The first time I saw Swan Lake, it was the traditional version.
The second time, it was the Charles-Diana-Camilla love triangle adaptation.
The third time, it was Matthew Bourne's.
Regardless of all the half-naked male swans (...sort of...), Bourne's adaptation is by far my favourite, I watch it religiously once a fortnight (and sometimes multiple times a week). I love the story, the dancers, the dancing, the choreography, the way it fits the music, in some places like the music was originally written for it, the parodies of traditional ballet, the characters, its social commentary... I just think it's a beautifully crafted ballet, and prefer it to the traditional one. I do like that version, too, the way Odette and Ondine are performed so differently by the same dancer, but I just love the reality (and irreality, too, I s'pose) of Bourne's.
Which, if any, is your favourite?
