Ballet - The Cobbler's Daughter

Fernando and Alicia Alonso, who as far as I know never danced The Cobbler's Daughter (Photo courtesy of Fernando Alonso) --oOo--

Much as I love the classical ballet, I must admit that it brings out the Nelson Gabriel^[1] in me. It seems that there are certain rules which, while not founded in common sense, must nevertheless be slavishly adhered to. For example, the plot should be totally incredible and preferably involve some pretty doubtful theology. Then the hero should have an utterly effeminate name, serving only to remind the audience that the dancer may be gay and have no real interest in the heroine. It also helps for the heroine to have an unprepossessing name quite inappropriate to the sylphlike creature who dances the role. To illustrate these points I have created a ballet which I am sure Sir Frederick^[2] could have turned into a masterpiece.

Incidentally, I think it is unlikely that the bracketed words would appear in your programme synopsis!

1. For those who are too young to remember or have never listened to The Archers on BBC Radio 4, Nelson Gabriel was a rather dodgy character portrayed by the superb Jack May, whose acting voice had cynicism built into it.

2. Ashton, that is.

Act I

A clearing in a forest near a village.

It is a fine morning and the village maidens are picking mushrooms. (In fact, very few mushrooms end up in their baskets, since they spend most of their time dancing.) Prince Floribunda, the heir to the throne, is strolling incognito through the forest when he chances upon the beautiful Grotthilde, daughter of the village cobbler. They dance together. They fall deeply in love with each other. They dance together. Floribunda asks Grotthilde to marry him. They dance together. She gladly accepts his proposal. They dance together, joyfully.

 

Act II

The village square.

It is the village saint's day and the villagers are making merry. (This consists of waving empty tankards about and looking jolly.) Grotthilde learns by chance that her beloved is of high rank and could not possibly marry a mere cobbler's daughter. He arrives and she confronts him. They dance together. Grotthilde tells Floribunda that he has ruined her happiness for ever. They dance together. Grotthilde takes Floribunda's sword and plunges it into her breast, mortally wounding herself. They dance the famous pas de deux. (This lasts approximately twenty minutes.) Then, exhausted with grief (and not, apparently, from loss of blood), Grotthilde sinks lifeless to the earth. Stricken with remorse, Floribunda seizes the sword and, thrusting it through his heart, falls dead beside her. The villagers look on in great consternation.

 

Act III

A cemetery beside a lake. Before dawn.

Through the mist two new graves are discovered (neatly arranged one on either side of the stage). The Fates (in fact three of the village maidens in different costumes) dance triumphantly before the graves, exulting in their victory. (Exactly in what their victory consists is never clearly established.) The spirits of the dead lovers rise from the graves. They dance together (at very great length). Finally, as the first glimmer of dawn appears on the horizon, the purity of Grotthilde's love causes the Fates to relent. The lovers embark in an enchanted boat (moored conveniently at hand) and sail away into the rising sun to spend eternity together.

 

THE END

 

         Posted March 2017