Dance
Coppelia, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Mary Brennan
FIVE STARS
Age need not wither classic ballets into dusty museum pieces: here's the proof. The origins of Coppelia hark back to the 1870's, yet this production by Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) comes up fresh and charming: full of sweetly naive romance and the whimsical humour that still works when it's taken seriously and delivered with the right, light touch.
In fact the story-line spins on a timeless scenario of girl, boy and "the other woman" - only here, the rival is a mechanical doll created by the eccentric recluse, Dr Coppelius. Our pair of sweethearts, Swanilda and Franz, don't realise that, of course. She flies into jealous hissy fits, he asserts his last rights as a bachelor and gets uber-flirty. And the doll? She and her maker are both the losers, but since the elderly toy-smith had strayed towards the darker arts - attempting to transfer Franz's life force into his beloved doll Coppelia - we nod at his come-uppance and enjoy the Act III divertissements instead. Here the BRB dancers shine in a showcase of technical virtuosity that - as in the whirlwind of spins from Mathias Dingman - round off Peter Wright's production with classic finesse.
His staging goes to the heart of a far-fetched fantastical tale and in Elisha Willis (Swanilda) and Joseph Caley (Franz) we have more than just technical finesse, we have recognisable characters who smooch and spat. She is a sparky minx who likes her own way, he's got a wandering eye, and many a TV sitcom has thrived on that very combination. Here, Delibes's luscious score vividly carries the story from village frolic to scary encounters in Coppelius' work-shop. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia plays it superbly, the dancers are a delight. Catch it while you can, it ends on Saturday.
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