One Tough Bird

by Janet Anderson

dance

Don't let the French title, visions of maypoles and dancing chickens fool you. La Fille mal gardée (The Wayward Daughter) isn't some ballet trifle. Better to consider it proof that Pennsylvania Ballet's ready for the European critics who'll be flocking to its International Edinburgh Festival performances of Swan Lake next summer.

Nothing about Fille is easy, except watching it. The story couldn't be more accessible (girl wishes to marry man of her choice, not the rich-dolt neighbor). As choreographed by Frederick Ashton, famous for dishing out large dollops of English charm, Fille is thick in pretty sets, costumes and beautiful passages danced with ribbons. But under all the country mirth, dancers are asked to effortlessly toss off dangerous balances, treacherous jump combinations and even a one-handed lift.

The comic role of Alain (the doltish but very funny suitor) was created by Royal Ballet's Alexander Grant, and he not only owns the production but came to town to ensure the Pennsylvanians did it right. Grant may be 80 years old, but he hasn't lost his edge or his eye. Just ask any of the sweating dancers who were put through their paces during rehearsal.

Grant sat front and center, giving out a stream of details — the tilt of a head here, an arm placement there. Brave Philip Colucci was rehearsing Alain's part about two feet away from the man who'd created the role. Everything from how Colucci held his umbrella to the way he rolled onto the floor was scrutinized. It looked grueling. But Grant sent Colucci away with, "You were really good."

After Zachary Hench repeated a tortuous series of leaps over and over, even his fellow dancers applauded. And when Matt Neenan took a correction and made his preening rooster neck arch perfectly, Grant laughed along with everyone else. A terrific production was emerging. So enjoy Fille as a pretty theater piece, and hold your breath for the tour de force dancing.

La Fille mal gardée, Fri.-Sun., March 4-12, $20-$99, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust sts., 215-893-1999, www.paballet.org.