A Night of Personal Triumph for Batkhurel Bold
It was never going to be easy for the PNB to follow Director's Choice, the breathtaking hit with which they began 2010.
(Directors Choice should be your choice as PNB starts with a winner)
However, they made a worthy attempt at continuing the high standard of entertainment with this evening of Twyla Tharp works.
The opening number Opus 111 started slowly and took a while to grip the imagination of the audience. When it did however, it was a strong finish.
A live string quintet accompanied the piece but the star of this piece, as he was of the whole night, was the excruciatingly elegant Batkhurel Bold. Batkhurel was in his element with Tharp and whenever heads turned, they turned to him and because of him. He has been rising in his prominence in the company for some time, but reached a peak of excellence with his every movement.
Ariana Lallone was perhaps the eye catcher of the female performances in Opus 111 but there was something extra special to come.
A punk rock outfit with fishnet tights may not be everyone's idea or ideal even of a night out at the ballet - but forget a night out, Chalnessa Eames was a knockout.
With her clenched fists displaying anger alternately at the audience and at her excellent partner Jonathan Poretta, this Chalnessa grasped the audience and simply refused to let go.
Olivier Wevers is the third dancer in the 'street scene' part of Afternoon Ball and portrays a classic foil to allow emotions to be contrasted. As if to mock the complete grasp she has of our imagination, Tharp then introduces Ariana Lallone and Jeffrey Stanton clad in classic ballroom attire. We are eating out of Tharp's hands at this point. She has us truly mesmerised.
Ms Lallone and Stanton's organised and classically delivered pas de deux contrasts magnificently with the anarchy Eames, Stanton and Poretta had portrayed.
Waterbaby Bagatelles is probably the most delightfully named piece the PNB has performed for a while. However from the first second, you're swept from the notion that this is going to be a cutesy orgy of bubbles and babies, by a row of bright fluorescent lights that create a the feeling of a ceiling.
The height varies through the piece and one is briefly convinced that these are reminiscent of the lights that seem to live only inside a fish tank or aquarium, as the aquatic life moves elegantly around the obstacles placed therein.
Batkhurel Bold is to the fore once more as he is surrounded by a bevvy of bathing beauties, one presumes the waterbabies of the title.
There is some parody here as the ladies lampoon the beaming stars of those early 1920s movie extravaganzas with enormous fake smiles, and even faker swimming strokes. The PNB is doing satire with increasing regularity in 2010, and I for one, love it.
With the run close to an end, All Tharp is well worth an impromptu decision to go to the PNB and be entertained. And probably mesmerised too.
ALL THARP Plays through November 14, 2010
Box Office Now Open - 206.441.2424
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