“The Sleeping Beauty” is a familiar fairytale, but Boston Ballet has found a way to make it feel new.
Set to a Tchaivosky score and choreography by ballet master Petipa, Fairy Carabosse (Erica Cornejo) is annoyed that she has been left out of the christening celebration of Princess Aurora (Misa Kuranaga). She gives the child a spindle as a gift, announcing that she will prick her finger on it and die. But not so fast — the good Lilac Fairy’s (Lia Cirio) gift to the princess is that she not die, but fall into a deep sleep until she is awakened by a Prince’s (Jeffrey Cirio) kiss.
This show has a lot of personality. The Lilac Fairy is a bold, fearless leader; the Songbird Fairy (Sylvia Deaton) shows a lighter funny side, the Golden Vine Fairy (Dalay Parrondo) means business. Carabosse is wickedly wicked — a character you love to hate. Kuranaga did her homework and captures all things pure and innocent about Aurora.
For a grandiose, romantic story ballet, the staging and music is delicate and inviting, as opposed to the Wang Theatre performances from several years back. An entire cast is bouncing and floating onstage, but all you can feel is the tremendous energy of the dancers and the silence around them. It’s as if Boston Ballet is putting on a private showing for your eyes only. And that is the way a ballet should be experienced.
SPOILER ALERT
The ballet is long — two hours and 45 minutes. Act III moves quickly, but is more of a celebratory section with other fairytale characters and a Grand Pas de Deux, since the climax of the storyline (the kiss) is at the end of Act II.
Boston Ballet presents “The Sleeping Beauty “
Through April 7
The Opera House
539 Washington St., Boston
$39-$142, 617-695-6950
www.bostonballet.org
