DVD/150: MANON (Ross McGibbon, 2018, tv)

Kenneth MacMillan's 1974 ballet of the notorious novel of lost innocence was greeted with critical disapproval but remains an audience favourite and was filmed during it's 2018 revival.

MacMillan wanted a new production to showcase both his stars and the Royal Ballet ensemble and the tragedy of Manon proved ideal.

Convent girl Manon meets student des Grieux at an inn and - obviously - fall in love immediately.  They flee to Paris as a rich man, Monsieur GM, approaches Manon's brother Lescaut offering money for her...

Despite her affection, Manon is enticed by Monsieur's riches.  This sets in motion a chain of events that lead to the high life but also transportation and death.

Any difficulty in emotionally engaging with the relentlessly shallow characters is offset by MacMillan's breathtaking choreograpy.

Sarah Lamb is sparkling but remote as Manon and Vadim Muntagirov matches her intensity in the couple's wonderful three pas de deux.

Shelf or charity shop?  Def shelf. Although the characters are never sympathetic, MANON is a wonderful tribute to the genius of MacMillan.  The supporting cast include classy performances from Itziar Mendizabel as Lescaut's salty mistress, Gary Avis exudes menace as Monsieur, and James Hay shines as the lead beggar in the opening scene.  Sadly Ryoichi Hirano is fairly one-note as the conniving Lescaut, his 'drunk' dancing in the brothel scene has been done better.  What is remarkable is that although Jules Massinet wrote an opera based on MANON, MacMillan chose to use a whole new score based around other music by the composer; it was done so skilfully by Leighton Lucas that you would never guess it was not a proper score.

DVD/150: NUTCRACKER! (Ross MacGibbon, 2003, tv)

Conceived in 1992, Matthew Bourne revised his version of Tchaikovsky's THE NUTCRACKER in time for this 2003 filmed version, capturing the production's pink perfection.

Bourne starts his version in a dismal orphanage run by Dr Dross and his awful family; the children have meagre Christmas decorations and presents only when the Governers visit, when they leave the presents and decorations are snatched back. 

Clara wants her Nutcracker doll back but discovers he has become alive and transforms into a handsome version of the boy she likes - our hero helps defeat the Dross family and helps the children escape.

But the Nutcracker becomes besotted with vain Princess Sugar - Sweetieland's version of Dr Dross' daughter - and Clara attempts to win him back.

But in Sweetieland you're only as good as you taste - gossipy marshmellows, rowdy gob-stoppers and a lascivious Knickerbocker Glory make Clara discover her hero where she least expects him.

Shelf or charity shop?  A definite sugar-coated shelf.  I have seen NUTCRACKER! twice on stage and this is a lovely reminder of the production's invention and wit.  The production should have been playing at Sadlers Wells this Christmas but for the bloody COVID pandemic; it would have brought Bourne's version up to level pegging with the Royal Ballet's production which I have seen three times.  One shouldn't compare the two of course - Bourne's choreography is frustrating at times when you know how the music can be interpreted classically - but NUTCRACKER! certainly has more laughs than the Petipa version and immortalised here are some fine performances: Etta Murfitt as Clara, Alan Vincent as the Nutcracker (I saw him perform the role onstage in 2007), the late and great Scott Ambler as Dr Dross / King of Sweetieland and Arthur Pita as the licky Knickerbocker Glory.  It also serves to remind you of Anthony Ward's eye-popping design!