'The Sleeping Beauty' has beautiful costumes and set design.
The Australian Ballet has given Marius Petipa's classic a radical facelift in this stunning 2005 production. Choreographer Stanton Welch retains much of the original choreography, especially the key solos and pas de deux, but with lively variations.
The famous storyline (of the little princess doomed at her christening to
a 100-year slumber from her 16th birthday, until woken by the kiss of a besotted prince) becomes a morality tale between good and evil, as the Lilac fairy, who heralds the light and warmth and love of spring and summer, slugs it out, fairy-style of course, with Carabosse, the queen of winter, of icy landscapes, frozen trees and darkness.
The late, great designer Kristian Fredrikson transplants the ballet from its original 18th century French setting, to an exotic eastern fantasyland, where rich red and gold predominate; swathes of gorgeous fabrics hang kasbah style; intricate costumes come in every jewel-box colour, topped with glittering headdresses - except for the slender fairy figures, who being of another realm, come draped in the barest wisps of fabric so delicately coloured they are initially indistinguishable from one another.
Extras in the cast include fantastically costumed trolls and goblins, dancing dolls and topiary creatures, changelings - and big furry rats.
It is a grand spectacle but almost a relief to be plunged into the stark black and white landscape of Carabosse's winter, in the third act, where the series of virtuoso turns that form the major part of The Sleeping Beauty's choreographic range, stand out against a background of less complexity.
The dancers all show off a high level of technique. Lucinda Dunn as Aurora is perfect of step, a cheeky little princess rather than an ethereal one, inarguably efficient throughout, but who only brings that ultimate balletic magic to the role in the final duet with her very handsome Australian style, Prince Florimund, danced by Damien Welch.
Danielle Rowe shines and glitters as a bewitching Lilac Fairy, and the incredibly flexible Lynette Wills is a glamorous as well as wicked Carabosse. Watch also for Madeleine Eastoe's Canari Fairy with Timothy Harbour's Bluebird and Colin Peasley, former principal dancer and original AB cast member from 1962, in character role.
And who wouldn't love the two purrfect cats!
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