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Show Ballet West Presents Romeo and Juliet by Calvin L. Harrington Forum staff writer Ballet West will present Romeo and from February 1 6 to February 24 for eight performances at the Capitol Theatre. The choreography is by Michael Smuin and the music was composed by the great Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev. William Shakespeares early tragedy dealing with youthful lovers whose families are implacable enemies has been a favorite theme of the ballet world for many years. The appeal of the young hero and heroine is such that they have become, in the popular imagination, the representative type of J uliet star-cross- ed lovers. By coincidence, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Russian premiere of Prokofievs ballet. Prokofiev considered Romeo and Juliet to be one of the summits ofhis artistry. The ballet was first produced by the Russian State Ballet (the Kirov) in Leningrad in 1940 with choreography by Leonid Lavrovsky. Galina Ulanova danced the lead role. It was first presented in America by the Bolshoi Ballet in New York in 1959 (again with the great Ulanova as Juliet). Some of the worlds greatest choreographers have given us numerous versions of Romeo and Juliet and they have varied substantially in treatment and detail. Some of the many choreographic versions with Prokofievs music and their world premieres include those of: Dimitri Parlic (Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1948), Margarita Froman (Zagreb, Yugoslavia in 1949), Sir Frederick Ashton (Copenhagen, Denmark in 1955), Serge Lifar (Paris in 1955), John Cranko (Stuttgart, Germany in 1958), Kenneth MacMillan (London in 1965), Yuri Grigorovich (Paris in 1978), and Oscar Araiz (New York in 1987). , An Anthony Tudor version with a Frederick Delius score is frequently performed. If that is not confusing, in addition to these, there are at least seven different choreographic versions of Romeo and Juliet with the music ofPeter Tchaikovsky alone. A decision to replace the Lavrovsky version with the Grigorovich version almost caused a revolt within the Bolshoi a few years ago. Hugh Laing and Rudolph Nureyev were famed Romeos, while both Alicia Markova and Margot Fonteyn rivaled Ulanova as memorable Juliets. The roles of Mercutio, Tybalt and Benvolio have also been considered to be great touchstones for male dancers. The Ballet West version, choreographed by Tony Award winner Michael Smuin, was first performed by the San Francisco Ballet in 1976. Smuin was bom in Missoula, Montana and came from a theatrical background. His parents were active in community theater. As a youth, Smuin took tap lessons, won two amateur his wife Paula Tracy, who was also a dancer, and the rest is history. He has created over 25 works for that company. His Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest have been viewed by millions on television. He directed and choreographed the smash Broadway musical, Sophisticated Ladies which brought him more than sixty offers to direct other shows. The famous British critic and editor, Peter Williams said, The game of love and death is the theaters trump card, and Shakespeare was no fool about what made good theatre, the rules of which have varied little in any language from the threshing floors of Greece until the present day. Prokofievs original plan was that this dance drama should have a happy ending, with Juliet resurrected in her tomb; audiences were appalled at anyone tampering with Shakespeares plot and after much criticism, the composer abandoned the idea. John Hart, Ballet Wests artistic director said, Of all balletic versions of Romeo and Juliet, perhaps this is the one most suited to our company. The work has beautiful, tragic and humorous ' many moments. Obviously, Utah audiences agree. The Utah Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Denis de Coteau for this production. Monsieur de Coteau is music director of the San Francisco Ballet and held that position when Smuins version of Romeo and Juliet was first conceived. The eight performances are scheduled as follows: at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 16, 17, 21, 22, 23 and 24, with 2 p.m. matinees on Feb. 17 and 24. There will be a free Romeo and Juliet symposium on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. sponsored by the Salt Lake Ballet Guild at the Capitol Theatre. Dance historian Adrienne McLean will discuss the history of the ballet and afterward, those attending the symposium will be treated to a performance of the second half of this ballet (dress rehearsal). For more information, contact Ballet For tickets contact the West at 364-434box office at 3. 533-555- 5. boxing championships and regularly entered rodeos. At age fifteen, he won a scholarship to study dance at the University of Utah. When the San Francisco Ballet was on tour in Salt Lake City, he was invited to join the company. There he met Pioneer Theatre Company Presents Shakespeares Play Comedy of Errors slapstick and laughs are born out of the chaos created by two sets of twins in The Comedy ofErrcrs one of William Shakespeares funniest Farce, side-splitti- ng plays. Pioneer Theatre Companys production of The Comedy of Errors opens in Salt Lake City Feb. 14 and runs through March 3. The comedy deals with mischance and mistaken identity as the Antipholus twins, separated in infancy by shipwreck, are brought together again unknown to each other. The possibilities for confusion are multiplied by the presence of the Domios, twin servants of the Antipholus twins. Although The Comedy of Errors is not complicated by social criticism or philosophy, under an avalanche of improbable actions run the themes of identity, loss and recovery. Pioneer Theatre Company Artistic Director Charles Morey if directing the cast of 21 actors. Bob Kirsh, the Musketeer Porthos in PTCs highly acclaimed production of The Three Musketeers earlier this season, is back from New York to play the part of the Antipholuses. He most recently appeared show titled in a new ay Beautiful Soup. Comedian extraordinaire John will Guerrasio, whom theatre-goer- s remember from PTC productions of Charleys Aunt, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Noises Off, Room Service" and Amadeus, plays the twin servants. Guerrasio, who played the Chico Marx character in The Man Who Came to Dinner, also portrayed Chico Marx this past year in the musicalMinnies Boys at the Florida Repertory Theatre. Other cast members include Patrick Page as the Duke Solinus and Richard Mathews as Aegeon, the father of the Antipholus twins. Both Page and Mathews are highly skilled Shakespearean actors who have established themselves as favorites with Utah audiences. Issue 16 February 13, 1990 Also appearing in this production are Kate Skinner, Bonnie Black, Jayne Luke, Sandra Shotwell, Michael Ruun, John Tillotson an Frank Gerrish. . Skinner, who is making her Lees Main Stage debut, most recently played Olivia, opposite Kelly McGillis, in Twelfth Night at Folgers Shakespeare Theatre. She has also appeared in theatres across the country, including Lincoln Center, the Wilma Theatre, the New Mexico Rep, and Seattle Rep. Blackis back at Pioneer Theatre, where she previously appeared as Ophelia in Hamlet and as Hernia in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Luck and Shotwell are both well known local actresses. Shotwell has appeared in many regional productions, toured internationally with the American Conservatory Theatre and teaches drama at the University of Utah. Luke is a choreographer and the Artistic Director of the Sundance Summer Theatre as well as experienced actress in regional theatre. The Comedy ofErrors set was created Pioneer Theatres Resi dent Set Desi gner by George Maxwell, who also designed West Side Story this season. Lighting is by Resident Lighting Designer Peter Willardson, who most recently lit The Three Musketeers. Elizabeth Novak, PTCs former resident costume designer and current member of the design faculty at the University of California at Irvine, is back as the guest costume designer for The Comedy ofErrors. PTCs production stage manager, D. Dale Dean, is calling the show. The Comedy of Errors runs Monday through Saturday at 8 p.m. until March 3. Low-price-d Saturday matinees begin at 2 on Feb. 17, 24 and March 3. p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 is Twin Night at the theatre. That evening, Pioneer Theatre tickets, as Company is offering well as a chance to win prizes and free theatre tickets to St. Joan, to twins only. two-for-o- ne Formoreinformationandreservations, call the box offices at 581-696- FEBRUARY 1 6 T II - 2 4 T II Let us sweep you into the pageantry, romance and violence of Shakespeare's drama in Michael Smuin 's acclaimed Romeo & Juliet, set to an unforgettable score by Prokofiev. Tickets available at the Ballet West Box Office and Smith's Tix. (533-555-5) Student tickets $4. JOHN HART ARTISTIC DIRECTOR KSLcSS 1. Forum Page 7 |