Fiona Gordon: Bovim Ballet presents a brand new ballet, Romeo’s Kiss, for their latest season.

In a departure from the choreographer’s recent explorations of musical genre, he makes a return to the narrative. Using as the basis, the age-old story of Romeo and Juliet, the ballet explores unmentionable subtexts, within the traditional roles featured in the story, in a way that resonates as real. Kirsten Isenberg’s sweet Juliet embodies the playful innocence of youth, to Casey Swales’ lithe Romeo – their lines complementing one another as if they were made to dance together. Their successful characterisation is further echoed in the intensity with which the sharp and dramatic role of the lascivious Lady C (Tanya Futter) and the emotion of Devon Marshbank’s Mercutio, are portrayed.

Sean Bovim’s signature style takes classical ballet technique, and combines it with modern music and movement influences to produce works which are accessible to an arts-educated audience, but have popular appeal. Amongst some ‘old favourite’ moves his following may recognise, there are some heart-wrenching solos and breathtaking partnerwork, but it is the thought and multi-layered consideration of the theatrical experience that gives this production its edge. He retains his strong musical base of influence, with use of the music of The Beatles, incorporating some of the Prokofiev score – an interesting choice, which works better than expected, except for the long pauses between numbers which interrupt the flow of the production. The team of Craig Porter, and KLûK & CGDT lend their creativity to costume the ballet. While many of the clothes are beautiful – aesthetically appropriate with attention paid to detail, it seemed like more than one of the boys was restricted in his movement by the tightness of his pants.

A highlight of the first act was the ballroom scene, which certainly had sparkle, if not quite the sense of spectacle it might have done with multiples of the number of dancers on stage. The same applies to the debaucherous hen- and stag- ight scenes, which end in a successfully spine-chilling bar brawl. Time will allow characters to develop further, and dancers to become more familiar with the movement, and the resultant depth and polish will take this rigorous yet poignant telling of this tale of love and loss, to another level.

Romeo’s Kiss runs at The Baxter Theatre in Cape Town from 25 – 27 June 2010. Tickets are from R120 and can be booked through Computicket, with performance times of Romeo’s Kiss adjusted to accommodate 2010 FIFA World Cup Fixtures taking place in Cape Town.

Fiona Gordon
fiona@artslink.co.za

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