Now regarded as a classic, this is the third time that Matthew Bourne’s SWAN LAKE for his New Adventures company has been filmed – in this case , it was the revival for the Christmas season last year at Sadler s Wells.
First seen in 1995 , it is still as brilliant, startling and moving as ever. At the time it was revolutionary and cutting edge, a period when an anti virus drug for AIDS had just been discovered and fear was still rampant .From its starkly dramatic opening it is a dark, timeless love story of love, death and rigid control. Oedipal/Freudian undertones can also be read into the narrative .
There have been some slight changes and streamlining for those familiar with the work and Lez Brotherston’s designs. The Girlfriend’s pink dress has been slightly toned down, there are no cars or paparazzi as the VIPS arrive for the ball, there is no ‘young Prince’ to start and end the work, the world weary fan dancer/ stripper at the Bar is now in blue.
There is a lyrical recurring visual motif in this production of a large flying swan designed by Duncan McLean. There are still touches of acerbic humour (with the corgi as one example) and the hilarious night out at the Moth Ballet.
Bourne’s choreography is as breathtaking and demanding as ever. The rigidly repressed life of the palace is represented by repetitive, stylised movement.
The now famous Corps of male swans, barefoot in their feathery leggings, are both dangerous and vicious yet beautiful, at times , sculptural, with undulating arms and they move in strong, powerful blocks of movement. (The thumping ‘Cygnet’ pas de quatre is still a cheeky delight).
Our somewhat Hamlet like hero the Prince ( Liam Mower, one of the original stage Billy Elliot’s) is unhappily trapped in the rigidly controlled life at the palace. He is stressed and emotionally fragile from the beginning, full of aching, unfulfilled need .
The pas de deux at the lakeside for the Prince and the Swan changes from a first startled, rather dangerous meeting between the two to a subtle, intimate understanding. The Prince discovers his true self , what he wants and who he really loves .
In the male version of Odette/Odile The Swan / Stranger, Will Bozier is charismatic and compelling, yet menacing and dangerous. As both Swan and Stranger he is rapacious and somewhat taunting. As the Swan he is beautiful and rather aloof, – or is he ? He is feral– a touch of otherworldliness perhaps? As the sexy, dashing, confident, leather clad Stranger, representing the life the Prince dreams of, full of machismo and lasciviousness, he struts in and takes over the ball and mesmerises the Queen.
The ditzy, unsuitable Girlfriend was magnificently played by Katrina Lyndon. Is she or is she not in cahoots with the Private Secretary, and does she have a crisis of conscience? Another updated contemporary in-joke is her matching pink mobile ringing in the middle of the Moth Ballet.
The evil, intimidating, controlling Private Secretary who manipulates everything (the villain of the piece the von Rothbart role) was chillingly played by Glenn Graham.
The icily repressed Queen was elegantly, coldly played by Nicole Kabera. Does she despise her son? One gets the feeling there is a volcano of emotion hidden underneath.
This was a glorious revival of this much loved classic.
Running time 130 minutes.
New Adventures production of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake screens at selected cinemas from 6 July 2019