Swan Lake - English National Ballet 

Milton Keynes Theatre - November 2014

Performed for more than 135 years and still the world's most popular ballet - Swan Lake is a timeless classic story set to Tchaikovsky's glorious score, superbly performed by the English National Ballet.

The story of Price Siegfried's love for the bewitched Swan Queen Odette, their battle against the wicked half man, half bird sorcerer Rothbert and their fateful encounter with the manipulative Odile.

This iconic ballet supported by a full ENB orchestra will not fail to please the most dedicated ballet fan or first ballet goer alike.

Headed up by choreographer Derek Deane, there is no better company than the English National Ballet to present this popular classic.

The ENB company are refined, expressive and coherent - you will be mesmerised by this opulent production.

The female corps de ballet pieces are absolutely spectacular, when all of the dancers are on stage, dressed in their glistening shimmering white tutus - it is a sight to behold.  They all move as one, with the soft padding of pointe shoes rhythmically tapping in total harmony ... it was breathtaking.

The charming set design (Peter Farmer) and atmospheric lighting (Howard Harrison) complemented the graceful magic of the dancers - picture the first rays of sunlight splitting through wafts of dry ice depicting a lakeside at dawn...beautiful.

Prima ballerina Alina Cojocaru is captivating - playing the twin roles of Odette and Odile, portraying the contrasting purity and innocence of Odette with the calculating seductress Odile.

Cojocaru does not disappoint, dancing effortlessly together alongside Brazilian dancer Alejandro Virelles, with their feet immaculately placed in perfect union.  Virelles showed real strength, poise and agility throughout.  The two principles were outstanding.

This was a wonderful, very beautiful and faultless production.

Lily B X

Dirty Dancing at Milton Keynes Theatre

21^st October – 8^th November 2014

I have waited for this amazing production to arrive back at Milton Keynes Theatre and…Yes, at last it’s here!!!

The iconic dance moves and timeless music of Dirty Dancing has arrived!  I was so excited to see my absolute all-time favourite "chick flick" on stage and I know I'm not the only one!

The theatre had a real buzz as I entered, with groups of ladies flicking through the hot pink programme seeing who the leading players were in this classic show on it's record breaking tour.

I know many people will have been reminiscing about the totally fantastic Patrick Swayze who is sadly no longer with us, but his legacy lives on in Dirty Dancing.

For those of you that may not be familiar with the film (I've said it before and I will say it again...where have you been?) It's the story of Frances 'Baby' Houseman, a daddy’s girl who secretly falls in love for the first time with someone her daddy would definitely not approve of. 

She meets Johnny Castle, a dance instructor and member of the entertainment staff at the lavish Kellerman's hotel.

"It was the summer of 1963. When everybody called me baby and it didn't occur to me to mind. That was before President Kennedy got shot, before the Beatles came, when I couldn't wait to join the Peace Corps and I thought I'd never find a guy as great as my dad. That was the summer we went to Kellerman's...."

Baby is drawn to the "behind the scenes" exploits of the entertainment staff (who seem to have so much more fun than the paying guests). Intrigued, she finds herself in situations which challenge her beliefs about herself, her family and the world around her.

The iconic dances are there for you to experience, the stage script is almost word for word to the film.

I watched in awe as the talented cast brought the stage to life...Baby played by Roseanna Frascona was exceptional, she was funny, believable - her performance was flawless.

Gareth Bailey as Johnny showed a glint of Patrick, especially in his swagger and stature – the ladies in the seats next to mine described Bailey as “Buff” and I must admit, I totally agreed!

The chemistry between the pair was definitely there, they danced brilliantly together and when that iconic moment with "the lift" finally arrived – it was pure theatre magic.

The clever set and great costumes set the scene so well - it's not easy to transfer such a well known film to stage but director Sarah Tipple has achieved this exceptionally well.

Dirty Dancing is a 5 star show and I would have happily sat through it all over again...I didn't want it to end.  It is amazing and a definite must see.

Get your ticket...you can’t miss this one!

Enjoy!

Lily B x