| Show Ballet West est presents Giselle K j a MM I Angle Angie Millgate Arts Editor by John Hart DIRECTED t Ballet West's presentation of Giselle is dramatic and filled with emo emo- tion Hart has stated I believe Giselle to to-be to be period a piece in which theme them setting setting setting set set- ting music and choreographic style all belong to the Romantic era f and it is without doubt the I greatest of all classical bal bal- lets J- J Giselle a ballet with a history history history his his- tory of being performed continuously continuously continuously con con- for the longest period of time is presented J to Utah by the talented Ballet y West troupe Giselle is th the story of a ayoung ayoung young peasant girl Giselle who falls in love with a man named Loys She is betrothed to Hilarion and in ina a fit of jealousy Hilarion blurts out that Giselle's newlove new newlove newlove love Loys a presumed peasant is Duke Albrecht of Silesia and betrothed to Bathilde After her first denial of the truth Giselle flies into a fit of rage and on the edge of insanity she throws herself on Loys' Loys sword killing her her- self Act II brings us into the forest beside Giselle's tomb c At midnight the Wilis Wills Wills- ghosts of betrothed girls fond of dancing who died I before their wedding dayrise day dayrise dayrise day day- rise from their graves to capture capture capture cap cap- ture the nearest male and dance him to death Albrecht comes to mourn I her death and Myrtha queen of the Wilis Wills summons all the restless spirits to rise and entrap the man Giselle fights the battle on Albrechts Albrecht's behalf to save his life Exhausted from the dance he falls to the ground near ear death just as the sun begins begin to rise The morning destroys the Wilis' Wilis power to d destroy stroy and Albrecht is s saved ved At the he last moment Giselle leaves Albrecht alone and I with with a poignant gesture of farewell she returns to her grave Giselle who can no longer love in this world has saved Albrechts Albrecht's life so that he may return to his world again and marry the Princess Bathilde The rending heart-rending ballet comes across dynamically with the talented efforts of our professional ballet troupe All dancers strong and matchless are superior The scenery by Peter Cazalet is of exceptional workmanship It gives the sense of depth and reality From the village to the forest at midnight the scenery accomplishes the desired effect David Heuvel created the delightful costumes His use of muted browns and simple clothing for the peasants was wasa a striking contrast to the dramatic and vibrant colors and elaborate dress of the royal party The show runs through Nov 17 and each performance performance performance mance has a different couple in the roles of Giselle and Albrecht Also in the cast are Bene Arnold guest artist who has been with Ballet West since the late and Bruce Caldwell who has been with the company since 1968 w 94 II- II Pr If Ii I- I wy IP r 6 i f Y S M k 1 4 r w sr w b v o y r F r jK C CN r N Ballet West will perform the classical ballet Giselle through November 1 11 |
