The Prospect Before Us (ballet)
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The Prospect Before Us is a one act comic ballet in seven scenes, choreographed for the Vic-Wells Ballet by Ninette de Valois to music by William Boyce arranged by Constant Lambert.
ChoreographerNinette de Valois
MusicWilliam Boyce, arranged by Constant Lambert
Premiere4 July 1940
Original ballet companyVic-Wells Ballet
| The Prospect Before Us | |
|---|---|
| Choreographer | Ninette de Valois |
| Music | William Boyce, arranged by Constant Lambert |
| Premiere | 4 July 1940 |
| Original ballet company | Vic-Wells Ballet |
| Design | Roger Furse |
| Type | Comic ballet |
Overview
With its premiere in 1940, the first year of the war, de Valois set out to produce a light-hearted and jolly piece of escapism. Inspired by an eponymous 18th century engraving by Thomas Rowlandson, it has an intricate plot about the rivalry of two 18th-century theatrical managers who fight over a troupe of dancers that includes Didelot, Noverre, and Vestris. The final scene with Robert Helpmann as Mr. O'Reilly doing a "drunk dance" is well known.[1]
Premiere cast
- Robert Helpmann as Mr. O'Reilly of the Pantheon
- Claude Newman as Mr. Taylor of the King's Theatre
- Frederick Ashton as Monsieur Noverre
- Alan Carter as Monsieur Didelot
- John Hart as Monsieur Vestris
- John Field
- Deryk Mendel
- Michael Somes
- Leslie Edwards
- Pamela May
Source:[2]