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SCENE IT: GISELLE, a dark forest fairytale at Maynardville
- Maria Kearns
- Jan 21
- 1 min read
Maria Kearns
If you’ve ever thought going to the ballet under the summer night sky would be a magical experience, allow me to confirm your suspicions.
Cape Ballet Africa's production of GISELLE found a gloriously appropriate setting among the trees of Maynardville Park this week as part of the Maynardville Open-Air Festival's 70th summer programme.
The experience of watching the likes of Mia Coomber, Gabriel Ravenscroft, and Jan Kotze perform Maina Gielgud's folk-inspired choreography approached transcendent levels at times as the stars twinkled high above and the Cape Town breeze instigated its own dance through the dreamy folds of the costumes.
Special mentions go to Maryana Pobuta & Caio Tardelli for their enchanting pas de deux, to the high-quality recording of Adolphe Adam's beloved score courtesy of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, and to the expertly designed lighting that so inobtrusively enhanced the fairy tale in the forest clearing.
Cape Ballet Africa's GISELLE can be seen as part of the Maynardville Festival tonight at 20:15. Tickets are available through Quicket.