PBT's Giselle

This is going to be a habit.  When I see a show, I review it.

So, I've been excited to see this show for a while.  Thursday, at dance, Giselle was on everybody's minds, including Mr. A, who had us do ponchés and pirouettes with our arms across our chest, like the Willies.  Yesterday, the day of, I mentioned it at Little Mermaid rehearsal.  KR was jealous, and LB asked, "What is a Giselle?".  And a minute later, "Oh wait, isn't she that princess from Enchanted?"  Me and KR had to explain Giselle to her afterward.

The show was incredible.  The moment the curtain opened, and I saw the set, I knew that it was going to be a good show.  The costumes were all perfect, and beautiful.  But the dancing was the best of all.  This show was another reminder that the best dancers are in ballet.  The opening peasant dance at the beginning was so together, but they were doing jumps that I know from experience are far from easy.  The choreography shined, and the acting was great.  The man who played Hilarion was so good for his part, and the Giselle and Albrecht were incredible as they worked together.  When Giselle went crazy, you could really tell she was going crazy, and her death was incredibly dramatic.

Of course, then came the famous second act.  When the willies first entered with the veils over their faces, chasing Hilarion, you were freaked out.  And when the willi queen did her solo, it was amazing. But the best part was the entire group of willies.  They were so together, legs at exactly 90 degrees, right on the counts, arms exactly the same as everyone else's.  Plus, the acting was again great.  The final scene, at dawn, was extremely moving, when Giselle had to return to her grave.  The audience would not stop clapping.  In fact, the leads even came through the closed curtain to take a second bow.

Overall, it is one of the best shows I have ever seen.  I ran into IR after the show.  We agreed, "Yeah, we do those steps in class, just not all at once."  You really have to work hard to be in professional ballet.  If any one of those dances would have been done in a broadway style show, the crowd would have been in thunderous applause right after the number.

The only thing I don't understand is why PBT waited eight years since the last time they did the show.  I hope they don't wait that long again.

-NM