nothin' I can see but you

[pensnest]

I found my way, somehow, to kat_lair's Carpe Diem prompts challenge. Today's, here, are based on "Monday's Child is fair of face" and suggest we focus on something, or someone, beautiful, for a fic, or on a beautiful thing we've seen or experienced, in order to squee.

I've been bereft of ficwriting inspiration for a while, but I can squee, so I shall. About an experience from... probably not far off twenty years ago, but still memorable. I haven't talked about this for a long time, so I'm going to say a little bit about the most moving experience I've ever had at the theatre.

It was a ballet. This is out of character for me, as I'm really not interested in ballet, and not particularly interested in dance. But this was the Matthew Bourne choreographed Swan Lake, which I had caught glimpses of at my parents-in-law's house—MIL was a big fan of ballet. And I happened to notice it was on, at Sadler's Wells, in time to obtain tickets, so I dragged my family thither.

'twas amazing. I'd never expected it would be *funny*, but so much of it was! The Girlfriend with her non-U ways, dropping a Maltezer, letting her phone ring. Some of the opening scene, with the little-boy Prince being put semi-automatically into his clothes, poor little lad. The 'disco'.

I had, more or less, expected there to be moments of beauty in there, and there certainly were. The swans, with their feathered trousers, were a bit silly, but when The Swan came on, wow. The courtship, the passion, just gorgeous.

The swaggering, sexy Black Swan, in leather, ready to seduce all the maidens and matrons including the Prince's mother; the Prince's misery at seeing it, and at being laughed at. And the really heartbreaking ending, with Prince locked up as a lunatic, being comforted by the Swan, then the attack by the other swans and the Prince's agony. There was so much in there, I can't remember all the thoughts/feelings that filled my head as I watched it—it was a swirling process of insights and emotions. I say it filled my head, but in many ways I think the performance bypassed my head and all the logic and reason I could muster, and went straight to my heart.

I sobbed. Not figuratively, I actually sobbed, it hurt my chest, great deep uprushes of reaction. I've never had such a response to a piece of art before (or since).

I've seen the ballet again - I went twice more, when it was on in Milton Keynes, and discovered that while The Swan is the beautiful one who dances like an angel, it is the Prince who breaks your heart. One of these two Princes broke my heart, the other didn't, I don't know why.

But I would strongly recommend this ballet, particularly if you have a place in your heart for slashy, passionate tragedy. It is beautiful.

Comments

[smallhobbit]

I love Matthew Bourne's ballets. I saw Swan Lake at Sadler's Wells a few years ago and watched it on TV over Christmas. I know just what you mean about the tragic prince.

[pensnest]

I think I've seen one or two of his others, but this is the one that really gets to me.

[stranger]

The Bourne Swan Lake might be the best updated, re-realized fairytale I've ever read or seen. The swan sequences all seem like dreams to me -- maybe the Prince was never sane, and dreams up love for himself, but he can't keep it in waking reality.

[pensnest]

That's an interesting and entirely plausible interpretation, indeed. I can absolutely see that.

[yarnofariadne]

I haven't yet seen his Swan Lake, but I enjoyed his production of The Red Shoes!

[pensnest]

I urge you not to miss it, if you get the chance to go!

[frausorge]

I haven't seen Swan Lake, but that sounds like a truly amazing production, to draw your response with such immediacy!

[pensnest]

Absolutely! It is available on DVD, with the luscious Adam Cooper as The Swan, but doesn't have the *power* of seeing it live, of course. Definitely worth seeing, if you get the chance.

[kat_lair]

What a beautiful and evocative description. I've seen most of the performance but only on TV but I do remember it being gorgeous and tragic and occasionally indeed hilarious.

[pensnest]

The live version I saw was even funnier than the DVD, I think they add little touches every so often.

[turps]

James has always wanted to see a ballet, but we worried that they would be too high-brow I guess, and we'd be left confused. But it sounds like that shouldn't be a worry if you watch live.

I love your descriptions. Slashy, passionate tragedy. Sold.

[pensnest]

I have tried to watch some of my MIL's and FIL's classical ballet DVDs, but I have to admit, I am just bored by them. I think in general it speaks a language I just don't get. This one, I enjoyed because it was plainly not in the classical mould - the male swans being the most obvious thing, but some of the dancing gets quite un-ballet-like at times too!

PS thank you for the unicorn card! <3

[pensnest]

So - if you wanna see a ballet, try something from Matthew Bourne's New Adventures company. Also, smallhobbit has an amazing little collection of video excerpts on their blog for Tuesday.

[wenchpixie]

Oh this is wonderful ♥ yes. Just wonderful

[pensnest]

Not sure if you mean the swans or my reaction, but either way, yes. :-)

[watervole]

Wow!

[turlough]

It sounds like a fantastic experience!

[pensnest]

Yes, indeed. I would never have imagined that I would enjoy a ballet so much that I would buy tickets to see it twice more! I have the DVD, so when we can manage to get you here for a visit we can watch it together.