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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
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I went into this production blind to what the story was about, sometimes I enjoy having a clean slate, no preconceptions of what something will be like. It’s always frustrating when the lead role is not played as you expect it to be. Obviously I’ve heard of Streetcar Named Desire and there’s a movie and the original play by Tennessee Williams, but I’ve never actually seen either. I did not really know what the story line was and I wonder if the lady next to us knew because her son seemed a little shocked at some of the content. I mean there is suicide, promiscuity and probably rape included. It’s not a happy tale and there are some very hard hitting topics included.
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As usual the Scottish Ballet put their life and soul into their performance. The choreography (by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa) is amazing, the sets are outstanding, the orchestra flawless, and the ballerinas are just an awe provoking mix of flexibility, muscles and freedom of movement. In one scene I am trying to watch each of them do their magical contribution to the scene but just cannot take it all in, they are just fabulous movements.
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I don’t want to give too much away but when the main character’s house fell down I think we all got quite a shock. The set for this is quite fantastic and the way the items in the rubble converted to being used as the set pieces. They were moved around accordingly, it was very cleverly done. At one point there’s an array of dancers coming across the stage each carrying a box and they just seem to keep going and going and suddenly you realize that they’re taking boxes away from the back so that one of the characters is walking along a platform which just keeps growing as he moves forward. It’s set management at its most beautiful as everything is moved by the dancers themselves as they swirl their legs around and do what dancers do.
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Principal Marge Hendrick dances the role of Blanche as we follow the sorrows that life throws at her, she flitters from man to man, always haunted by the death of her husband. She ends up staying with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley (danced by Evan Loudon). I wish I had the body confidence to be on stage in such scanty outfits, but then I do not have time or conviction to train as much as they obviously have to. The resulting scene is breath taking in a number of ways and leaves lasting impressions as the audience leaves the theatre enthralled.
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The Scottish Ballet are known for fantastic performances and this is not an exception. Although the story line is very dark there is such beauty brought to it through the ballet and the music that this really is unmissable. Luckily for us it is in Aberdeen all week and then off to Edinburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway.
Further information: https://www.scottishballet.co.uk/event/a-streetcar-named-desire
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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