REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast, Northern Ballet, Mayflower Theatre
By Tara Russell
IT is a tale as old as time – so the song goes – and when one of world’s most famous fairytales was brought to life by the Northern Ballet last night audiences were left spellbound.
This enchanting version of Beauty and the Beast boasts exquisite ballet, superb dancing, an infectious score played live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia and a dazzling set of designer costumes.
The result is something so magical, the whole family will love the show, even those who don’t normally count themselves as dance or ballet fans.
Choreographed by artistic director David Nixon OBE with music by Saint-Saëns, Bizet, Poulenc, Glazunov and Debussy, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of a vain and superficial prince. Transformed into a beast as punishment for his arrogance, his only chance is for love to break the spell.
The audience at Southampton’s The Mayflower were transported on a journey into a world inhabited by colourful fairies, goblins and sprites – at one minute laughing at the amusing touches and the next leaning forward in their seats to soak in every mesmeric moment.
The set is simply stunning, cleverly switching from opulence to poverty to the beast’s atmospheric lair.
Beauty and the Beast has become so synonymous with Disney it’s easy to forget the dark side to the original tale but this production embraces those elements.
Ashley Dixon, who plays Beast, moves around the stage in a remarkably animalistic way as he wrestles with his inner anguish and agony.
This is brought out in a captivating dream sequence pas de trois, in which Beauty and the Prince dance a rapturous love duet while the Beast bounds around them in despair.
But like all fairytales, love conquers all and everybody leaves smiling after a spectacular finale.
Last night director David Nixon revealed he would be returning to Southampton in September next year with the world premiere of The Little Mermaid and the sought-after tickets are now on sale.
But in the meantime, this is one not to be missed.
Beauty and the Beast runs until Saturday, December 3 and tickets are still available.
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