Fun, finely tuned, and fabulous, The Trocks are a world class treat for all the family.
📍Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
📅 Fri 21 to Sat 22 Oct
💷 From £19.00
🕖 7:30pm
🕖 Running time (approx.): 2hrs (including two intervals)
🩰 Artistic Director: Tory Dobrin
🎬 Executive Director: Liz Harler
🩰 Designer: Isabel Martinez Rivera
🎂 4+
🎭 Wheelchair Accessible Venue; Wheelchair Accessible Toilet; Audio Induction Loop
Defying gender stereotypes since 1974, the New York based Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo, better known as The Trocks, return to the UK circuit for the first time since 2018. The world famous all male, all joking ballet corps certainly know how to entertain a packed house, their secret? Being darn good at what they do, both in terms of technical excellence, and spot-on comedic instinct.
The tour programme draws upon both their extensive back catalogue of classic acts, as well as newly commissioned work, so that their performances are subject to permutation. However, every curtain will rise upon their tremendous rendition of Les Lac des Cygnes from the 2nd Act of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Varvara Laptopova aka Takaomi Yoshino (each dancer has an absurd pseudonym), is captivating as Swan Queen Odette, mixing delightful precision, light feet, and a series of expertly timed gurns, and nigh-pratfalls. It’s the most completely realised scene of the dance diet on offer, a superb send up wrought in hammy swans, a petulant sorcerer, and a somewhat inept heroes.
That said, the 2nd, and 3rd acts are rich with highlights, not least company veteran, and poster ballerina, Olga Supphozova aka Robert Carter’s ever-feather shedding Dying Swan, and Eugenia Repelskii aka Joshua Thake (6 foot 6 en pointe) who manages their exceptionally long limbs with amazing poise, and artistry. Yes, the company’s tallest leading lady is inevitably partnered with one of the shortest, the physics of which is played up with chucklesome effect, but its technical ability, and musicality that makes their performance so memorable.
The humour is a varied affair, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous, one moment deftly sending up famous choreographies, the next squeezing screams from ballerinas approaching the ground at high velocity. Decades of success haven’t dulled the company’s dedication or attention to detail, and the show proves an absolute chocolate box of fun, some of the fillings more deliciously funny than others, but all of them tasty.
Professional dance, and ballet in particular is a discipline which doesn’t always lend itself to the dancers being free to express joy in their discipline, but not here. This fine troupe of highly trained talents is given license to exhibit their happiness in their workplace, and to infuse both their dancing & clowning with a uniquely celebratory spirit. A particular stroke of genius is the drag worthy make-up, which feminises every male, whether in tights or a tutu, and enriches the energy of the show at a glamorous glance.
There’s a fantastic rhythm to the entire show, an artful balance of laugh out loud japes, and other passages played entirely straight and offering each company member a chance to shine; and shine they do. The feeling created is one of shared pleasure in each other’s abilities, and a shared wish for each to display their talents to the fullest. The audience is kept in a constant state of anticipation, either for the next series of unfortunately hilarious events, or glorious passage of adept excellence.
It’s a joy to see such an innovative, genre defining company still at the height of their powers, and an absolute pleasure to have them touring the UK once more. Viva The Trocks!
(Featured Photography Credit: trockadero.org)
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