Morning:
13°c
London faces a wave of bus and Tube strikes that could cause chaos for millions of passengers as unions walkout over pay and conditions
More...
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
The show has suddenly become quite wonderful, and the galvanising factor is the terrific stage debut of Melanie C
Blood Brothers
Music
The British pop music industry may be eating itself but if Muse are the pick of what it can offer the world in 2010 then British music is in rude health indeed
Muse
I was smitten by both Gilberts enormous luxuriant moustache and the intelligence and nuance of this highly entertaining play
I totally recommend Babbo to anyone who is looking for really good and traditional Italian food
Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
Sarah Frater's rating
Reader rating
Description: Adolphe Adam's romantic story about the pirate's love for a slave girl.
Trains: Tube: Leicester Square/Charing Cross 
, Tube / Bus: 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 53, 77a, 88, 91, 139 
Phone: 0871911 0200
Website: www.eno.org
Email: access@eno.org
Fancy dress and flashy moves: slave girls and pirates provide great eye candy
To avoid seeming too peachy it’s usual for critics to mention a few reservations about a show before running amok with applause. It’s quickly done with Le Corsaire, which is no more than two‑and‑a-half hours of fancy dress and flashy moves — the Strictly Come Dancing of ballet with a comedy plot and a mongrel score.
Indeed, so many composers had a hand, it would be easier to say who wasn’t involved than who was.
Having got that out of the way, I can breathe easy and tell you that American Ballet Theatre’s Corsaire will make you choke with laughter at its roistering improbability.
ABT doesn’t beat around the artistic bush but romps right through this silly story of pirates kidnapping slave girls and another lot kidnapping them back, with shipwrecks, sleeping potions and curly-toed slippers all part of the pre‑Johnny Depp pirate panto.
Unusually for a big 19th-century ballet where the women have the best moves, Le Corsaire has four meaty male roles. Our hero Conrad (Marcelo Gomes), his friend Birbanto (Carlos Lopez), their slave Ali (Angel Corella) and the bazaar owner Lankendem (Herman Cornejo) career around the stage with lavish panache.
There’s little about the choreography to shade character or reveal motive (fist shaking is as good as it gets) but why worry with such eye candy?
The women are as good, with the heroine Medora (Gillian Murphy) and her friend Gunare (Ziomara Reyes) knocking off double, triple, and what I think were quadruple pirouettes.
Anyone wanting finesse should avoid this ballet; likewise those with concern for authentic costuming and stylish beards. And I should report that the corps was only so-so.
Not that this should stop us. Le Corsaire is not often in London, and unalloyed jollity should not be missed.
Until 4 April. Information: 0871 911 0200, www.eno.org.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
ABT's Corsaire marks the welcome return of this roistering ballet to London. And, if you like ham with your pyrotechnics, you'll love it. After a relaxed Act I, the Company discovers an infectious Russian joie de vivre that permeates the rest of this joyous work. Some of the technical feats were quite outstanding (Ms Murphy's whizz-bang turns and Mr Corella's corkscrew pirouettes constantly rousing the whole house to cheers of admiration and gasps of disbelief) and, in Marcelo Gomes, we witnessed (as in his Von Rothbart) an awesome charisma allied to unfailing technique. For more of the same, check out the remaining performances and try, if
you can, to catch ABT's Cuban superstar in partnership with Ms Murphy on Saturday evening. His matinée-idol looks and technical finesse in the virtuoso role of Ali should prove to be a highlight of a fun-packed evening of stylish dancing from a Company whose current season has been all too short.
- Clive Burton, London
Corsaire by ABT was an amazing experience. The technicality of the dancers was mind blowing. I have been going to the ballet for 40 years and I can honestly say I have never seen anything quite so brilliant. The dancers as well as being highly technical, had an wonderful lightness and a pefect line that was heart stopping. The mime was clear and excellent too . All in all we couldnt believe or luck as we had £10 travalex tickets. We clapped until we dropped.
- Ann Thomas, London UK
