The Nutcracker

Peter Schaufuss has taken the twinkly Christmas ballet and given it a striking modern edge. Shifting the scene from a classical period setting may, for some, take away the magic of the work, and indeed the setting, although striking, is somewhat bland and at times drab; the shifting perspex screens added very little to the entertainment and were just a little clunky. The party guests in variants of black tie and evening dress looked great and there was some very witty choreography as they danced, many of the males doing what can only be described as ‘Dad dancing’ in a balletic format.

If the setting disappointed though, it was more than made up for by the excellent company and some extremely good dancing. The ensemble work was tidy enough and the snowflakes in huge white wigs that showered snow onto the yellow rectangular ‘pitch’ in which the story plays out, was very pretty and witty too with shades of Slava and his snow show.

After the interval came the set pieces, all of which were danced well and choreographed with a freshness that pleases. The biggest surprise was that, despite being on stage, the Sugar Plum Fairy had to sit out her dance as Clara stole what is perhaps the most famous moment from the work. But stole it she did and with it she stole the show.

As a narrative the work was somewhat thin, but the set pieces allowed for some very pretty dance and in reality that is what most of us want from The Nutcracker. Personally I think the staging could have been a bit more lavish, the pared down look was effective in a way but I didn’t get that magical tingle that I usually get from this, one of Tchaikovsky’s most famous works. That said, it was a delightful seasonal treat that I am sure will please audiences.

22 December,
Concert Hall, Brighton Dome
Rating:
Andrew Kay