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Precious is a new-style weepie but one that is much more bracing than depressing
Precious
Theatre
Ian McKellen is captivating throughout. He delights in the play’s gallows humour, yet is also maudlin and poignant
Waiting for Godot
Theatre
Slight quibbles notwithstanding, this will set the West End’s stock riding high
Enron
Utterly, utterly brilliant. You really are in for a treat
Though 'Trilogy' has won rave reviews, I personally found myself exasperated after about an hour
We went on a quiet sunday evening and the food was excellent, but the experience let down by the service and ambiance
London,
Sarah Frater's rating
Reader rating
The paradox of ballet is that while its dancers have the bearing of kings, their eyes show the heart’s true longings. You see it in Alina Cojocaru, the Royal Ballet’s tsarina who continues her tentative come-back after a year or more off injured. Cojocaru has royal lines and precision placing yet in Diamonds it was her soft gaze that spoke of trust and love and the gossamer gallantry that ballet portrays because we do not.
Her duet with the much improved Rupert Pennefather to the Andante elegiaco from Tchaikovsky’s Third was the poignant highlight of Diamonds, with Diamonds the highlight of Jewels, George Balanchine’s three-act masterpiece recently acquired by the Royal.
Jewels is usually called a plotless ballet in that it has no story except for the story of ballet itself from France’s romantic sylph (Emeralds) to Russia’s classical swan (Diamonds) to America’s modern-day cheerleader (Rubies). It’s also looks deceptively easy, which is a roundabout way of saying that those who dance it can only be tip-top.
The Royal looked confident in Diamonds but less so in Rubies and Emeralds. Rubies is easy to like. It’s a jazzy, playful piece to Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, with the dancers as much native New Yorkers as classical dancers.
However, Alexandra Ansanelli lacked control, and Laura McCulloch looked over-stretched. Carlos Acosta was his appealing self but the corps were uncertain.
Likewise in Emeralds, although Leanne Benjamin was excellent in the so-called walking duet, and Valerie Hristov, Bennet Gartside and Steven McRae made an effective trio in the closing promenade.
In rep until 19 June. Information: 020 7304 4000, www.roh.org.uk
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Laura McCulloch was a revelation. And Alexandra Ansanelli was indeed superb.
- Bob Daniel, Northants
IMO the reviewer is plain wrong; Alexandra Ansanelli's dancing was superb and undoubtedly one of the highlights of the evening. She was also excellent in the Diaghilev Gala on Sunday night and will be sorely missed.
- Guy Cavendish, London, England
I would say Ansanelli stole the show.
- Mary Barnstable, London UK
Hear, hear!
Alexandra Ansanelli was 'tip-top'.
But, Ms Frater has never liked Alexandra Ansanelli
- Bill Boyd, London
IMO Alexandra Ansanelli did not "lack control"- Balanchine would have loved her fearless approach. She took a lot of risks but pulled everything off brilliantly.
- Natasha, London
