“Polyphonia,” “Monotones II,” “Six Fold Illuminate,” “Commedia”
Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company
City Center
New York, NY
October 1, 2008
by Leigh Witchel
copyright © 2008 by Leigh Witchel
Morphoses, Christopher Wheeldon’s company, opened its sophomore season
at City Center on Wednesday night with a revival of “Polyphonia,” his
breakout work for New York City Ballet from 2001. One of Wheeldon’s
strengths is his savvy in casting his ballets, both for new works and
revivals. Several of the original cast members danced including Jason
Fowler (co-credited with the staging), Craig Hall and importantly Wendy
Whelan. Though Edwaard Liang is dancing with Morphoses, Gonzalo Garcia
danced his role instead. When replacing, Wheeldon knows to put in
dancers who have a similar effect onstage; Tiler Peck’s athleticism is
an analogue for Jennie Somogyi’s. Teresa Reichlen is a different dancer
than Jennifer Tinsley-Williams, but with similar lines.
Tyler Angle got the challenge of replacing Whelan’s long-time partner
Jock Soto. The part stretches Angle’s range beyond that of Jeune
Premier. Flips and partnering feats that looked like magic tricks when
Soto did them looked more quotidian with Angle, but also more human.
Seven years have softened Whelan’s edges in the first duet and made it
more unearthly than harsh.