cooper_reviews_sea

                                                     "Sea of Troubles"
                                              Washington, DC
                                           Reviewed by Carol

In March 2003 I was lucky enough to get to see Adam Cooper live at the Kennedy Center, two times, as part of the International Ballet Festival. The Festival was held in the Eisenhower Theatre, a much smaller venue that the usual KC venue for ballet, the Opera House, which is currently under renovation. The setting was quite intimate and even though I sat up in the balcony I could easily see the dancers facial experessions. The Festival consisted of 6 programs from companies around the world, but, for me the standout was 'Sea of Troubles' as danced by Adam Cooper and Company. This short ballet, choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan, was inspired by 'Hamlet', starting with effect of the death of Hamlet's father. It is not a literal retelling of the story, but rather a series of scenes that depict Hamlet's need for revenge and how it tortures and torments him and his family. It was originally commissioned in 1988 by Dance Advance, a small company of 6 former Royal Ballet dancers, to be danced to live 20th century music by Anton Webern and Bohuslav Martinu.
The opening scene is very dramatic with Hamlet crouched in a pool of light. The lighting, by Simon Bennison, was used to create intervals and moods, and was excellent throughout the performance, the best of all three companies in the program.   The scenery and costumes were well done, very minimal but effective. I especially liked the drape that both suggested a castle wall and the arras behind which Polonius hides. The music is haunting and a times almost atonal, but very appropriate for the drama.
I saw the performance twice and, in addition to getting to see my favorite dancer (Adam) again, it helped clarify the effect of the piece. The first time I saw it I found it a bit confusing since all the dancers switch characters. The second time I found I could just the let the dance explain itself and enjoy the scenes and moods created by the dancers. Everyone was fantastic, Matthew Hart as the new king unable to walk in the shoes and cloak of the crown without the queen to prop him up. Ophelia so fragile and vunerable. The ghost of Hamlet's father was haunting and sad. But as good as everyone was Adam Cooper as Hamlet shone brightest, he is a mesmerizing dancer. He draws your eye even when he is standing quite still at the edge of the stage. I loved the way he used his hands and arms when the ghost first spoke to him, the trembling that started in his fingers and continued up throughout his body. Adam has that amazing ability to totally become the character he is dancing, I don't remember the dancing so much as the person of Hamlet, eaten by the need for revenge, disgusted with his mother and torn apart by the tragedy.