Ballet Review : Third ‘Cinderella’ by Stowell Shows Suppleness and Grace

Even the supple and generous grace of Patricia Barker could only go so far to redeem Kent Stowell’s threadbare choreography when she danced the title role in the final performance of the Pacific Northwest Ballet “Cinderella” on Thursday at Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Barker was lyric in extension, free and open in movement, seamless in linking steps, sunny in interpretation. It was a measure of Stowell’s awkward choreography that this level of dancer could periodically look weighty in the final waltz.

Her Prince was Ulrik Wivel, boyish and vaguely poetic in look, reasonably competent as a partner but adding little beyond generalized characterization. He seemed determined only to be efficient in carrying out the steps.

Ariana Lallone, who appeared as the Stepmother the previous two nights, assayed the triple duties of Godmother, Memory Mother and the Good Fairy, unfortunately with hard-edged attack and speed and little magic.

Amy Rose made a fleet Columbine. Dancers in the other principal roles were previously reviewed.

Allan Dameron presided in the pit for the first time, conducting Prokofiev’s uneven score (compiled from several sources) with requisite sweep and sensitivity.