observations 4/13

High praise for Christopher Wheeldon's An American in Paris from Charles Isherwood in today's NYT:

The city of light is ablaze with movement in the rhapsodic new stage adaptation of “An American in Paris” that opened at the Palace Theater on Sunday, directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, a gifted luminary of the ballet world. This gorgeously danced — and just plain gorgeous — production pays loving tribute to the 1951 movie, to the marriage of music and movement, and to cherished notions about romance that have been a defining element of the American musical theater practically since its inception. Just about everything in this happily dance-drunk show moves with a spring in its step....

His conclusion:

“An American in Paris” weds music and movement, song and story with such exhilarating brio that you may find your own feet fidgeting under your seat before it’s over, and your heart alight with a longing to be swept up in the dance.

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We got a tip here on the blog that Yuriko Kajiya and Jared Matthews will be Nikiya and Solor in Stanton Welch's La Bayadere when Houston Ballet visits Canada next month. It would have to be in Alberta. It couldn't be in Ontario...

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Meanwhile, we saw this sad sign tacked to a bulletin board in the laundromat on 10th Ave. It seems like a good deal at first glance, but there's something fishy about it.

 

Comments

[Jennifer]

Washington Post loved it also.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/review-graceful-an-american-in-paris-has-pizazz-and-heart/2015/04/12/7a19cdde-e170-11e4-ae0f-f8c46aa8c3a4_story.html

[Haglund]

Thanks for the link, Jennifer. Not only is this musical a remarkable artistic achievement, it's doubly extraordinary considering that the show marks the Broadway debuts of Wheeldon, Fairchild, and Cope. So happy for everyone and for all of Broadway.

[J]

Do you, Haglund, or anyone else have an inkling of how long the original cast(and I'm thinking Fairchild and Cope) will be doing the leads? I am trying to figure out when I can/should come see it. I know that the show will eventually end up at L.A. Music Center or another venue, but I want to see the original cast. And thanks, always, Haglund, for your comments and updates.

[Haglund]

Hi, J.

I have no idea how long the musical will run before there's a change in cast. If you are able to pin down a couple of possible dates for your trip, you might then be able to reach out to one of the principals on social media to see if, as of that date, they expect to perform. You should come soon, however - during the strongest part of NYCB's season so that you can get the most out of your time here.

[Dreamer]

ABT website still shows Olga Smirnova to dance in La Bayedere on June 5. Last week on the Russian ballet forum someone with ties to the Bolshoi reported seeing her on crutches. Does McKenzie believe in miracles? Does he think that a month and half is enough time to go from crutches to dancing a full-length ballet?

[Haglund]

Hi Dreamer. I haven't heard anything further about Smirnova. You can bet your last dime that ABT will continue its intentional false advertising of casting until someone takes it to task through a regulatory authority. Every year, they seem to think that it's okay to continue false advertising and reaping the benefits of it until they can scrounge up a replacement instead of inserting an honest TBA. There is so little integrity in ABT's operations these days; they're basically white collar criminals.

[Haglund]

Well, well, well.

ABT scratched Smirnova and Chudin from La Bayadere this morning. Sales were crappy anyway. How about dumping Boylston, Kent, Semionova, Seo or that obnoxious Osipova from Giselle and letting the public witness Stella Abrera's acclaimed Giselle? McKenzie can't let her dance, because he might have to answer to criticism for not letting her dance sooner.

[Dreamer]

I am wondering what has prompted the ABT to finally remove Smirnova's name from the cast.