BWW Reviews: MKE Ballet's CINDERELLA Glitters with Classic Romance

The age-old story of a cinder girl disdained by her step family but destined to change her life to glitter and gold arrived at the Milwaukee Ballet's when Cinderella closed the season. This enchanting fairytale envisioned by Artistic Director Michael Pink captivated the audience with romance and some exaggerated humor courtesy of Pink's choreography and his casting--And the accompaniment by the 50 piece Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra under the direction of Pasquale Lurino gave Sergei Prokofiev's legendary score exceptional nuances to entrance the audience.

Pink's Cinderella places an emphasis on a delightful connection between the motherless child, a stunning Luz San Miguel, who needs protection from her father's remarriage to a stern stepmother and her two daughters (look closely) and a houseboy Jack, a guardian angel in disguise played by the athletic Marc Petrocci. In one of Jack's solos, the boyish Petrocci does a circles of grand-jetés that leaves him and the audience breathless while the duo's several pas de deux's throughout the production create charming dance chemistry.

In the ballet's second and third acts, Alexandre Ferreira's Prince elevates Cinderella to the status her kindness deserves at the Royal Ball or after the Prince carries her into the woods when he discovers Cinderella as the owner of the glass slipper left behind at midnight. The shimmering pointe shoe covered in more than 205 sparkling sequins brightly shines on stage for everyone to admire. Ferreira shines, too, when he performs s series of pirouettes to demonstrate his regal prowess, and for Ferriera and Miguel's ethereal moments when her waltz length gown shimmers during delicate lifts and pointe work.

These magical moments contrast Pink's casting the two stepsisters as men--Timothy O'Donnell and Patrick Howell on opening night. Their enormous physiques contrast Miguel's fragile waif-like Cinderella to dramatize their spoiled behavior against Cinderella's grace. Their comic abilities as well as their ballet skills were on display to the delight of the theater, and there's some especially wonderful scenes when a coterie of dressmakers and dancing teachers try to prepare them for the Prince's gall.

To add to the fairytale splendor, Cinderella's ghost mother, a glamorous Nadia Thompson, appears as the fairy godmother and leads her to the forest where the corps de ballet and four splendid couples, dressed as the Spirits shoe present Cinderella her gifts, her dress, shoes, coach and horses, and the "hours," twelve cleverly dressed dancers who represent the enchantment will end at midnight. A spectacular set of scenes and dances integrate Milwaukee Ballet students with magical effects by the award-winning lighting designer David Grill, and Cinderella's magnificent lighted carriage appears.

In between the three acts, a visit to the Ballet Boutique on the second floor exhibited the Ballet School Art Project. Each student decorated a pointe shoe for a special contest separated by age group winners. Ava Babler and Kiva Carmen-Frank infused their toe shoes with incredible creativity, while Pink continues to create ballet productions where these students can grow in classical dance skills while participating in these grand performances. Over the summer, ballet and dance classes continue at Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy throughout the Milwaukee area, one of the largest in the nation where the students prepare for the upcoming season and their own performances at the end of May: The Adventures of the Cipollino on May 30 and 31 at Whitefish Bay High School

Children and adults of all ages enjoyed laughing in-between the tender enchantment of romance while they reveled in Pink's Cinderella. The timeless interpretation of this cultural classic that when performed to multiple generations continues to glitter with the legacy of the little cinder girl, a seemingly forlorn little girl. A girl who persevered through her obedience and kindness, and ultimately forgiveness, when she invites those who treated her poorly into her royal happy ever after.

The Milwaukee Ballet begins next season with Michael Pink's Dracula on October 22, 2015. For more information on the Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy, the Acedemy's The Adventures of Cipolino (brownpapertickets.com) or season subscriptions for 2015-2106, please call: 414.902.2103 or www.milwaukeeballet.org

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