by Mr. X.<\/p><\/div>\n I even did my eyes and nails in shades that I knew would match the set! (That\u2019s how much of a fan I am. Or crazy.)<\/p>\n And who doesn\u2019t love a mirror ball?!<\/p>\n I got a kick out of Cinderella’s silver-and-white ball gown because it looked like she went through my<\/em> old closet. (When my parents were visiting once, my father opened my closet that was filled with all the outfits I wore on a regular basis, and exclaimed, \u201cWhat is this? Costumes?!\u201d)<\/p>\n I\u2019m a big fan of British films that are set in this time period, especially old ones. When the final set of Cinderella appeared, which is a train station in England, with an attached Tea Room, besides that my mouth started salivating for my most beloved repast, afternoon tea, my mind<\/em> immediately went to Brief Encounter<\/em>, a movie I\u2019ve seen several times, although the end breaks my heart. But I discover something new in it each time, an aspect it has in common with every Matthew Bourne creation that I\u2019m lucky enough to enjoy multiple viewings of. [Note: The very last tiny movement of this whole ballet takes place in this location, and that tiny subtlety actually gave me goosebumps.)<\/p>\n And, to end it all, this is the absolute best, happiest, most dancey curtain call ever!!! And it\u2019s all done in tune and in time with the 1940 Glenn Miller hit, Pennsylvania 6-5000<\/em>, which had the entire assemblage bopping along.<\/p>\n Photo of the curtain call by Johan Persson.<\/p><\/div>\n Now I can\u2019t wait to see what Matthew Bourne does next! No matter what it is. (Especially if Alan Vincent is in it again, of course!) Hint\u2014I hear rumors that it just might be Romeo and<\/em> Juliet<\/em>. So, no happy ending this time. Or maybe there will<\/em> be one\u2014you never know with Matthew! Which is just one of the many reasons I love everything he does!<\/p>\n Cinderella<\/em>\u00a0running through March 10, 2019<\/strong> MATTHEW BOURNE\u2019S CINDERELLA Having the privilege of seeing Matthew Bourne\u2019s Cinderella at the Ahmanson on its opening night made me feel like I\u2019m one of the lucky citizens who received the invitation to the Ball! The bottom line to my whole lengthy-but-glowing review here is that any Angeleno who doesn\u2019t hie him-or-her-self straight over to<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/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":"