An update on the original story with Prince Siegfried marrying Odette but never losing his love for the Baroness von Rothbart who was married with two children. Odette became so distressed that she was committed to a sanatorium where with her spirit broken she sought escape in a frozen dream where swan like maidens would calm her fevered mind.
A production in three acts with Act 1 dealing with the romance and wedding. A well set stage all in white with a pool to the rear which was used as an outside pool at the rear of the garden set and in other scenes was used as the lake of the swans and centre to the finish of the production.
Rachel Rawlins was Odette giving a superb performance both as a soloist and a pas de deux and pas de trois. Matthew Trent was Prince Siegfried giving a stirling example of the ballet art.
Annabel Bronner Reid was the Baroness von Rothbart who tried to remove Odette from Prince Siegfried's attention. The three artists gave great portrayals of ballet balancing each other to perfection and well received by the Melbourne audience.
Act 2 was the original with the corps de ballet and the four cygnets danced by Camilla Vergotis, Gina Brescianini Catherine Eddy and Leanne Stojmenov. A good performance of a time honoured piece. The guardian swans were danced by Jane Casson and Lana Jones who both added to the high standard of the evening.
At the wedding party entertainment in Act 1 was the Hungarian dancing. The lead couple giving a good ballet adaptation of a Hungarian folk dance were Gina Brescianini and Joshua Horner.
Act 3 went back to the garden of the palace where Odette returned and Prince Siegfried realised what he lost. A dramatic and high standard of the dance by the company.
A bonus to the production with Rachel Rawlins being promoted to Principal Dancer.
Review from PK Theatre