Synopsis: Lise, the only daughter of Widow Simone, is in love with the young farmer
Colas, but her mother has far more ambitious plans for her. Simone hopes to
marry her off to Alain, the son of the wealthy proprietor Thomas. Desperate to
marry Colas rather than Alain, Lise contrives to outwit her mother’s plans.
65 years after its premiere, The Royal Ballet presents Frederick Ashton’s La
Fille mal gardée. This affectionate portrayal of village life combines
exuberant good humour and brilliantly inventive choreography in what is
undoubtedly Ashton’s love letter to the English countryside. La Fille mal gardée
whisks us away into pastoral bliss with Ferdinand Hérold’s cheerful score and
Osbert Lancaster’s colourful designs.