Submitted by Sir Joshua, Jun 4, 2007 06:47

Successful ballet productions depend on a myriad of details coming together flawlessly to produce an overall effect. Dancers don't appear before a cinematic 'blue screen' as they do in Hollywood today. The Boucher/Disney inspired sets of the present ABT production makes me yearn for Peter Martin's NYCB sets for their '90's production of Sleeping Beauty. Nothing can compare with a brilliant performance by Mr. Corella and his performance was of the character 'in full.' For the last 11 years Mr. Corella has been one of the pillars of ABT which makes me wonder why the odd Mr. McKinzie has not renewed his contract for next year. Paloma Herrer is usually a bit aloof so her performance as Aurora was in character. Seeing Gillian Murphy perform the role would have been perfection. Ms. Herrera is a tad unglamorous unlike Ms. Murphy who steps on stage and you know who the princess is. Not that Ms. Herrera's dancing is anything less than brilliant, but... This is one of those odd productions which actually makes the stage at the Met look 'undersized.' Granted, in operatic productions be it Cavalier Rusticana or Ancient Egypt, the Met 'becomes' the locale, but for Sleeping Beauty it made you wish you were dreaming this in a King Sized bed.

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