ARTS . Dance

Guises and Dolls

The Pennsylvania Ballet does well with an old-as-time act.


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Published: Apr 22, 2008

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First performed in 1870 Paris, Coppélia is one of the oldest ballets still in active dance repertories. Anyone who wonders why it remains on the boards should go see what Pennsylvania Ballet is doing with this antique dance valentine.

Accept that the story is corny. (In its early years, ballet's primary interest was that it gave the gentlemen a chance to see ladies' legs.)

Also accept the fact that E.T.A. Hoffmann's story doesn't make much sense. We have a village maiden, Swanilda, in love with a village lad, Franz, plus a local weirdo who makes life-size mechanical toys, Dr. Coppélius. The toymaker creates a life-size beautiful doll called Coppélia. Franz, not the swiftest guy, believes Coppélia is a real person and his amorous attentions wander.

In three quick acts (just two hours), this efficient story is told of village lovers who pledge undying love, both sneaking into Dr. Coppélius' house to confront Coppélia, only to discover that she's just a toy. We get reconciliation, marriage and even their honeymoon departure in a cart pulled by a magnificent, and very well-behaved, real horse.

This all takes place somewhere in Central Europe where locals spend a lot of time folk dancing. The czardas and heel-stomping need to be seen in 19th-century context — the equivalent of today's ballet choreographers blending ballet with hip-hop. Dance of the people on the haute art stage was a big deal back then, as well.

The opening-night cast was as good as its gorgeous sets. Retired principal dancer Jeffrey Gribler returned as Dr. Coppélius, taking over the stage every time he was on it. Gribler's still the best dance character actor PAB's ever had. Martha Chamberlain was pert as Swanilda, better at conveying emotions and getting laughs than at the ferociously difficult single pointe balances, where she was unsteady. As Franz, Zachary Hench soared. He's in the zone as a dancer — every move was magnificent, from tour jetés to even bigger tours en l'air. How good was Coppélia? This viewer may surprise even herself and see the second cast.

(j_anderson@citypaper.net)

Coppélia Through April 27, Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.,215-336-2000, paballet.org