1978 - The Dream - Anthony Dowell and Merle Park Choreo Frederick Ashton

I ABJECTLY APOLOGISE FOR THE QUALITY OF THIS TAPE IT WAS RECORDED ON VHS IN 1983 AND HAS NOT HAD AN EASY LIFE. Dowell is in his late 30’s when this was danced when The Dream was first choreographed Dowell was 21 Created in 1964 for Shakespears Birthday, Sir Frederick Ashton choreographed this masterpiece of British dance for Anthony Dowell and Antoinette Sibley. Sibley embodied Titania, wild and headstrong a creature of air and fire. Dowell’s Oberon was a perfect fit for her Titania. Unlike other dancers of this role Dowell, fleet of foot with impecible technique, becomes the spirit of the deep woods unhuman, unearthly, capricious, arbitrary; cruel: the leaf that falls, the twig that snaps, the creaking of trees, the breeze that catches one unaware. I hope despite the technical flaws you can enjoy this. CAST: Oberon: Anthony Dowell Titania: Merle Park Puck: Wayne Sleep Botton: Garry Grant Lysander: Derek Rencher Hermia: Vergie Derman Demetrius: David Drew Helena: Rosalind Eyre