Saturday, March 20, 1999
'Sleeping Beauty' benefits from a bit of editing
BY CAROL NORRIS
Enquirer contributor
Sleeping Beauty could be done as it was originally 109 years ago, very formal with grand pantomime to Tchaikovsky's lush score. But it's unlikely today's audiences would be willing to wait three hours for the guy to get the girl.
Dennis Poole's version for Cincinnati Ballet trims and reshapes the original to a satisfying length and style for today's audience. At just over two hours, it gets to the heart of the fairy tale with clarity and charm.
Never mind that I placed the “Rose Adagio” in the wrong act in a preview article, of the story I'm certain: Long ago a queen and king celebrate the birth of Princess Aurora by inviting over a few guests. Miffed at being left out, evil fairy Carabosse sets a curse on the baby — she'll prick her finger and die. The Lilac Fairy bests that by turning the death into a 100-year sleep.
The evil deed takes place at Aurora's 16th birthday and all the kingdom falls to sleep. One hundred years later Lilac Fairy finds a prince to fall in love with the sleeping princess. He awakens her with a kiss. After a wedding celebration that's visited by cats, bluebirds, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, they live happily ever after.
It's odd finding fairies and friends dancing in the queen's chambers in Act I; this usually occurs in a palatial ballroom. It makes sense when you get to the wedding and realize all the royal trappings have been saved for this majestic, final scene. It works beautifully.
This was Karen Lee Connell's night. Perhaps spurred by the announcement by Victoria Morgan that this is her last year here as a principal dancer, she danced as never before. Aurora is a true ballerina role and she owned it. From perfect turns to butterfly jumps to luxurious arabesques, she brought richness to a demanding role.
Rene Micheo, as the prince, partnered her with a vulnerable affection.
Sleeping Beauty continues today and Sunday at Aronoff's Procter & Gamble Hall. 241-7469.
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