Royal Ballet/Opera etc. etc. at Beckenham Odeon

I don't know how many people have realised this, but it looks as though Beckenham Odeon are getting quite involved with the Odeon Plus scheme, which involves showing (occasionally live) broadcasts of various arts events, plus the odd gig, sports event and so on, basically things where people might not be able to get tickets for the venue but would still like to see the performance/game.  Looking at the Odeon website, I see a whole load of operas from various parts of Europe, plays from the National Theatre and so on.  I don't know how many of these will be shown at Beckenham, but they do seem to be getting involved at least with the Royal Opera House's attempt to broaden access to their performances: there's a showing of La Bohème from the Royal Opera in March, and I hear there was a performance of The Nutcracker which I missed back in December.

Next Monday, 22nd February, though, is something a bit different: the Royal Ballet in Sir Kenneth MacMillan's "Mayerling", which was recorded last autumn (and happens to feature a Bromley-born dancer in the lead role, no less!).  If you thought ballet was all pretty-pretty tutus and pink tights, this one will probably come as quite a shock, and it's certainly not for children despite the PG certificate, because it contains some pretty adult themes – drug addiction, rape and murder, to name just some.  It's based on actual events, and traces the last few years in the life of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire back in the late 19th century: a downward spiral through the oppression of an enforced political marriage, political intrigue, the hypocrisy of the court, a government which spies on its citizens, a corrupt and decadent society, adultery, whoring, syphilis and the resultant morphine addiction - perhaps not so different from our times after all? - ending in a despairing suicide pact with his teenage mistress.  Doesn’t sound like a barrel of laughs, true.  But it is an incredible piece of dance theatre, and the role of Crown Prince Rudolf is one of the most challenging in the repertoire for a male dancer: half-a-dozen different ballerinas to partner, in probably some of the most daring choreography ever created, the stamina needed to carry the ballet (he’s onstage for almost all of it) and the dramatic ability to convincingly portray the mental and emotional collapse of a human being.  Fortunately, Edward Watson has all of that, and is ably supported by a committed cast, and I’m hoping that the film will have managed to preserve the atmosphere in the theatre during recording.  It certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s an excellent example of just how far ballet can extend beyond the clichéd view which many people have of it. 

If you’re interested in finding out more, the nice ladies at The Ballet Bag blog have put together a useful page, which includes links to the Odeon booking page and the Opera House’s own page about the cinema broadcast: http://www.theballetbag.com/2009/06/22/mayerling/