Cinderella, Birmingham Royal Ballet

For your inner five-year-old, a gorgeous Christmas treat

by Judith FlandersThursday, 25 November 2010

Cinderella: 'There is so much right with this ballet, so much to admire'Bill Cooper

Fairy-tale ballets are a bitch. We all grow a mental image of what is “right” when we are about five, and then woe betide anyone whose vision is different – because of course it isn’t different, it’s “wrong”. So David Bintley and his designer, John Macfarlane, are up against audiences chock-full of preconceived notions. And I’m happy to say, after BRB’s premiere of their new Christmas show last night, they passed my inner-five-year-old test with flying colours.

This is not the pantomime-dame nagging and pushing of most knock-about Cinderellas – this is child abuse

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Permalink Submitted by Maurice C (not verified) on Sat, 27/11/2010 - 11:24

Couldn't agree more..the evening is a joy!I have never heard the music played so well and the audience is gripped throughout.I rated the sisters performances higher......especially Carol Ann Miller(superb comic dancing in the first "fat lady "role in ballet???). The whole Company danced their socks off and the design is wonderful.Cannot remember when I ever heard cheers at a first act curtain before...they were well deserved.

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Permalink Submitted by Alice (not verified) on Sat, 27/11/2010 - 16:30

You made me want to see it. But hang on: you praise Prokofiev, but there isn't a single mention of the conductor or the playing. Even Maurice C in the first two lines of a brief message manages to say more. And this isn't unique in the world of ballet critics.

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