Theatre Review, New Zealand
by Kate Ward-Smythe
While Tchaikovsky's score is sublime, and Scenic Designer Eamon D-Arcy's framing of the ice-stage is impressive, and Albina Gabueva's costumes beautifully elegance, the true stars of the show are of course, the 26 world class ice skaters. The skill Artistic Director / Choreographer Tony Mercer employs, to allow each to shine in their own right, as well as giving the audience an abundance of stunning ensemble vignettes, is second to none.
The story of Swan Lake is well known to many: Prince must choose his future wife, the love he develops for the Swan Princess, who is cursed to remain half human half swan, the plot of evil Rothbart and the ensuring conflict between love and the dark side ... Mercer has taken some refreshing liberties with the plot. He balances the telling of this new story with the opportunity to showcase his talented cast, extremely well.
The many children in the opening night audience would have had no trouble following the mood and temperament of each character and scene. In this regard, Swan Lake on Ice is just as much a family show, or a show for all ages, as it is a rare opportunity for any regular ballet, dance or theatre patron to witness an extraordinary feat of artistic and athletic brilliance and glamour. Mercer's cast deliver stand out moments a-plenty, not only as uncompromising athletes, but also as performers, ensuring the production works as "theatre-on-ice".
Andrei Penkine is lively and engaging as Benno, with charisma that guaranteed him 'audience favourite' status. By contrast, Vadim Yarkov as Prince Siegfried is strong and regal. As Odette, Olga Sharutenko captures the romance and intimacy of the role, to great affect. Her scenes with Yarkov are breath-taking. Olean Pietas gives not only grace, but also real compassion to the role of Odile. Anton Kalikow brings intensity and flare to the part of Rothbart.
Each cast member shines in their given virtuoso moments, frequently air-borne, executing a perfect move, lift, turn or astounding combination of all. While those with greater knowledge of the technical terms than I will be more than suitably impressed, I've watched enough Winter Olympics on TV to know the Imperial Ice Stars are uniformly masters of their skating craft. Equally impressive, is witnessing the teamwork and trust required for such precision driven and intricate routines.
Costume Designer Albina Gabueva has captured both the beauty of the creatures of the Lake and the elegance, pomp and circumstance of the court, to perfection. But she saves her crowning moments for a series of visiting princesses, all keen to impress the young Prince Siegfried. Her costumes, of course, must allow the cast to skate, twist, turn and even fly; with no encumbrances, yet she makes each gown look like an intricate delicate work of art.
Lighting Designer Gavan Swift enhances the cast and set with great precision, adding some dramatic touches that compliment Mercer's technical directives, such as a ring of fire and skater on stilts, very well. While for the most part, Tchaikovsky's immortal music, re-orchestrated by Musical Arranger Tim A. Duncan and team to suit ice dance, and recorded by The Manchester Light Symphony Orchestra, evokes the emotion and romance originally scored by the composer, occasionally a segment of music ends abruptly, a rude interruption of the musical flow, rather than a logical full stop at the end of a scene.
There is no doubt that The Imperial Ice Star's Swan Lake on Ice is world-class entertainment. So why did Auckland's opening night audience give these magnificent athletes and their brilliant creative team such a muted, under-whelming applause? I have experienced this before at large scale epic performances in the Queen city. Curiously, it doesn't seem to come from a lack of enjoyment, as all comments I heard and solicited as we left the venue, were extremely positive, a gush of compliments and uniformly full of admiration. Why such a lack lustre response? Are we too polite, too tired, and too self-conscious to stamp our feet, get a little loud, and even yell out our appreciation?
Judging from the audience's reaction last night, you would think the effort and uncompromising skill required to mount such a work, was completely lost on those who watched it. I truly hope this cast and creative team, are showered with the accolades they so richly deserve, from loud, receptive and grateful audiences, for the remainder of their season here in Auckland.