Backstage with Margot Fonteyn and the Bumptious Colonial

Comments on "Backstage"

"Robin Haig is the consummate performer: elegant, utterly engaging, and dynamic. She seamlessly glides through her moving account of Margot Fonteyn's life as one of the twentieth century's most beloved prima ballerinas, and offers a rare glimpse into what it takes to devote one's life to the art of dance.

The audience lives Margot Fonteyn's triumphs and the heartaches through the perspective of someone whose life intersected Fonteyn's at key moments, but who also was a renown dancer in her own right. A fascinating and emotional tribute to the courage and passion of professional dancers."

— Faith E. Beasley, Professor of French, Dartmouth College

"In her delightful one-woman show Backstage with Margot Fonteyn and the Bumptious Colonial, Robin Haig takes us by the wrist and leads us gently through a ballerina’s dressing room, rehearsal halls, stages and post-show parties. There, Haig brings her colleague, the great Margot Fonteyn, her partner Rudolph Nuryev and other characters from Fonteyn’s fascinating life to the audience. The often humorous piece smartly employs still and moving images that accent both Haig and Fonteyn’s stories, and how the ballerinas’ lives intertwined. Haig is lovely and charming, a natural storyteller, and her performance is both entertaining and educational. It left me with a clear impression of Fonteyn, and wanting to learn more about the world of ballet."

— Mark Collins, Daily Camera Theater Critic, August 2005

" With her commanding stage presence, Robin Haig is the delightful subject and narrator of a travelogue which follows the life of a professional ballerina as she tours the world. Through her eyes we get a captivating portrait of life on the road, classic 20th century ballets, and Haig's relationship with the great dancer Margot Fonteyn. By the end of the performance of this one-woman show, you are convinced that the stage is full of the many fascinating characters Haig has brought to life."

— Dr. Bud Coleman, Chairman of the Department of Theatre and Dance, University of Colorado, Boulder

" In Backstage with Margot Fonteyn and the Bumptious Colonial, Margot Fonteyn is brought beautifully to life by a wonderful artist in her own right — Robin Haig. The work is charming, endearing and intimate. During this one-woman show of reminiscences, Robin reveals her own life in ballet, offering insights into the dance world that makes for an evening to be enjoyed by everyone. "

— Martin Fredmann, Former C.E.O. and Artistic Director of The Colorado Ballet

" Robin Haig, a most gracious, skilled, and inspiring performer, makes the past come alive in the present. As she tells her stories, we laugh, cry, and wish we had been there when she and Margot Fonteyn and other 'greats,' shared their magic with the world."

— Dr. Marilyn A. Hetzel, Director of Theatre, The Metropolitan State College of Denver

" So touching! What a journey through a time and lives I otherwise could not have known! Ms. Haig evoked the spirit of a lost era, and I wanted to run into the streets and tell everyone to come into the theatre and experience the show. Art like this is so important for people to see!"

— Cynthia Kennedy, Attorney and Playwright

" What a wonderful story! I was really drawn into the bi-level approach — Robin's story and Margot's. It really works beautifully and is indeed unique because of the woman doing it... The piece is very strong and has a lot of charm and artistic integrity; it is articulate on so many levels: voice/speech, movement, thought, visuals. It is like a beautiful dance, and I was thoroughly engrossed for the entire time."

— Dr. Lynn W. Nichols, The Colorado Shakespeare Festival

" It was wonderful, truly wonderful! Thank you for a delightful window into both beautiful lives."

— Captain Elizabeth Pickner, Airline Pilot

" Lee Potts and Robin Haig have created a heartfelt, informative, and deeply moving theatrical work that, through dance, theatre, acting, music, costumes, decor, film and slides, travels poignantly between the personal and the universal. Haig brings to her performance a wealth of experience that takes us on a journey into the world of art and life through her accomplished artistry. I left the theatre with a lump in my throat and wishing it wasn't over."

— Nancy Spanier, Director of the Nancy Spanier Dance Theatre of Colorado

" This collaboration between Robin Haig and Lee Potts is personal, educational, and delightful. Haig performs the well-crafted script with humor, intelligence, and charm; she is a natural story-teller, and with Potts' keen sense of timing and inventive direction, the production pleases as well as informs."

— Dr. Annette Thornton, Director and Dance/Acting Teacher

" Robin Haig now has a whole new performance career ahead of her, having created a thoroughly entertaining multi-media performance with BACKSTAGE with MARGOT FONTEYN. Adding her own personal magic, Robin brings to life the story of the on-stage partnership of Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn – and the backstage struggles and hard choices that face all performers in the demanding and rigorous discipline of dance. The performance at the UWA Extension Summer School was a sell-out and we look forward to welcoming Robin to our program again soon."

— Elisabeth Tilly, University of Western Australia