RB&O: La Fille Mal Gardee

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 gardee. 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 gardee whisks us away into pastoral bliss with Ferdinand Herold’s cheerful score and Osbert Lancaster’s colourful designs.