The Australian, Australia
By Deborah Jones
So few productions really live up to the promise of being entertainment for the whole family, but The Sleeping Beauty on Ice is the real deal.
It's a clear, concise telling of the fairy story enlivened by spectacular ice-dancing, particularly in the joyous hunting scene that opens the second half and any occassion on which the bad fairy Carabosse (Maria Borovickova) appears with her dark retinue.
The first half goes by a little slowly but all is forgiven by the end of the enchanting second part which is lit up by Eamon d'Arcy's pretty settings and the joie de vivre of the company.
The strength and robust charm of the men - Vadim Yarkov's Prince Desire, Artem Knyazev's Lilac Prince and Anton Klykov's Catalabutte - is thrilling, Olga Sharutenko's Lilac fairy is grace personified and only Mandy Woetzel's Princess Aurora is a bit of a nonentity.
There's not a lot of emotional depth to be found, but who cares when the men are showing off their awe inspiring one-arm lifts and everyone is spinning like dervishes? Great fun.