La Fille Mal Gardée

No ballet that opens with a group of dancing chickens – including a rooster that seems to be auditioning for the Ministry of Silly Walks – is taking itself too seriously. And, indeed, the Royal Ballet’s perma-fresh ‘La Fille Mal Gardée’ (‘The Wayward Daughter’) – created in 1960 by Frederick Ashton – is fit to burst with giddy silliness: the most gleeful ballet in the company’s repertoire.

The ‘Wayward Daughter’ of the title is Lise, who defies her exasperated mother, Widow Simone, over pretty much everything from household chores to choice of husband. Laura Morera nicely captures her dreamy-teenager quality, skipping through Ashton’s fiendish footwork and looking radiant in her crowning moment, pirouetting at the centre of a ribbon-spoked ‘wheel’ of dancers.

Vadim Muntagirov debuted in the role of Lise’s true love Colas on opening night. His is a distinctly quiet interpretation of the character: no Carlos Acosta swagger here, more a gawky besottedness that sits well with Muntagirov’s long frame. But there are more than enough fireworks in his technique. Clearly flourishing at the Royal Ballet, he nails down expansive leaps with perfect landings, soars into his split jumps during the bottle dance and whips up a storm with his fouettes – a true celebration of youthful vigour. He can also partner with sensitivity. There’s a sense of enraptured care in how he handles Morera in the ribbon dance that heightens the tenderness of their cat’s-cradle game.

Will Tuckett’s panto-dame-like Widow Simone is a comic delight – he’s negotiated the famous clog dance better before but brings natural comic timing to every movement and makes you believe in the heart of gold under the rich widow’s gruff exterior. Paul Kay’s Alain, the dim-witted suitor lined up for Lise, has fresh-faced naivety but maybe not enough of the tragic about him to make the role as piquant as it can be. And the corps is on great form, fizzily buoyant in the grand, sweeping ensemble scenes and keeping up with the demanding flow of movement that powers this comic gem.