Fighting Evil

“The Sun, the Moon and the Wind”
Czech National Ballet
The Estates Theatre
Prague, Czech Republic
October 10, 2024 (matinee)

by Ilona Landgraf
Copyright © 2024 by Ilona Landgraf

“It has been written that the shrewdest thing Evil can do is to trick us into believing that it does not exist,” warned Štěpán Benyovszký who, together with Viktor Konvalinka, wrote the libretto and directed the Czech National Ballet’s new ballet, The Sun, the Moon and the Wind. It is based on a fairy tale that was first recorded in 1845 in the Czech Collection National Tales and Legends by Božena Němcová who later incorporated elements of Slavik versions. Although the ballet is meant to attract a young audience, it is entertaining for adults as well.

Benyovszký’s and Konvalinka’s adaption tells of the star of creation that illuminated primeval darkness. It split into four parts from which the sun, the moon, the wind, and Zora, the dawn princess, arose. Yet Zora’s part was stolen by Triglav, the vicious Dragon Lord of Time, who kidnapped and bewitched her. Determined to get ahold of the other three quarters of the star and thereby seize world power, Triglav regularly had to suck the souls of young men to stay young and strong. He singled out Prince Jan as a victim, but Jan’s three sisters, Rufflette, Sparkette, and Pallidette set off to rescue their brother.
During their separate travels, each encounters Triglav in disguise who, by evil force, escorts Rufflette to the Palace of the Wind, Sparkette to the Sun Palace, and Pallidette to the Moon. While Rufflette and Sparkette fall for and are distracted by the Wind Prince and Sun Prince, Triglav and his servant, Fearwing, snatch the coveted stars. Only the clever Pallidette outsmarts them. Thanks to the generous Moon Prince who presented her with his star, Pallidette is able to return to Earth and free her brother and Zora.
However, Triglav doesn’t give up and ultimately gets ahold of Pallidette’s star. But the Moon Prince intervenes and, in doing so, dies. As a result, the light of the star ceases, and Triglav loses his power. Meanwhile, Fearwing has changed sides and refuses to help his former master.
When they reunite, the sisters and Jan introduce their sweethearts to their parents. While the couples (Rufflette and the Wind Prince, Sparkette and the Sun Prince, Pallidette and Fearwing, and Zora and Jan) celebrate, Triglav makes a last attempt to steal the star but burns his fingers (actually, his butt because he was kicked into the fireplace). All’s well that ends well. The parts of the star are returned to their owners, and Pallidette replaces the Prince of the Moon and is crowned as Luna.

Set designer Martin Černý and costume designer Bregje van Balen gave each fairy tale realm distinct features. Triglav’s secret hideout was a dark hall with archways leading into a blue nowhere. Faceless figures populated it, their black satin robes billowing like foaming slick. A sparkling starlit sky lit the palace hall where the three princesses and Jan squabbled and fooled around. Many shades of pink seemed to be the royal family’s preferred robe color. A monumental cogwheel wind machine stood center stage in the Wind Palace. Its court society whizzed around on kids’ scooters. The Sun Prince reigned over a beach-party court from a mega-sized deckchair while he sucked fancy drinks, swayed his hips, and generously distributed sun milk to his subjects. Not least because of their pink sunglasses, each and everyone (even Triglav and Fearwing) was in a splendid mood. While everyone grooved to Let the Sunshine In, Fearwing filled in as the bartender, mixing heaven knows what into the cocktails. The court of the Moon Prince was a cheerful bunch that communicated in a high-pitched, extraterrestrial language that conferred amazement and appreciation. Surprisingly, the lack of gravity that made them weightless and their movements in slow motion didn’t affect their sovereign’s high-tech golf cart.

Smooth transportation around the world and into the universe was provided by Karel Cettl and Erik Bartoš (Lunchmeat Studio) whose media designs included huge flashes, light tunnels, and an ultrastrong rope that was able to pull the moon close. Especially spooky was their huge, graphic-novel-like animation that illustrated how Triglav’s dark force overpowered Zora.

At times, The Sun, the Moon and the Wind was not for the faint of heart. Overall though, humor and fun outweighed darkness. Prince Jan (Jakub Rašek), well-equipped with blades of all sizes, was full of mischief. His sister, Rufflette (Romina Contreras), heroically fought off a swarm of Buzzquitos (Monika Hejduková, Giovanni Rotolo, and Matěj Šust), that Triglav sicced on her (though they attacked her long hair that she was so fond of). Sparkette (Olga Bogoliubskaia) was ambushed by a monstrous black spider (Nikola Márová), which, luckily, considered the Buzzquito the more savory prey. The maverick, Pallidette (Alina Nanu), used her booklore to tame the three-headed wolf (Francesco Scarpato) into which Triglav (Patrik Holeček) had transformed Fearwing (Mathias Deneux). From that moment on, Fearwing ate out of her palm and radiated irresistible cheerfulness, which, finally, also turned Triglav into an amicable guy.
Francesco Scarpato portrayed the Wind Prince whose entourage chased Fearwing vociferously through the theater aisles after he stole a key cogwheel from the wind machine. Giovanni Rotolo’s Sun Prince was an inborn golden boy who wasted no opportunity to flirt. The Moon Prince (Matěj Šust), always lighthearted and unperturbed by any danger, tapped Triglav’s forehead as if teasing a friend before dying. A bucket of cold water broke the spell on Zora (Monika Hejduková). The King (Marek Svobodník) and his Queen (Nikola Márová) missed most of their children’s adventures due to an extensive horseback ride.
The peppy and, at times, refreshingly unorthodox choreography (also provided by Konvalinka) included many lifts and play-acting. Ivan Acher’s score gave each realm a characteristic soundscape that stirred the imagination.

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