Post Gazette: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre took another visit this past weekend to the second star on the right, which happened to be conveniently (if temporarily) located at the Benedum Center. It was only 2007 when the company first explored Neverland in Septime Webre's all-American, Broadway-inspired version of "Peter Pan," so it was a surprise that artistic director Terrence Orr decided on this encore presentation so soon. More than that, he chose a little-known choreographer from Western Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet former principal dancer and current school staff member, Jorden Morris. Well, sprinkle me with fairy dust.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Music and dancers excel in 'Peter Pan'
Post Gazette: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre took another visit this past weekend to the second star on the right, which happened to be conveniently (if temporarily) located at the Benedum Center. It was only 2007 when the company first explored Neverland in Septime Webre's all-American, Broadway-inspired version of "Peter Pan," so it was a surprise that artistic director Terrence Orr decided on this encore presentation so soon. More than that, he chose a little-known choreographer from Western Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet former principal dancer and current school staff member, Jorden Morris. Well, sprinkle me with fairy dust.
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I am pleased to say that I saw this show yesterday afternoon. Not very often do I have the time to actually enjoy theatre/ballet and even less often am I willing to pay full price for a ticket. I met a friend in the lobby following the show who wondered why I did not pay the student rate. I forgot that I was a student. I was ballet patron for two whole hours. The impetus for my going was the 4 and half year old little girl I live with who is enamored with ballet and all things Disney. I thought that Peter Pan the ballet would be a good way to nurture both of these interests and have a fun father/daughter outing. It did not disappoint. The greatest praise that I can offer PBT is that they held the attention of my daughter for two and half hours. That is longer than Toy Story. She loved it. We are now making plans to attend the Nutcracker and Coppelia.
I saw this show as well and it was wonderful. Julia Erickson, the dancer who played Tinkerbelle, was great, full or energy and joy. The peter pan and Wendy were very entertaining. This show was well worth the time and money used to see it. for the two and a half hours or so i could relax and let myself be a part of neverland
I love when reviews are written that enjoy the simplicity, beauty and creativity of a show. I think that bringing a child to the ballet inspires immense creativity and beauty, because these characters and this story is larger than life. PBT does some really beautiful work, and it is a shame that not a lot of people are able to see it.
What I also question is reviews from ballet that are less than ideal. Being in this industry, we get so wrapped up in the technical delivery of a show (whether it be a performer's act, or the technical elements themselves) that we forget to take a step back, immerse ourselves in the magic and lose ourselves in the work. It is refreshing to hear such totally positive reviews, and I think that the ballet has much to offer!
I finally made it to a ballet that was not Nutcracker. It was great to see Peter Pan in the Benedum, a beautifully done ballet piece which includes flight. Besides wanting to see a ballet, I wanted to see the integration of flight into a show. When I saw the show on Sunday there were a few flight issues, Peter almost collided a few times and one of his cables flew back on stage for a second when he was getting unhooked. Throughout the whole show, watching for the safety cues and how they hooked and unhooked dancers was very entertaining. When in the house, they would stand near the bed and hang out for a moment while being hooked up before continuing their dancing and flight. The safety cues were most often seen in Peter with a sword flick upwards or downwards depending on the flight path. Beyond these flight things that I noticed, the show was very good and a lot of fun to see. I hope to return for Streetcar or another show this season.
I am a huge fan of ballets, but would not have such a large appreciation for it if my sister was not a dancer. Nevertheless- I feel that people might have an idea that ballets/ operas are a bit boring, something that I possibly would consider if I had not gone to see so many productions of the Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, etc. The interesting part of ballets is that they must be designed in a way that is exciting and enthralling visually- we see the set, the dancer's movements, and must therefor interpret gestures and aspects that are being merely seen. Therefor, nothing excites me more than hearing about the "underdog" of the celebrated fairytales making its way to a ballet- the plot is so adventurous and the characters so definable that I cannot wait to see the story visually expressed, the sets, the costumes, the personas.
I saw this production and had a fantastic time. I was sitting far house left so I could see some of the fly system (though I'm not sure what exactly I was looking at since I have not grasp of how that works). I could also see a few technicians standing backstage, presumably to supervise and assist the dancers into the flying harnesses. Needless to say I was distracted from the dancing. (I'm not sure that was the intention, but I was satisfied nonetheless.)
Other than that, I loved the show. I was especially fond of Tinkerbell, and I thought that it was a very smart choice to choreograph her have a walk that "led with the heels." The crocodile costume was brilliant and the dog was charming.
One of my favorite things about being at Carnegie Mellon i sits location. PIttsburgh really does have a lot to offer. It's so exciting to actually be able to just go see a show on the weekends! I am definitely going to but tickets for PBT's upcoming production of Streetcar.
I'd love to see Peter Pan done as a ballet. I appreciate that the director emphasized so much on now the women of the show played an important role in the progression of the story. It was Peter himself that said "One girl is worth more than twenty boys!" I also like the spunkiness and attitude Tinkerbell brings to the production; she and Tigerlily have always been my favorite characters. I feel that this show will be highly successful because the story resonates with so many people from different age groups.
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