I am tired. Very very tired. And, for once, it's almost entirely my own fault! Left work last night and headed straight to the Theatre Royal in Newcastle to see this production - a 3 act epic of a dance show - and then hung around until almost eleven as Matthew Bourne was doing a post show talk. I adore his work - it always feels as if there's a heart and soul and intellect behind it - and this was as fabulous as ever. The stunning Prokofiev score, played at just the right volume augmented by Blitz sound effects, a magical re-invention of the story in a very credible setting, the hallmark humour and pathos I've come to expect from this company, some deft references to two of my favourite films of the 40s (
A Matter of Life and Death and
Brief Encounter) - fabulous frocks, and some exquisite dancing - one of MB's very
best pas de deux. Oh, and a scene on the London Underground and a celestial motorcycle and sidecar!! FABULOUS!
We were up in the Gallery - the only seats we could get - and that was wonderful too - I spent many happy evenings up there as an impoverised but theatre obsessed student. The Gallery is going to undergo a major refurbishment as part of the renovations which begin in March and so it was lovely to be up beside the muses above the proscenium for one last time before it changes forever.
It was well past midnight when I crawled into bed and had officially changed into a pumpkin and had no concept of where my shoes might be. When the alarm went off this morning I was bleary-eyed and seriously weary. But if it wasn't entirely sold out, I'd be back there tonight!!!
When it's magic, it is
MAGIC!
www.new-adventures.net/productions/cinderella
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