Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella at the Lowry Theatre, Salford
Review by Cecilia C Walker
When you say ‘Matthew Bourne’ most ballet-lovers smile knowingly – wasn’t his Swan Lake the most exciting interpretation ever?
So it is with great anticipation we set off to the Lowry in Salford on a chilly Tuesday night to see whether his Cinderella is just as magical!
Set in London during the Second World War, Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of Prokofiev’s haunting score has, at its heart, a true wartime romance and the story is most moving. A chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being parted by the Blitz – what’s not to like?
The set design by Lez Brotherston takes us right back to London in the 1940s, with bleak silhouettes of St. Paul’s peering amidst the rubble.
We then fast-forward to a glittering ballroom at the Café de Paris where our humdrum Cinderella emerges as a glamorous Rita Hayworth look-alike to be romanced by her dashing RAF officer.
The dancing is elegant, stylised and blends perfectly with the Prokofiev music. Shades of Brief Encounter, air wardens gliding across the stage and a Cruella de Vil evil stepmother make this production a must, see for anyone who appreciates the Arts.
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella is on national tour until May at various venues. For details visit www.new-adventures.net