Birmingham Royal Ballet: Don Quixote Review | The Lowry | Manchester
- Frances
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Armed with a bed-leg, a wooden horse and a faithful servant, Don Quixote breaks out of the page to dance in the streets of Spain with the help of Birmingham Royal’s free-spirited revival.
Streamlining the sprawling 1605 novel into a quirky side-quest, the ballet follows an unwanted love triangle between the charismatic Kitri (Beatrice Parma), her playful boyfriend Basilio (Enrique Belgravia Vidal) and the wealthy Gamache (Jonathan Payn) injected into the mix by Kitri’s father. While the storyline puts The Don in a timeout, this theatrical production overflows with impressive characters, stunning choreography and beautiful set pieces that build Don Quixote into rich and enchanting world you want to explore.
After the wannabe knight, Don Quixote (Dominic Antonucci) kits himself and his trusted squire, Sancho (Alfie-Lee Hall), out for a new adventure, the two ride through Barcelona hoping to rescue Don’s imagined lover. As the large ensemble cast pantomime and pose as villagers, original choreographer Marius Petipa and revival choreographer Carlos Acosta combine forces to bring the colourful and bustling Spanish marketplace to the Lowry audience. Birmingham Royal’s production is enriched by the strong personalities of its ensemble cast, dancing in the street with performances from a group of matadors, a kidnapped Sancho and a bewitching fan dance from Kitri.
Despite bringing communal festivities and a relaxed atmosphere to this fun and flirty ballet, Act One is drawn together with deceptively effortless, athletic performances. A leaping Basilio and twirling Kitri alongside the pirouettes and castanets of the side characters are all performed under The Royal Ballet Sinfonia, with original music from Ludwig Minkus that draws you into the action.
After the penniless Basilio fails to convince Kitri’s father, Lorenzo (Rory MacKay) that he and Kitri are rich in love, Lorenzo brings in a wealthy match for his daughter to marry. Forcing the couple to escape the watchful eye of her father and escape into the woods for a second act of disguises, rebellion and impressive projected set pieces. The production’s darker Act 2 delves into Don’s dream sequence, giving us a glimpse into his mind, his love and his fight for justice that leads him to confront a giant/windmill on stage. This fantastically creative revival displays all the tricks and showcases the grandeur you would expect from a Birmingham Royal production.
Miguel de Cervantes 1869 classic has been reworked into an enthralling ballet production, with a finale act that blends traditional techniques with a contemporary eye for style. Acosta’s ambitious choreography brings an explosive finale that rewards Don’s journey with a plethora of showboating and tricks from the ensemble cast partnering as Kitri and Basilio’s guests. Performing a technically demanding fandango, the focused and fiery storyline ends with the guests of honour’s pas de deux that commands attention from their show-stopping chemistry and precision.
Don may find himself taking a backseat in his own production, but this charming ballet is a romantic journey, in which you will want to retrace your steps. Offering audiences a fresh angle on the classic that results in a sweet and hilarious quest, Birmingham Royal’s Don Quixote is all about glamour and valour.
Tickets are available via the Lowry link