Connecticut Ballet brings the living doll, ‘Coppélia,’ back to life at The Bushnell

Why is Connecticut Ballet bringing back its Léo Delibes’ “Coppélia”? Because we could all use a laugh. A beautiful, romantic, exquisitely choreographed ballet dancing laugh.

The show played the Stamford Palace earlier this month and now will be at The Bushnell’s Belding Theater for two performances on May 20 and 21.

Connecticut Ballet first did its “Coppélia” in 1987, according to the company’s founder and artistic director Brett Raphael. “This is its fourth or fifth iteration. Next to ‘The Nutcracker,’ it’s the most popular thing we’ve done. It’s just a beautiful story ballet.”

They haven’t done it at The Bushnell since 2010.

Both Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and Delibes’ “Coppélia” are based on short stories by the German fantasy writer E.T.A. Hoffmann, who lived from 1776 to 1822. “Coppélia” concerns an inventor, Dr. Coppélius, whose super-realistic dancing doll causes turmoil when she becomes the object of a young man’s affection.

At The Bushnell, the dance features guest soloists plus Connecticut Ballet’s whole corps de ballet. The children in the Hartford performances will be different from the children who danced in Stamford, being drawn from each city’s community. Connecticut Ballet is based in both Stamford and Hartford.

The dancers dance to a 1986 recording of DeLibe’s score by conductor Richard Bonynge and England’s National Philharmonic Orchestra.

For this rendition, Raphael has created new choreography for the famous “Waltz of the Hours” sequence.

“This time it’s more of a neoclassical version, with eight Connecticut Ballet soloists,” he said. He’s also made the wedding pas de deux in the show “more formal.”

Overall, Raphael said his is “a fairly traditional version. I love the feel of Old Europe, Prussia, that throwback to a simpler time.” The dance’s wheat-themed pas de deux makes him think of the “folk wisdom of that part of the world at that time.”

Another big change: This is the first time Connecticut Ballet has staged “Coppélia” where Raphael is not dancing the role of Dr. Coppelius. It was only a few months ago that Raphael ditched another role he’d danced on and off for decades, Drosselmeyer in Connecticut Ballet’s annual “Nutcracker.” He simply felt it was time to pass the torch. “Eric Hu, who has been a character performer with us for many years, has had a year to work on this, and he’s having a great time with it. It’s a very complex role.”

Raphael explained that while comic character roles are a mainstay of classical ballet, it can be hard to get the right training for their unique challenges, like dancing in boots. “There’s dance in a non-balletic way as well. The boots are fantastic. You have to have training to do that boot work.”

The plot of a doll that comes to life, robot-style, makes “Coppélia” “the AI of its time,” Raphael joked. “It’s the childlike fantasy of playing with dolls and having them come to life. It’s a lover’s quarrel that sets it all off.”

Audiences can be assured that “Coppélia” is, as its creators intended, a comic ballet. “Funny? It really is. It is not a troubling afternoon at the ballet. Nobody dies. Nobody gets their head chopped off. They live happily ever after,” he said. “It’s one of the few ballets that is outright comic. It’s not hifalutin’ humor. It’s not lowbrow either. It’s the kind of humor family audiences can appreciate.”

Connecticut Ballet had originally intended to revive “Coppélia” three years ago, in May 2020, but the pandemic ruined that plan.

Coincidentally, there is another “Coppélia” happening in Connecticut this month. New Haven Ballet is doing it on May 27 at 1 p.m. at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, choreographed by that company’s artistic director, Lisa Kim Sanborn, based on the famous version by Marius Petipa. It will be performed by New Haven Ballet School students. Two other works are included in that Shubert program: “Cavaliere Allegro” and “Vivaldi Concerto.” Tickets are $28.60 to $67.80.  More information is at newhavenballet.org/spring-performance/.

“There’s a new generation experiencing this ballet,” Raphael said. “It’s popular in America. In Europe, it’s never stopped. It’s been in continuous production at the Paris Opera since it premiered.

“This is the ultimate ballet to introduce children to. It’s fast-paced. It’s funny.”

“Coppélia” is danced May 20 at 7:30 p.m. and May 21 at 2 p.m. at The Bushnell’s Belding Theater, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford. $58-$76. bushnell.org.