Arts > Theatre

Casanova

Norwich Theatre Royal

04/04/17

You know you’re in for a treat when a Ruff Maker is credited in your theatre programme, Kenneth Tindall is the choreographer and it’s a ballet about about The Sexiest Man Of All Time (allegedly), Casanova.

I bet you’re all thinking now, who did that super song Casanova back in the 80’s? Well it was LeVert of course. Let’s all enjoy it now. 

Right, now I’ve got that out of my system, I can tell you about the ballet. It was brilliant, a moving painting of a piece, and the very best example I’ve ever seen of a complicated story with multiple characters being told clearly and efficiently through movement.

All I used to know about Casanova was that he liked doing it with lots of ladies in Venice. And that song by LeVert. But during this ballet I learnt he was also a scholar, with great intellectual ambitions. He also properly fell in love as well as doing it loads, and everyone thought he was brilliant fun from Marie Antoinette to ladies of the night because he was an all round top geezer who rose to infamy, fell from his pillar and then got right back up again. Hoorah!

The simple set consisting of gold pillars which moved about to represent churches, palaces, pubs and prisons was most effective, as was the lighting, the use of which was expertly done, leading the eye in subtle ways that scenery simply couldn’t. A live orchestra played an interesting accompaniment throughout, sounding more like a film score than traditional ballet music. It was beautifully done…epically emotional and tender and gentle at all the right times.

The costumes were ornate and splendid, with the suggestion of historically accurate full skirts, but not falling past the upper thigh. There were lots of bare chests, stockings and suspenders, leather-look skirts and black ballet shoes, masks, coloured lace knickers and corsets as well as the ruffs, and the wigs were stunning for both sexes. A feast for the eyes for sure.

Giuliano Contadini, lead soloist with the Northern Ballet did a bloody amazing job at Casanova. Striking in his appearance, the complex and intriguing character of Casanova really shone through in his portrayal, from arrogant to tender, furious to confused, he showed us all aspects. And the fact that he was on stage for virtually the entire show was a real feat of endurance.

The women in this ballet were wonderful, from cross dressers Henriette and Bellino, both of whom Casanova really falls for to the filthy M.M, an aristocratic nun dressed in pure white who convinces our hero to do her on the table whilst her voyeur-priest-boyfriend peeps through a screen and gets his rocks off. It was all so glamorous, and exciting, and corrupt and energetic.  The dances which were suggestive of sex were very classily done indeed, athletic, sensual and full of emotion and lust. Being able to represent double penetration, gay sex and threesomes in dance is probably not easy (not that I've ever tried) but they did a fine job indeed, not offending any of the olds or young un’s in the audience I expect, certainly getting me pretty hot under the collar and also convincing me to go buy some fancy new knickers.

The work, research, care and time that has gone into creating this masterpiece really shows from beginning to end. It’s sexy, classy, innovative, beautiful and informative and a reminder, as if we needed it, of the joy of sex. Well done to everyone involved. Go see it and give them another standing ovation like we did last night.