RBO: La Fille Mal Gardee

Lise, the only daughter of Widow Simone, is in love with the young farmer Colas, but her mother has
far more ambitious plans for her. Simone hopes to marry her off to Alain, the son of the wealthy
proprietor Thomas. Desperate to marry Colas rather than Alain, Lise contrives to outwit her mother’s
plans.
65 years after its premiere, The Royal Ballet presents Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée. This
affectionate portrayal of village life combines exuberant good humour and brilliantly inventive
choreography in what is undoubtedly Ashton’s love letter to the English countryside. La Fille mal
gardée whisks us away into pastoral bliss with Ferdinand Hérold’s cheerful score and Osbert
Lancaster’s colourful designs.