Brisbane review - The Lady of the Camellias: a production of the highest quality
By David Wilson
Choreographer Derek Deane OBE
Assistant to Choreographer Ivan Gil-Ortega
Composer Carl Davis
Scenery and Costume Designer Adam Nee
Performed by the Shanghai Ballet
5 - 8 December 2024
Lyric Theatre QPAC
Tickets range from $65 to $200
Based on the landmark 1848 novel by French author Alexandre Dumas, this tale of forbidden love and tragedy has inspired countless stage, operatic and film productions, including the feature film and award-winning musical Moulin Rouge!, and Verdi’s opera La Traviata.
The story follows Marguerite Gautier, regarded as the most beautiful and brazen courtesan in all of Paris and known as The Lady of the Camellias as she is never seen without her favourite flowers. In 19th century France, she discovers and falls in love with Armand, a young and handsome bourgeois, and embarks on a passionate but ultimately doomed romance. We follow Marguerite’s journey, from the most sought after woman in France to outcast, through a series of memories of her life, to her tragic death.
In a season exclusive to Brisbane, Queensland Ballet has partnered with the brilliant Shanghai Ballet which is renowned for its classic masterpieces and contemporary ballets.
The very appreciative opening night audience was transported to 19th century France through a magnificent combination of exquisite set design, elegant costuming and sophisticated choreography, providing the perfect platform from which to showcase the wonderful performers.
In every respect, this is a production of the highest quality and the performers themselves are outstanding. The staging was a masterpiece. At times, the audience was absolutely transfixed by a solo on an empty stage, and at other times in awe of the almost overwhelming magnificence of the full cast in full flight, with brilliant use of the excellent corps de ballet.
Based on audience reaction, there were a number of standout moments. The start of Act 2 was particularly compelling, with the full stage a magnificently opulent ballroom, central to which was a gigantic mirror that not only seemed to magnify the overall sense of grandeur, but also almost magically focussed attention on the technical precision of the performers. There was also a subtle use of effects throughout, both physical and digital, which cleverly aided the storytelling and added to the spectacle without competing with the wonderful performers.
As expected, the performers themselves were absolutely brilliant: individually excellent, collectively magnificent. The classic and familiar tale appeared fresh in their care, and their personal investment in this very limited, exclusive production is obvious.
While the entire cast was wonderful, the principal dancers were magnificent. QI Bingxue embodied the central role of Marguerite Gautier perfectly, with her achingly beautiful portrayal of the dying French courtesan the standout of the evening. Her subtly nuanced performance was captivating from beginning to end. WU Husheng was magnificent as young bourgeois Armand Duval, Marguerite’s devoted yet rejected lover. His committed performance was both powerful and elegant, and the on stage connection between the two was most evident in the wonderful scene at the Opera where the character’s gazes meet across the theatre. ZHAO Meici gave a brilliant performance as Marguerite’s rival Olympe, adding much life to the overall production.
The beautiful yet tragic story of The Lady of the Camellias is sensitively and elegantly done in this exclusive, limited series production brought to you by Queensland Ballet and performed by the Shanghai Ballet and I thoroughly encourage you to see it.
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