Reviews

FORT WORTH – If you don't like The Sleeping Beauty, you don't like ballet. The grandest and most beautiful exemplar of the classical style, it pulls the viewer into an idealized world of fairies, dashing royalty, a vengeful intruder and a princess awakened from a long sleep by a gallant prince.

There is a caveat, however – as the pinnacle of classical ballet, woe to the company not up to the challenge.

Friday night at Bass Performance Hall, Texas Ballet Theater met the challenge at every level, from the delicate pointe work of the fairies down to the comic nuzzling of Puss-in-Boots.

Excess in the way of fanciful sets and even more sumptuous costumes of the gold-and-red variety – along with wigs, tiaras, tulle, silk and trains – were proof that no effort was lost in piling up the splendor. Nor was anything left out in stage effect, from the thunder that introduced the arrival of the vengeful Carabosse to the splendid gold chandeliers sparkling over the palace's ballroom.

Fortunately, the opulence of the sets and costumes never eclipsed the dancing, which was both lush and bright yet dramatic.

In the opening prologue, the fairies must establish the standard of grace, for if they falter on even the slightest delicate hop on pointe , elegant turn or flick of the wrist, then the fairytale atmosphere would be in for a fall. But Heather Crosby, Jayme Autrey Griffith, Jennifer Hooper, Catelyn Clenaghan and Corrina Peterson. brought exactly the shades of detail and lightness demanded, with exceptional purity and sweetness from the Lilac Fairy, Carolyn Judson.

Offering counterweight to the delightful fairies, the angry Carabosse (Erica Guano Tseng) invades the christening party for Aurora with a dramatic storm, with her creepy minions making the first inroad of terror. Steely, implacable, Ms. Tseng makes a brilliant Carabosse, from gleeful glare to edgy pounce.

No Sleeping Beauty can prevail without the right Princess Aurora and Prince Florimund, and Julie Gumbinner and her real-life husband, Lucas Priolo, are a perfect match. She is a shy yet radiant princess, while he is a regal and yet warm prince.

The Sleeping Beauty continues Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. with some changes in cast, at Bass Performance Hall, Fourth and Commerce, Fort Worth. $18 to $74. 1-877-212-4280, www.texasballettheater.org.