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‘Midsummer’ continues Bard series
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WITH Hamlet the moody Dane just making his exit, a ballet production of Shakespeare’s comedy classic “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be prancing into the Shanghai Grand Theater. The shows are part of an ongoing series commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death.
Le Ballet Du Grand Theatre de Geneve will perform the show, with performances scheduled for tonight and tomorrow. The production’s choreographer, Michel Kelemenis, describes “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as a fascinating fairy-tale for adults, one filled with both weirdness and emotional depth.
The show’s music includes works from 19th-century German composer Felix Mendelssohn, such as his incidental music for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and String Octet in E flat.
“Mendelssohn’s incidental music for the play was merely a 30-minute piece, which is insufficient for a ballet. Kelemenis chose another piece of the same composer as a supplement, which helped contribute to a two-part ballet show. The first half is more fairy-tale like, while the second part is grander, and more realistic in style,” says Grant Aris, Ballet Master of Le Ballet Du Grand Theatre de Geneve.
But while the show’s producers had to extend the music, they also had to condense the play’s complex plot into a 90-minute ballet while still maintaining its themes and spirit.
To simplify the character relationships and keep the cast at a manageable level, Kelemenis combined certain characters. For example, the Elf King, an original character for the show, is a composite of Puck and Cupid.
In addition, the choreographer also cast male dancers in female roles in the theater, a practice common in Shakespeare’s lifetime.
“In the 16th century, when Shakespeare wrote the play, women were not allowed to perform on stage. Everybody knows that Juliet was played by a man first. And in this show, we also have a man with beard and wig playing a woman, as a way to keep that touch of the history,” says Aris, “I think the beauty of contemporary dance lies in that we can take aspects (of an original work), not just the whole copy.”
Also happening at the theater tomorrow and Sunday is a special Shakespeare-themed event featuring a market, lectures, concerts and a Lego workshop. Visitors can also reserve a spot to watch a rehearsal of the show tomorrow.
Date: April 22-23, 7:15pm
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater
Address: 300 People’s Ave
Tickets: 80-880 yuan
Tel: 400-106-8686
Visit www.shgtheatre.com for more information.
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