A sold-out Regent Theatre audience was transported to a magical fantasy world, updated to modern relevance, in the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s spectacular Cinderella.
Choreographed by Loughlan Prior, with music by Claire Cowan and recorded by Orchestra Wellington, spectacular set and costume design by Emma Kingsbury, lighting design by Jeremy Fern, visual effects by POW Studios, this production of Cinderella brings a wild and exciting new vision to a classic fairy tale.
The always wonderful Mayu Tanigaito inhabits the role of Cinderella, as she progresses from downtrodden household drudge to a woman with the strength to rescue herself.
Her partnership with Laurynas Vejalis, as the Royal Messenger and love interest, develops through a series of beautiful duo dances, brilliantly executed.
Joshua Guillemot-Rodgerson is equally engaging as Prince Charming, with his own path to love becoming clear in a moving and heartfelt duo with Shae Berney as Prince Dashing — one of the highlights of the ballet.
Making the most of their roles as the villains of the piece, and providing much of the ballet’s comedy, are Ana Gallardo Lobaina as the spiky, vicious Stepmother, and Sara Garbowski and Kirby Selchow as the bumbling, out-of-control step-sisters. All three are fabulously entertaining.
Clytie Campbell is suitably imperious, with a dash of mischief, as the Queen, and Paul Mathews does sterling work as Cinderella’s ill and under-siege father.
Adding to the fun are Kate Kadow, as the Fairy Godmother, and her delightfully camp team of stylists the Fab Five, performed with relish by Matthew Slattery, Shaun James Kelly, Dame Axtens, Kihiro Kusukami, and Calum Gray.
The ballet company is joyously busy throughout Cinderella, dancing variously as mannequins, the royal court, eligible maidens, a fencing party, ballroom guests, and tapestry weavers.
Local children also get their chance to shine in several delightful dance sequences.
The cheers and foot-stamping audience response summed up a thrilling night at the ballet. Bravo!
