Once again, The Crucible has managed to transcend the boundaries of tradition and modernity and give the public a production that is relevant to local culture with delight and inspiration. The Crucible's second benefit ballet, Stravinsky's Firebird, is a sensory reinterpretation of the classic Russian folktale, artfully combining the beauty of classical ballet with the crowd pleasing and acrobatic antics of break dancing, motorcycle stunts, and aerial performance set to a well-designed mix of symphony, electronica, and funk music.
The set is simple yet magical, the costumes are sexy and whimsical, and the cast is entertaining and provocative. And of course, the implementation of fire on set and within the performance is, as always, daring with a touch of the unexpected. I noticed the ballet was a tad shorter this year, at just an hour, but what an hour it is. Every moment is captivating, and frankly the Crucible has found the best use for a Pontiac I have ever seen.
The Crucible's Firebird runs now through April 19. The Firebird Gala performance, set for Friday the 18th, includes a pre-performance catered reception and the chance for mingling with the cast. Advance tickets for this exclusive event are $150, but tickets for the remaining performances are just $55 in advance, $60 at the door. I highly recommend getting tickets ahead of time.
Proceeds from the event directly support the Crucible's art education and accessibility programs.The Crucible is located at 1260 7th Street in Oakland. Check www.thecrucible.org for more information.
Photo by Eric Gillet.
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