Slide into the holiday season with some Spanish flair

The Cape Town City Ballet’s exuberant production of Don Quixote showcases the company in top form and provides plenty of entertainment with a good dose of humour, writes Eugenie du Preez.

Cape Town - If you’re feeling frazzled after a tough year, a bit of light-hearted fun may be just what you need to slide into the holiday season. 

The Cape Town City Ballet’s sparkling production of Don Quixote offers easy-on-the-eye entertainment with plenty of Spanish flair and a dash of humour.

Don Quixote dreams of being a knight in shining armour and sets off on his steed – yes, there is a horse on stage! – to defend chivalrous values and find the beautiful Dulcinea, the woman of his dreams.

(Xola Putye as Basilio. Photo: Supplied/Cape Town City Ballet)

Along the way, he encounters the star-crossed lovers Kitri and Basilio. As their rocky romance unfolds against a background of gypsies, dryads and the odd windmill or two, there’s plenty of scope for the company’s exciting young dancers to show off their talents while the leads wow the gallery with virtuoso displays of dance.

A metrosexual gypsy, an effeminate dandy in kitten heels and the delightfully dotty Don Quixote bring a touch of comedy against a backdrop of castanets and fluttering fans. This is a delightful show that will appeal to all ages, and the opening night audience certainly loved it all.

Don Quixote is on at the Artscape Opera House until 29 October. Booking is through Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.

 (Leane Theunissen as Kitri. Photo: Supplied/Cape Town City Ballet)