National Ballet of Canada - Anna Karenina Reviews

Francine from Toronto, Ontario

CONFUSION

At no point could I figure out who was who.The scenes were repetitive, prolonged embracing etc.. The dancing was supreme. I was disappointed as I love the novel and had high expectations. It could have been half the length. Many left early. I will stress though that the dancing was wonderful

Zaneta from Toronto, Ontario

THE END COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH

For those who love ballet for its spectacular set designs, beautifully crafted costumes, and graceful dancing, this has none of that. This modernized version of Tolstoy's Russian classic feels more like a bad, low budget high school production with its minimalist, stark white sets, horrid lighting, and casual clothes as costumes. There was more possessed interpretive/contemporary flailing than actual ballet. Absolutely awful and a waste money and 3 hours that could have been spent doing something more enjoyable. Perhaps the most entertaining part of Thursday night's performance was when an angry elderly Russian lady stormed out in the second half during a particularly appalling avant garde scene with Anna and the dead worker's ghost screaming, "THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE, ANNA KARENINA THIS IS A DISGRACE TO RUSSIA!!" When that's the highlight of the night, you've got a problem.

Alisa from Toronto, Ontario

ANNA KARENINA? OR WHAT?

Through what kind of prism such strange vision of the greatest book was presented on the stage? it is not Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina", so why then to hide behind this Name? it is not fair to the young generation!!!

from Toronto, Ontario

AWFUL OVERLY PRETENTIOUS

Honestly I love the national ballet but I've seen people fall on stage and seen better productions than this. Way too long and not cohesive. Thank goodness I got rush seats and only spent $40.00.

Brian Stein from Toronto, Ontario

ANNA KARENINA A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT

John Neumier has set Nijinsky and The Seagull on the National Ballet, among others, that are also rooted in Russian culture and history. Both are beautiful, even sublime. But Anna Karenina is a huge misstep. Any ballet that needs three pages of synopsis notes is doing something wrong. For me, the story was hard to follow, even after wading through the notes. I had difficulty keeping the three female dancers straight -- is that Dolly or Kitty or even Anna? -- and it was only because of Levin's red flannel shirt and boots that I knew every time he was centre stage it was in fact him. I thought the physical production was interesting to look at but the choreography was awkward, far too kinetic, sometimes downright dull. Confession: I fled after intermission.

Isabelle from Toronto, Ontario

HOT MESS

This was unwatchable. Prop overload (an actual tractor, really?), confused storytelling, creepy man child, endless random la crosse scenes, and that’s barely the tip of this hot mess. This show has you both shaking your head and burst into laughter, it’s so ridiculous. We left after the first act. I have never left a show before the end.

David from Toronto, Ontario

AWFUL MESS

I had a hard time following the story and even tracking the characters. T he dancers were great but not his storytelling.

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