Review-The Merry Widow-Hong Kong Ballet
15-6-13
By: Leeann Bennett
My day didn’t start well. An old war wound flared up making me wince at every odd step, the wind twisted my umbrella, I stepped in a puddle and soaked my right foot. Wet, slightly bedraggled and none too happy I trudged into the Hong Kong Arts Centre and found my seat. I shuffled back my desire to stab somebody every time I had to stand to let an audience member pass me by to get to their seats. Thus was my mood as the orchestra began playing and somewhere between the rising of the music and that magnificent red curtain all my miseries were forgotten.
That is the power of the arts. Sometimes I think we forget why we watch or perform but it is that magical element in all arts when for a while we can forget the humdrum of our reality and be transported elsewhere. It’s all a mirage, an illusion, a façade that conceals the reality. But it has a noble purpose. One that elevates the mundane to something superb and takes the audience with it.
The Merry Widow is a story about a rich widow in a poor principality. She is looking for a new husband but, should she marry someone not from the principality, then all her wealth will leave it, leaving her country destitute. To that end, her countrymen decide to find her a husband of their choosing then unwittingly choose an old lover who once had to spurn her attentions because he was blue blood and she was not. Now that she’s rich she’s not that keen on taking him back because she can’t be sure he wants her or her money. Beside this tale is another tale also about love. An old baron is wed to a young and beautiful girl and of course she’s in love with a much younger man. The Merry Widow might be a century old but it still resonates because it’s about love and love is never easy.
If there’s one thing I love, it's attention to detail. Nothing is worse at cracking the essential façade than a small but irritatingly obvious mistake and Desmond Heeley did not disappoint with either the set design or costumes. Oh the fake yet believable chandeliers, the flags, the painted ballroom and garden, all with just enough magic to make me accept that it was real.
The dancers were beautiful of course. Ballet is one of the more ethereal performance arts and while the plebian in me enjoyed the part where superbly toned men in tights traipsed around on stage, I am not entirely whimsical and could look beyond the lean legs to the skills being displayed. Jin Yao danced the part of the Widow Hanna to perfection while Wei Wei gave a powerful performance as her love interest Count Danilo. The chemistry between Valencienne and her lover Camille was slightly more heated, played by Zhang Si Yuan and Li Jia-bo, Zhang in particular exuding a particularly youthful grace on stage.
When there is a story that must be conveyed without any dialogue, it is imperative that the music and the choreography speak volumes. The orchestra, led by Philip Ellis did a beautiful job in bringing Franz Lehár’s operetta to life and for the most part I did enjoy the choreography. However, I wasn’t quite as impressed by the choreography as I thought I would be. While for the most part it was good, it sometimes felt safe, almost ordinary, though the Can-Can was definitely fun.
Maybe it's because it was opening night but at times the illusion wavered as a handkerchief was dropped, steps faltered and sometimes the nervousness of the performers was conveyed in the tension of their bodies or wide eyed expressions. That isn’t to say the dancing was bad; these are seasoned professionals. One does not become a ballet dancer overnight and the dedication, tenacity and persistence is evident in the skill and strength on stage. However, while I must forgive the tiny little mishaps and even applaud the quick cover-up of a dropped prop, I noticed several little missteps and several times I found myself wincing in sympathy for the performers on stage.
Despite my nitpicking I don’t want people think it wasn’t a worthy performance. Yes, ticket prices are a little steep but this is not a frivolous show put on by weekend performers. The Hong Kong Ballet lived up to its reputation in giving a superb and mostly polished show. Ballet is not the easiest of art forms and even if I tend to be finicky I still enjoyed the show and heard enough tidbits from the audience to know I wasn’t alone in my evaluations. If you are feeling dark and gloomy (and in this weather it’s hard not to be) you can do worse then go see The Merry Widow. If the music and dancing doesn’t lift your mood, the visual whimsy and fancies definitely will.
The Merry Widow is playing at the Hong Kong Cultural Center through Sunday. For more information, click here.
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