If much about this ballet seems conventional it is hardly surprising as, being one of, if not the oldest continually performed piece in the modern repertoire – dating back to the end of the eighteenth century – the convention started here. It is simple story of country folk; swains in an idyllic village setting, maypoles, folk dances, dancing chickens, love tokens, harvest time, stolen kisses, smocks and simple, gaily coloured peasant costumes of stripes and gingham. The version on offer from the BRB uses the 1960 Frederick Ashton choreography with music by John Lanchbery whose score is adapted from that of Ferdinand Hérold. Colourful settings by Osbert Lancaster and the excellent Royal Ballet Sinfonia under Barry Wordsworth complete the package.

It is the lightest of comic ballets, bordering on pantomime, complete with a dame, slapstick and coo-inducing white pony. It could with the teensiest bit of fairy dust be happily performed at Christmastide. Lise loves Colas, Colas loves Lise, Lise’s mum wants her to marry Alain (James Barton), the doltish son of rich farmer, Thomas (Valentin Olovyannikov). Alain, a no-hoper in the girlfriend stakes, clearly doesn’t stand a chance with Lise despite the parents’ interference, whereas Colas, who wouldn’t surprise anybody if he revealed he was actually a prince, is clearly destined to get the girl in the end.

The title is a slight misnomer as Lise (Céline Gittens) is actually very carefully guarded by mum, the Widow Simone (Rory Mackay). However this is not a case of a lover and his coy mistress and Lise, who is ‘well up’ for the match with Colas, is like a bar of wet soap in her mother’s hands and uses a bit of guile rather than the intervention of a fairy godmother to get her out of the chores and into the arms of her lover. The joy in this ballet is in the freshness of the lovers’ dances, both in solo and pas de deux. Ms Gittens has the measure of the role; winsome without appearing guileless and looks happy to be alive and dancing and on the stage at all times. Tyrone Singleton as Colas, gives a display of athleticism, virility and grace which, if not quite bucolic, certainly suggests the eternal spring of Ashton’s conception. The novelties of the silk ribbon dances and the equally famous clog dance broaden the entertainment value of this family friendly ballet, which on this showing is justifiably a staple of the classic repertoire.   ★★★★☆   Graham Wyles   5^th July 2018

Photo by Roy Smiljanic