“On the face of it, the ballet demonstrates the opposite of suspense. It has a prologue and three acts — but, before the Prologue is over, two rival divinities, the vengeful Carabosse and the beneficent Lilac Fairy, have told us what’s going to happen. So guess what? Then it happens. What’s more, it all happens during Acts I and II. Act III has no narrative at all, just the happy couple’s wedding and their fairy tale guests. The whole thing sounds daft,”