According to the BBC, Sergei Polunin has walked out of his starring role in Peter Schaufauss' Midnight Express which is scheduled to open next Tuesday. Polunin simply failed to show up for rehearsals yesterday and then he or the theater released some flakey statement about his departure being due to "unforeseen circumstances."
We know that the dangling of dollars by Kevin McKenzie was at the root of the last incident when Polunin walked out of the Royal Ballet and jeopardized their entire season. How odd that he has quit again right on the exact same day that McKenzie decides he needs to replace Hallberg in a few performances. Once again, this punk has jeopardized the company that placed its confidence in him and gave him a second chance.
Schaufauss is devastated, as he should be. He said that Polunin hadn't checked out of his hotel but was not in his room. Schaufauss said that he's worried about him.
Why worry about him? When people choose over and over again to take their lives down a destructive path, they shouldn't be allowed to pull others down with them. Polunin should stick to his drugs and booze and leave the dance world alone. If his life ends badly, it ends badly.
12 responses to “Sergei Polunin walks out again”
I am in London on business (seeing the Royal tonight. Love them so), and the newspapers (there are more than a dozen dailies still) are filled with stories about Polunin leaving his latest employer in the lurch. This is, of course, unprofessional and disgusting. He did dance with the Royal very recently (I don’t think they should have taken him back even for one performance after what he did), and got rave reviews. Yes, he’s good (I’ve seen him dance) but he’s not as good as he thinks he is (I’ve seen better dancers, and certainly more professional dancers). Still, I hope he gets the help he desperately needs before he winds up yet another OD statistic.
I am in London on business (seeing the Royal tonight. Love them so), and the newspapers (there are more than a dozen dailies still) are filled with stories about Polunin leaving his latest employer in the lurch. This is, of course, unprofessional and disgusting. He did dance with the Royal very recently (I don’t think they should have taken him back even for one performance after what he did), and got rave reviews. Yes, he’s good (I’ve seen him dance) but he’s not as good as he thinks he is (I’ve seen better dancers, and certainly more professional dancers). Still, I hope he gets the help he desperately needs before he winds up yet another OD statistic.
Thanks, Deborah, for your report from the epicenter of this controversy. If you are still in London next Tuesday, maybe you’ll be able to catch the opening. I hope Londoners show Peter Schaufuss tremendous support and turn out for the show regardless of whether or not the production has a major artistic impact. He took such a chance on Polunin and got burned badly by someone who can now be described as radioactive.
Thanks, Deborah, for your report from the epicenter of this controversy. If you are still in London next Tuesday, maybe you’ll be able to catch the opening. I hope Londoners show Peter Schaufuss tremendous support and turn out for the show regardless of whether or not the production has a major artistic impact. He took such a chance on Polunin and got burned badly by someone who can now be described as radioactive.
Nope. Heading home to NYC Sunday (will be back in London August and November). Saw the Royal’s production of “La Bayadere” (same production as at ABT but so much better here). Alina Cojocaru is injured and was replaced by Roberta Marquez (who is quite good), but it was all about the incredible/brilliant/magnifence (she’s technically almost perfect, musical, dramatic, and beautiful), Marianela Nunez (one of my fav. ballerinas ever!)
as Gamzatti.
Nope. Heading home to NYC Sunday (will be back in London August and November). Saw the Royal’s production of “La Bayadere” (same production as at ABT but so much better here). Alina Cojocaru is injured and was replaced by Roberta Marquez (who is quite good), but it was all about the incredible/brilliant/magnifence (she’s technically almost perfect, musical, dramatic, and beautiful), Marianela Nunez (one of my fav. ballerinas ever!)
as Gamzatti.
Glad to hear that La Bayadere and Marianela were fab. And wow, Cojocaru is injured – again….
Glad to hear that La Bayadere and Marianela were fab. And wow, Cojocaru is injured – again….
While MacKenzie is not my favorite director, it is not right to blame for Polunin’s withdrawal from Midnight Express (or the Royal Ballet), which he had absolutely nothing to do with. Graham Watts is a highly respected and reputable critic based in London.
http://londondance.com/articles/features/midnight-express-and-headline-stars-part-company
FEATURE: MIDNIGHT EXPRESS AND HEADLINE STARS PART COMPANY
SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2013
Report: Graham Watts, 7 April 2013
The news that Sergei Polunin would not be performing in Midnight Express at the London Coliseum (9 – 14 April) was released in the briefest of press statements last Thursday morning ( 4 April). It made no mention of the departure of any other cast members, although it has now emerged that Igor Zelensky, (Polunin’s mentor and Director of Moscow’s Stanislavsky Ballet) had also left the production and, by Friday was reportedly back in the Russian city of Novosibirsk.
To my knowledge, rumours were circulating about problems with the production, specifically between Polunin, Zelensky and the show’s director, Peter Schaufuss, at least 18 hours before the release of this official statement and a pre-show Meet the Dancers event, planned for 3 April, was cancelled.
While MacKenzie is not my favorite director, it is not right to blame for Polunin’s withdrawal from Midnight Express (or the Royal Ballet), which he had absolutely nothing to do with. Graham Watts is a highly respected and reputable critic based in London.
http://londondance.com/articles/features/midnight-express-and-headline-stars-part-company
FEATURE: MIDNIGHT EXPRESS AND HEADLINE STARS PART COMPANY
SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2013
Report: Graham Watts, 7 April 2013
The news that Sergei Polunin would not be performing in Midnight Express at the London Coliseum (9 – 14 April) was released in the briefest of press statements last Thursday morning ( 4 April). It made no mention of the departure of any other cast members, although it has now emerged that Igor Zelensky, (Polunin’s mentor and Director of Moscow’s Stanislavsky Ballet) had also left the production and, by Friday was reportedly back in the Russian city of Novosibirsk.
To my knowledge, rumours were circulating about problems with the production, specifically between Polunin, Zelensky and the show’s director, Peter Schaufuss, at least 18 hours before the release of this official statement and a pre-show Meet the Dancers event, planned for 3 April, was cancelled.
Hi L. Greene.
Thanks for commenting, but we couldn’t include the entire article by Graham Watts that you quoted because that would obviously violate the “reasonable use” copyright doctrine. So I snipped all but the first two paragraphs. However, the article is very interesting, and readers should click on the link provided to read the rest of it.
Hi L. Greene.
Thanks for commenting, but we couldn’t include the entire article by Graham Watts that you quoted because that would obviously violate the “reasonable use” copyright doctrine. So I snipped all but the first two paragraphs. However, the article is very interesting, and readers should click on the link provided to read the rest of it.