Oh Romeo, wherefore art the stage direction?

THE issues arising from the departure of Peter Martins as ballet master of New York City Ballet keep multiplying. What value do Martins' own ballets have?

For decades his choreography has been an easy punching bag. There were always worse dance makers, but he was singularly prestigious (thanks to his job at City Ballet) while his ballets were seldom interesting.

If most of his one-acts fell out of repertory, they would not be missed. In an era when the ballet audience needs lures, however, he has given City Ballet three full-length productions that have drawn the throng. In the case of his Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, he drew on the work of previous masters.