La Fille mal gardée, Royal Opera House, review: Natalia Osipova leads a springtime delight

Steven McRae is tender and playful as Colas

Natalia Osipova as Lise (©ROH, 2015. Ph Tristram Kenton)

Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée, one of The Royal Ballet’s signature works, is a springtime delight. This performance was gorgeously led by star ballerina Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae, but the joy of Fille is that it’s a company triumph.

The heroine, Lise, is a down-to-earth country girl, not one of ballet’s enchanted princesses. Her mother, the Widow Simone, wants her to marry the rich but dim Alain; she prefers the handsome young farmer Colas. In and out of this story, Ashton weaves irresistible dances for everybody, from the farmyard chickens to the hard-working haymakers.

Osipova’s high jump and vivid presence give her a sense of bounding vitality in Ashton’s demanding choreography. She’s full of mischief as she squabbles with her mother; set to her chores, this Lise churns milk with oh-do-I-have-to teenaged disdain.

Steven McRae as Colas, Natalia Osipova as Lise (©ROH, 2015. Ph Tristram Kenton)

She has terrific chemistry with Steven McRae’s Colas, both tender and teasing in their playful dances. McRae is a bright, vigorous hero, with witty timing in both the comedy and the virtuoso steps. Philip Mosley is a soft-hearted grump as Simone, bringing music-hall gusto to his clog dance. Paul Kay’s sweet, nimbly-danced Alain is both funny and touching.

Until 5 May. Box office 020 7304 4000. The performance on 5 May will be screened in cinemas.