The Joffrey Ballet delivers once again. The Joffrey’s current 2010-2011 Stars season is underway and featuring its Midwest premier of of Ronald Hynd’s “The Merry Widow” from Feb 16 through Feb. 27 at the Auditorium Theater.
The Merry Widow, set in Paris in the early 1900s, is about a rich widow and her countrymen’s attempt to keep her fortune in the principality by finding her the right husband. The show was extremely fun, exotic, and beautiful. The comedy play is a fun tale of elegance and naughtiness, accented with can-can dancers. You can’t go wrong with can-can dancers! The dancing, scenery and costumes were all a collaborative work of art.
The original story was written in 1905, by Franz Lehar and then later created into a neo-classical ballet by Sir Robert Helpmann. Joffrey Artistic Director for the production, Ashley Wheater said, “It is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the 80th birthday of renowned choreographer, Ronald Hynd, by presenting the ballet during the Joffrey’s Winter Program.” Both Wheater and Executive Director Christopher Clinton Conway should be pleased with The Merry Widow and the reception each performance is receiving in Chicago.
Photos by Herbert Migdoll courtesy of The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Used with permission. All rights reserved 2011.
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