Snow White

A New Age Homage to an Age-Old Classic!

By David Simmons

The Brothers Grimm fairy tale of the naïve princess who falls into the trap of the evil queen comes to life in the 2017 Joburg Ballet production of Snow White. If you’re waiting for the part where those 7 quirky Dwarves are mentioned, think again, as this Ballet is a total reimagining for a brand-new generating of theatre goers!

It’s so encouraging to see the Joburg Theatre once again holding the flag high for another expertly produced and cleverly choreographed offering. Having said that, one needs to applaud and tip our figurative hats to Iain MacDonald, the Artistic Director for Joburg Ballet, who not only produced and staged Snow White with Lauren Slade but choreographed the production for an all-round visually and memorable indulgence.

Iain has effortlessly created a magical wonderland on stage that intertwines storytelling through dance, with the usual plies, pointes and pirouettes carried out by an exquisite company of eloquent professionals. Not being backed by a live orchestra should not deter you from experiencing the enchantment that Snow White offers. The pre-recording of music by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich was flawless, and for an opening night when you expect the usual technical and staging difficulties, there were none to be seen or heard.

Our story starts in a Kingdom far far away, where we are introduced to the evil queen, played by the breath-taking Kitty Phetla, her courtiers, and not forgetting the beautiful and eloquent Snow White, lead by soloist Nicole Ferreira- Dill. The Royal Huntsman portrayed with aplomb by newly appointed Brazilian dancer Leusson Muniz, successfully ignited a rich and charming tapestry for the classic story that we have all come to love. The production is as innocent and lovely as Snow White, yet it holds a certain enchantment that will captivate you in its fairy-tale snare. The beautiful stage design by Andrew Botha breathed life into the story of good versus evil in an effective, yet understated way. The backdrop was digitally enhanced, incredibly successful for fast scene changes, and a colourful witnessing of Snow White in true 3D cinema experience!

The Ballets shining star was Phetla who although was not in every scene, her solo performances were remarkable in every sense. Ferreira-Dill’s Snow White was delicate and charming with an innocence befitting her creative influence.

In a world so politically correct MacDonald has explored a new take on Snow White. He has cleverly dished the ‘Dwarves’ and introduced us to the ‘Forest people’. Forget Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Bashful and Sneezy. We are presented with a new bunch of eccentrics fittingly named Coma, Cough, Cranky, Coach, Cuddles, Casanova, and Clumsy, 7 of the most endearing, loveable and eclectic characters you’ll get to meet. You almost feel you’re in a pantomime watching these labourers, hard at work, stealing the heart of Snow White and audience members alike. Added to the mix are friends of Snow White and the forest people, dancers morphed effortlessly into their animal counterparts each movement so convincing it’s as if you’re watching the real thing.

Having never missed a Joburg Ballet production over the years I can positively say that Snow White has been one of the most endearing and beautifully put together ballets yet. It’s common knowledge that our standard of theatre and ballet in South Africa is high, and being able to support locally produced productions makes a 2-hour visit to the Joburg Theatre meaningful and incredibly heart-warming. With equal doses of drama, comedy and romance, I hope you will find joy and a touch of magic in this impressively composed ballet.

Snow White The Ballet will be running at the Joburg Theatre until 22 October 2017. Tickets are available at Webtickets or at the theatre