Cinderella

If you’re looking for an opulent fairytale to take your kids to then you can’t go past Queensland Ballet’s revival of Cinderella. Originally staged at the beginning of Li Cunxin’s tenure as artistic director of Queensland Ballet five years ago, this version of the classic tale by Ben Stevenson ticks all the right boxes - magical transformation scenes, sumptuous and glittering costumes, and exceptional dance.

Laura Hidalgo was porcelain perfect as the young scullery maid who gets whisked away to the ball and finds love. Innocent yet alluring, she danced with fluidity and élan. Alexander Idaszak was the epitome of everyone’s idea of a Prince, handsome, lithe and captivatingly romantic. Their second-act pas de deux was a spectacular showpiece of classical dance.

Star of the night however was Camilo Ramos as the Jester, in a performance that encompassed somersaults, back-flips, and incredibly energetic moves. The Ball Scene was his canvas and he continually painted it with athletic impishness.

Rian Thompson and Jack Lister were comic gold as the ugly sisters. Thompson channelling his delicious Widow Simone performance in La fille mal garde, and Lister, throwing off Koschei’s malevolent Firebird cape, and kicking his heels up and acting the fool. Their broad physical comedy sequences were the hit of the show.

Spreading fairy-dust was Georgia Swan as a perfect Fairy Godmother. She brought strength and superbly controlled poise to the forest glade scene, helped by some fine work by the seasonal fairies and dragonflies.

The stage pictures, with falling autumn leaves and winter snow, added a ton of enchantment to the scenario. Royal Blue was the dominant colour in Tracy Grant Lord’s costumes which looked resplendently regal at the ball amongst Thomas Boyd’s baronial wood-panelled inspired set.

Prokofiev’s ravishing score sounded wonderfully rich and lush as played by the newly named Queensland Festival Philharmonic Orchestra (basically an augmented Queensland Pops) under Nigel Gaynor’s assured baton.

The world’s most popular fairytale has never looked or sounded better.

Peter Pinne     

Photographer: David Kelly