Dancer's Dream: The Great Ballets of Rudolf Nureyev--Romeo & Juliet

Prokofiev's score inspired by Shakespeare's classic play about star-crossed lovers was originally deemed un-danceable, but after the Czechs took a chance on it in 1938, Romeo & Juliet became a vehicle for various choreographers throughout the ensuing years. Rudolf Nureyev took his shot in the 1977 London Festival and followed it up with a production at the Paris Opera in 1984. Dancer's Dream, a documentary that aims to provide insights into Nureyev's version, starts abruptly in mid-rehearsal for a 1999 production at L'Opéra National de Paris, and is fleshed out with interviews of cast and crew from the 1977 production, whose comments on the technical demands made upon the dancers are illustrated with rehearsal clips and excerpts from the actual performance. Unfortunately, there is just not enough introductory background material to set the proper context--either for general viewers, who will be disappointed by the abridged and disjointed production; or students of dance, who won't really get a feel for what it means to reinterpret the work of an original master. While this would have made a fine extra feature on a DVD of the full performance, as a stand-alone documentary, it's strictly an optional purchase. Aud: P. (J. Reed)