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Paris Opera Ballet: A Midsummer Night's Dream

This document summarizes and reviews a performance of George Balanchine's ballet "A Midsummer Night's Dream", based on the Shakespeare play, by the Paris Opera Ballet. It describes how Balanchine was able to turn the unconventional comedy into a classical ballet through his choreography. It discusses the sets, costumes, lighting and music for the performance. It then summarizes the plot and classical structure of the ballet. The reviewer is left questioning why the Queen of the Amazonians marries in the ballet.

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183 views2 pages

Paris Opera Ballet: A Midsummer Night's Dream

This document summarizes and reviews a performance of George Balanchine's ballet "A Midsummer Night's Dream", based on the Shakespeare play, by the Paris Opera Ballet. It describes how Balanchine was able to turn the unconventional comedy into a classical ballet through his choreography. It discusses the sets, costumes, lighting and music for the performance. It then summarizes the plot and classical structure of the ballet. The reviewer is left questioning why the Queen of the Amazonians marries in the ballet.

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Jessica Welch

Paris on Foot 2017


Julie Kerr-Berry
4/15/17
The Paris Opera Ballets A Midsummer Nights Dream

A Midsummer Nights Dream was originally a play written by the poet and playwright

William Shakespeare. The content of the play mainly that of a comedy, was one of the most

unconventional to be turned into a full length classical ballet. However, George Balanchine took

the challenge of turning a comedy into a ballet on, and with his choreographic genius and romantic

aesthetic, was able to turn this unconventional ballet into one of the most iconic ballets in history.

The performance of Balanchines ballet by The Paris Opera Ballet featured live music performed

by the Orchestra and Chorus of the National Paris Opera. The set, which enhanced the mystery

and whimsy of the subject matter with its dark forest tones and fairy-like fancy was created by

Christian Lacroix, while also created the gossamer costumes many of the fairies wore. The lighting

designer, Jennifer Tipton, also helped to bring life to the story by creating light and airy lights that

still moved the dialogue.

The Ballet was put together very classically. It followed many of the same protocol that

other great ballets, such as The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake follow. It begins with a group of

fairies to set the scene, much like the opening village scenes found in many other ballets. Following

this is the inciting incident of the story, the argument between Oberon and Titania, the king and

queen of the fairies, over a small Indian changeling they both want for a servant. This leads into

the ridiculous antics of Puck, Oberons right hand man, as he attempts to steal the Indian boy, use

the aphroditic juice of a hermaphroditic flower to make Titania fall in love with a drunk who has

the head of a donkey, and trying to make all of the confused greek men fall in love with the right
greek woman. With so many tasks set to him, its no surprise that he failed at one of his tasks.

Instead of making Demetrious fall in love with Helena, he makes Hermias lover, Lysander fall in

love with Helena. Puck, being so happy with his work, summons his master to show him, only to

find that Helena loves Demetrious who still loves Hermia who loves Lysander who loves Helena.

In the end, of course, everything works out. Puck uses the flower to correct his wrongs, Oberon

lets Titantia out of her delusional love of the donkey man, who is also returned to his natural state,

and Hermia marries Lysander, and Helen marries Demetrious. The wedding between the loves

takes place with a small Grand Pas Des Deux for each couple. The epilogue shows Titania and

Oberon forgiving each other, and Titania gifting Oberon with the Indian boy. I believe that the

intent of the Choreographer, as with most classical ballets, was to tell a story as well as possible

while using gorgeous movement vocabulary.

After watching this ballet I was left with only one question; why does he Queen of the

Amazonians marry the rich duke? She is the ultimate woman, who not only vowed never to marry,

but also should directly hate all men. The only solution I can come up with myself is that

Balanchine included this simply to strengthen the patriarchal view of society.

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