Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre transforms into a magical stage under the summer sky with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill, running through June 22. This enchanting production reimagines the iconic dream sequences from Oklahoma!, Carousel, and Allegro, crafted by three visionary female choreographers—Shelley Maxwell, Kate Prince, and Julia Cheng. While not without flaws, the evening bursts with vibrant dance and live music, earning praise as a “tasty treat” that captivates audiences in the park’s solstice glow.
Dream ballets, pioneered by Agnes de Mille in the 1940s, use dance to unveil characters’ deepest fears and desires. Here, Maxwell’s Oklahoma! ballet delivers a chilling edge, with Christopher Akrill as a sinister, clown-like puppet master manipulating suited dancers in a competitive frenzy. Prince’s Carousel weaves hip-hop beats into Rodgers’ waltzing score, using scarlet ropes to bind dancers in a poignant tale of control and liberation. Cheng’s Allegro, a rarely seen gem, channels 1920s slapstick with playful props and polka-dot flair, though its manipulative elder figure echoes the others too closely, diluting the trio’s impact.
Directed by Drew McOnie, the theatre’s new artistic director, the production showcases London’s freelance dance talent, backed by the 26-piece Sinfonia Smith Square orchestra. Tony Award-winner Simon Hale’s lush arrangements amplify Rodgers’ timeless melodies, filling the open-air amphitheater with Hollywood glamour. Despite critiques of repetitive themes—each ballet features a controlling patriarch—fans on X call it a “dream evening,” praising the “unquestionable energy” of the performers.
Running just under two hours with two intervals, this limited engagement celebrates McOnie’s bold vision for dance-driven storytelling. The outdoor setting, with quivering trees and a lingering sunset, adds a poetic layer to the experience. Tickets start at £19 for this fleeting spectacle, a must-see for musical theater enthusiasts. Bundle up for the evening chill and immerse yourself in a night of movement and melody at Regent’s Park.
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