Don Quixote - The Royal Ballet

It's been a while since I have "put pen to paper" so to speak, not lack of seeing things, more a lack of inclination!  Anyway, last night I went to see the Royal Ballet's new production by Carlos Acosta of Don Quixote <<http://www.roh.org.uk/>>

My biggest gripe is that it is a long evening - three acts and two intervals (Prologue/Act 1 - 51 minutes, Act 2 - 32 minutes, Act 3 - 36 minutes).  It is - of course - to allow for big scene changes, but some of the scene changing still overlapped into the action (each time the 'town' appeared).

Really the story is of little consequence, the whole evening is a showcase for the skills of the dancers.  You don't worry about what is going on as there is too much to watch and marvel at - the audience last night loved it all!  Our two leads were very good.  Iana Salenko was a spectacular Kitri, full of poise and grace.  Steven McRae's Basilio was full of fire and passion.

All the other principals worked hard and had a good time too.

The packed auditorium lapped it up.  Me, I think I could have done with it being somewhat shorter and less of an introduction to the dancers of the Royal Ballet.