DRACULA

THE ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE

 OCT 7 -OCT 16

Jonnathan Ramirez, Mario Labrador and Dana Benton (photo credit: Colorado Ballet)

THE COLORADO BALLET’S PRODUCTION OF MICHAEL PINK’S DRACULA IS EXPLODING ACROSS THE STAGE AT THE ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE FOR ONLY ONE MORE WEEKEND!

 

     Pink, who started out by winning huge accolades for his choreography in London’s West End, is the longest serving artistic director of the Milwaukee Ballet in history. He previously worked as repetiteur for Rudolf Nureyev at the Paris Opera as well as La Scala in Milan. From his incredible foundation in the classics, Pink has evolved and expanded the repertoire in fantastic ways.

     Breathtaking in its celebration of the eerie world of the vampire, Michael Pink has spiced up the repertoire beyond measure with Dracula and other contemporary ballets.    

     Pink’s narrative ballets such as Peter Pan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Picture of Dorian Grey as well as Beauty and the Beast have been given full length narrative compositions by British musical composer, Phillip Feeney. 

     This composer’s full-length orchestral score for DRACULA is sheer brilliance!  I raved about it so much after having seen this show multiple times a few years back, that a friend sent me the CD. 

     Conductor Adam Flatt and the Colorado Ballet Orchesta deliver Feeney’s spine-tingling and sometimes nerve-jangling score, to sensational effect! BRAVO!

     On the evening this reviewer was in attendance the principal dancers were all in fine form. (One regrets not being able to see multiple showings as the principal parts are shared by the excellent members of this burgeoning company.) 

     Dana Benton (Mina) and Mario Labrador(Dracula) danced exquisitely in their macabre pas de deux in Act III. Mind-blowing artistry spiked with an erotic charge! 

     In the show in which this reviewer was in attendance Renfield was played by Bryce Lee and Lucy by Jennifer Grace. Gregory K. Gonzales played Van Helsing and Jonnathan Ramirez portrayed Harker. 

     Each and all danced superbly!

     David Grill’s lighting design for this show is of inestimable value. The mood is everything in this show, and Mr. Grill really makes you feel the power of the full moon. (Grill has won five Prime Time Emmy Awards.)

    The set and costumes- especially that for Dracula - designed by Lez Brotherston, will take your breath away.

     The direction by Lorita Travaglia and Maria Mosina is artistry of the highest and best.   

     The standing ovation required the troupe to repeat the curtain call multiple times.

 

     Run, fly or slither to see this superbly danced and staged production now. 

For tickets go online at coloradoballet.org