Don Quixote

Reviewed by Paula Citron

Don Quixote
National Ballet of Canada
Restaged by Lindsay Fischer and Evelina Krasnova (after Nicolas Beriozoff, Alexander Gorsky and Marius Petipa
Four Seasons Centre
Mar. 9 to 13, 2011

Don Quixote is classical ballet on steroids. The National Ballet of Canada’s production has been newly beefed up by Lindsay Fischer and Evelina Krasnova. Don Q (as it is called in the trade) is now dance overkill in the Russian imperial style.

Although the ballet is called Don Quixote, the main roles are Kitri and Basilio. The Don helps the young lovers to a happy ending.

Classical Russian ballet has a formula. Kitri and Basilio get a first act pas de deux, and a killer in the third. There are a whopping 14 secondary roles that allow artists of the ballet to show their classical chops.

Those 19th century Russians loved the female corps de ballet in tutus. This ensemble is gerrymandered into the storyline by virtue of the Don’s second act dream.

A company needs strength in the ranks to pull off a Don Q, and the National covers itself in glory.

Don Quixote continues at the Four Seasons Centre until Saturday.