Reviews
The Snow Queen
With a gruelling Panto schedule behind them, the Hall For Cornwall team somehow found the energy to pull out all the stops to showcase this magnificent community effort. The Cornish Sinfonia, Duchy Ballet, Newquay and Truro Stagecoach Choirs and Ivybridge and Teignmouth Community Choirs presented two glorious stories with dance, music, song and film visuals.
The first half of this delightful late afternoon show brought us the much loved Cornish tale of The Mermaid of Zennor. Conductor and local musician, David Frost, composed the music specifically for Duchy Ballet's interpretation of the story and Kay Cecile Jones narrated as the dancers portrayed the strong ties between those who work on the sea and the fantastic creatures who reside in the deep waters below.
David Frost again conducted the Sinfonia for the main performance of The Snow Queen, with music composed by Paul K Joyce, who also produced the show. Normally a frightening and wicked tale this version was child friendly, but just as powerful and moving as Andersen's original. A recorded narrative by Juliet Stevenson relayed the story in both poems and prose, along with a backdrop of film displaying horrific frozen wastelands gradually melting away as the children of the story fight evil with innocent, but powerful, love.
With Hall For Cornwall's superb technical crew providing just the right atmosphere with lighting and sound, this was a community performance in every sense of the word and a lovely way to spend a Saturday evening.
http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=6421
What a cracker
So it was heartening to see a performance of such professionalism – from the choreography and performances to the staging and the wonderfully sympathetic lighting by Adam Honeyman – at the Hall for Cornwall on Saturday afternoon.
My budding ballerinas were so entranced by the production that it can only act as an inspiration to them.
The standard of dance schools across the county is second to none and the very cream of those young performers take to the stage on behalf of Duchy Ballet – and it shows; the dancing was exquisite.
Artistic director Kay Cecile Jones and guest choreographer Terence Etheridge, who have quite a roll call of dance experience between them, should be congratulated for their vision.
From the joyful festive scene of the Stahlbaum's Christmas party to the snowy wonderland of the journey through the forest, the sets were quite something. And unless the lady sitting next to me had a strange taste in perfume, the venue was given the aroma of pine, adding to the feeling of Christmas in April. Goodness knows we need a bit of cheer at the moment and the production of Tchaikovsky's classic gave it to us in spades.
All of the dancers were excellent but special mention should go to leads Naomi Solomon (Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen) and Owen Morris (Nutcracker Prince) – assured, measured and mesmerising, belying their youth.
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/cracker/article-3434717-detail/article.html