thursday.

[sunfright]

New day, new default icon (and other La Sylphide icon). I don't know if it's pure excitement, but I'm beginning to warm to the designs of the new production's costumes, especially the general pattern and colour scheme combinations. Currently, I can't say whether that's more thanks to the atmospheric lighting or if it's really the costumes on their own, but. Stiiiiiill not too sure about James' blue kilt, but the rest might not poke at my eyes quite so aggressively anymore. We'll see what verdict I have once I've seen the performance on Saturday. I'm predicting that either I've been won over completely or the other extreme. I always thought the costume that worked the best out of the bunch was Madge's and judging by the photos I've seen from this run, that hasn't changed much. Still the most effective use of the pattern and colours. The long, loose hair is such a win!





K. and I watched Ahsoka last night and OMG. I was blown away. Very good thing I had her to talk me through all the details that had been worked into this episode, but even without the explanations, something about it went straight to my gut, emotionally. I really felt it very strongly. Amazing acting all-around, no one did anything but an absolutely sublime job. Not gonna spoil anything by going into details, but honestly. If you like Star Wars just a little bit and even if you're not interested in the series on its own, this episode (5) might be worth giving a go regardless. It has the feeling of being a kind of movie on its own. Definitely an individual story within the storyline.



I've decided to take some time off from the Napoli fic, just until after the weekend. In the meantime, I think I'm going to watch the old 1988 version of RDB's (previous) production of La Sylphide and maybe write some fanfiction (in Danish, a post over at scanfic has made me realize I should at least attempt Danish fanfiction at some point) for either Madge and Effy or Effy and Nancy, probably the former. I have a very persistent image in my head of Effy seeking out Madge after a couple of years of having been married to Gurn and desperately asking her why she isn't happy, since Madge foretold she would be.

Someone needs to tell that girl she has horrible taste in guys and should join the lesbian side. God knows, I've wanted to tell her since first watching the 1988 version with Ann-Kirstin Hauge as Effy, back when I bought it on DVD, 12-13 years ago. Might as well be Madge, since the new productions interpretation of her character seems really, really feminist-inspired and overall pretty queer.

Anyway, should anyone be interested in watching the "original" Royal Danish Ballet production of La Sylphide, it's on YouTube in full. In full meaning about an hour long and pretty simple, story-wise.

Man is getting married to the love of his life, meets a sylph on the morning of his wedding, the sylph enchants him and makes him doubt whether he really wants to marry the love of his life, is she even the love of his life when all comes down to it, and right before their vows are about to be spoken, he escapes with the sylph into the woods, leaving his bride distraught behind. Oh, he also pissed off a witch during the ceremony, so that's gonna come back and haunt him.

Witch is vengeful, she makes an enchanted veil to trick him into his doom. In the woods, man and sylph are frolicking and all is good, except the sylph doesn't want him to touch her. He doesn't understand, why can't he own her? Witch drops in, gives him the veil with a promise that the sylph's wings will fall off if he ties her up with it and he'll he able to hold her. Man, who is stupid, does as told, ties the sylph up and watches her wings fall off, only to realize that it has killed her. She was not a sylph without her freedom. She dies. Man watches love of his life marry his rival instead of him, witch comes by and boasts that she won and he has nothing left. They fight. Witch wins. Man falls to the ground, lifeless.

The end.

It's a really fucking good story.

Watch on YouTube

Oh, wow, finding the video on YouTube, it started at a random point and just hearing the music made me tear up. I have no words for how much this particular ballet means to me. It was my first introduction to ballet and it was one of the first ballets I watched on stage, too. My favourite role of Susanne's was the sylph. I've been a very fortunate fan considering how many and how many different versions I've been able to watch and enjoy on stage. Very excited to enjoy this new era of La Sylphide with some of the ballet dancers I've followed since they were very young, but who have now grown up and become mature, high-ranking artists.

What a privilege.

Comments

[adore]

Thanks for the story summary! I'm reminded a little of Erutan's Willow Maid.

I'm glad the dude dies. The witch is a badass.

[sunfright]

Thank you for the link, I'll be sure to check it out once I'm back home!

Yeah, the witch is awesome. Even more so in later productions when she isn't quite as much played for comic relief in some parts. I think the version I'll be seeing is straight up interpreted in a feminist light which makes the story make so much more sense.