The Red Shoes (Sadler's Wells, London) Based on the film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale Directed and Choreographed by Matthew Bourne

What I believe that Matthew Bourne does better than anyone else alive is take the old, the known, the expected and turn it on it's head.  His absolutely brilliant Swan Lake in which all of the swans were male, aggressive (as male swans in reality are) and sexy as hell so mesmerized me when I saw it on Broadway years ago that when it returned to City Center several years later I ran to see it again.  His Sleeping Beauty had dark, luscious overtones of Stoker and I was sure that his Red Shoes would enchant.  I was not disappointed.

 This version of The Red Shoes is based on the 1948 film in which the dancer Victoria Page (here the graceful and gorgeous Ashley Shaw) becoming ever more famous must choose between love and art. The story within the story is that her fame derives from her dancing of the Andersen tale in which Karen, given those rouge beauties by the Devil himself, can only stop dancing when released by death.  Miss Shaw's dance as Karen is riveting.  You are convinced that she is a puppet whose master is the shoes and you can't take your eyes off of her.

Though the entire company is terrific, Liam Mower as Ivan shines and the set and costume design by Lez Brotherston are sumptuous. The music, by legendary film composer (Citizen Kane, Taxi Driver) Bernard Herrmann sets you firmly in the era and adds depth and beauty to the divine dancing.

If you are lucky enough to be in London with some time on your hands run to Sadler's Wells as fast as your red shoes will carry you to see this gem.