DANCE REVIEW : New Casts in ‘Fall River’ and ‘Imperial’

COSTA MESA — A new ax-murderer and pastor in De Mille’s “Fall River Legend” and a new trio of principals in Balanchine’s “Ballet Imperial” were the scheduled cast changes for the American Ballet Theatre program Wednesday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

But a minor injury before Kylian’s “Sinfonietta” also placed Alessandra Ferri on the sidelines.

Dancing the Lizzie Borden role in “Fall River” for the first time, Kathleen Moore etched a detailed and sympathetic characterization, credible in vulnerability and psychological powerlessness.

Though not probing the sexual tensions to the utmost, Moore nevertheless traced an arc from lyric childhood through murderous impulses to recaptured innocence in the face of death, all with poignant impact.

In his first appearance as the Pastor, Michael Owen portrayed a man himself repressed and perplexed, reaching out to Lizzie maybe as much for his own salvation as hers. Unable to turn the church service into an assertion of communal, triumphant faith, Owen nonetheless contributed a dimension of human weakness complementary to Moore’s struggle.

In “Ballet Imperial,” the statuesque Veronica Lynn danced the secondary soloist role for the first time, suffering recurring unsteadiness in turns and blurred terminations but otherwise offering clear line and exuberant commitment.

Cynthia Harvey brought her customary, cool refinement and precision--some might say detachment--to the primary ballerina’s role and offered an exemplary circuit of turns. As her cavalier, Jeremy Collins injected a degree of story-telling characterization missing on opening night, demonstrated superb elevation and suspension in the air, but allowed slovenliness to mar his entrances.

Replacing Ferri in “Sinfonietta,” Christina Fagundes danced with pliant yet fierce intensity.

Emil de Cou and Jack Everly again shared conducting duties.