A clog dance, a cockrel, and chaos—Ashton's bucolic ballet is pure pastoral mayhem.
Ever since its triumphant premiere in 1960, Frederick Ashton's La Fille mal gardee has been treasured as one of his happiest creations - his artistic tribute to nature, and an expression of his feelings for his beloved Suffolk countryside. Marianela Nunez and Carlos Acosta perfectly portray the young lovers Lise and Colas, determined to thwart the plans of Widow Simone to marry off her wayward daughter to Alain, the simple son of wealthy Farmer Thomas. Osbert Lancaster's colourful, picture-book designs, along with Ferdinand Herold's tuneful score, arranged by John Lanchbery, provide the perfect setting for Ashton's blissfully bucolic ballet, complete with haywain, pony, maypole and ribbons, a cockrel and his chickens and, of course, the famous clog dance, here wonderfully led by William Tuckett as the irascible but lovable Widow Simone.
Costume
Lancaster's designs look like a storybook exploded beautifully.
Score
Lanchbery's Herold arrangement bounces like a haycart on a country lane.
Director
Ross MacGibbon
Marianela Núñez
Lise
Carlos Acosta
Colas
Jonathan Howells
Alain
William Tuckett
Widow Simone
David Drew
Thomas
Giacomo Ciriaci
Cockerel
Gemma Bond
Hen
Bethany Keating
Hen
Iohna Loots
Hen
Natasha Oughtred
Hen
Christina Arestis
Lise's Friend
Deirdre Chapman
Lise's Friend
Lauren Cuthbertson
Lise's Friend
Cindy Jourdain
Lise's Friend
Sarah Lamb
Lise's Friend
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ashton created this 1960 specifically for Alexander Grant; the clog dance was originally his signature showstopper.
This ballet single-handedly revived interest in Herold's forgotten 1828 score, now the standard version worldwide.
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@RoyalBalletAndOpera 17
I seriously love when they put humour into ballet
@mayaangel2838 1333
The single most happy ballet I've ever watched.
@daffo595 778
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