It’s that time of year again. “Nutcracker” marathon weekend. Thursday-Saturday I saw three very different shows — Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” Anthony Williams’ “Urban Nutcracker,” and “The Slutcracker — A Burlesque.” All-in-all a great way to start the Christmas season.
Boston Ballet proves that quality never goes out of style — Fluid movements and energy keep it very fresh
Read it: “The Nutcracker” is based off the book “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816. Photo by Rosalie O’Connor
Get out of the cold and enjoy the warmth of Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.”
Although the beloved story ballet about a little girl and her Christmas doll is an annual staple in the repertoire, Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen’s dancers make the 2010 production fresh and exciting.
For many theater goers, “The Nutcracker” is their first glimpse of classical ballet. The plot is easy to follow the show is action packed and you’ll laugh, oo and ah over the cast of characters (Bear, Mouse King, Mother Ginger, Russians, Arabians, the black sheep).
Veterans won’t be disappointed either. Young Alexandra Storch will have you reminiscing about how excited you were on Christmas Eve as a child (she is one of three Clara’s reprising the role). Snow King and Queen Pavel Gurevich and Lia Cirio are exquisite in The Enchanted Forest. And Misa Kuranaga blew us away again as The Sugar Plum Fairy.
From the rich live music of Tchaikovsky to the vintage-looking costumes to the set design and choreography, Boston Ballet has been swept up in the joy of the holiday spirit and you will too.
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NYE Magic
Making plans for New Year’s? Whether it’s a full family outing or a romantic date, get ticket’s for BB’s first New Year’s Eve performance. Don’t worry, you’ll be out in plenty of time to see the fireworks and ring in the New Year.
Tiny dancers
• More than 240 young dancers, (in three casts) from Boston Ballet School participate in the production.
Plot points:
Party scene: The Silberhauses have a Christmas Eve party and their daughter, Clara, receives a nutcracker from Herr Drosselmeier. She and her brother fight over it, and the doll eventually breaks, leaving her godfather to mend it with his handkerchief.
Battle scene: Clara falls asleep on the sofa but is soon awakened (as a dream sequence) by the clock striking midnight. The Nutcracker comes to life to battle the Mouse King protecting the young girl. The Nutcracker turns into a handsome Cavalier and whisks Clara off through the Enchanted Forest and snow to the Land of Sweets.
Land of Sweets: The Sugar Plum Fairy greets the pair and her kingdom puts on a show in Clara’s honor which includes themed dances: Spanish, Arabian, Chinese and Russian.
Boston Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Through Dec. 31
The Opera House
539 Washington St., Boston
MBTA: Red/Orange Line to Downtown Crossing; Green Line to Boylston
$35-$162, 617- 695-6950
www.bostonballet.org
‘Urban Nutcracker’ is fun for the whole family — If Tchaikovsky isn’t jazzy enough for you, this is
Anthony Williams' "Urban Nutcracker" Photo by Petr Metlicka
Now in its 10th anniversary season, “Urban Nutcracker” continues to draw families to see its unique and diverse spin of the beloved Christmas story by E.T.A. Hoffmann.
The plot is updated to present day; Clarice and Omar’s father is serving overseas, the familiar classical music by Tchaikovsky has been morphed into smooth jazz by Duke Ellington; Drosselmeyer comes with sidekick Minimeyer and there are some additional dances in Act II’s Land of Fantasy.
Gianni DiMarco teams up with funny man Yo-el Cassel (Drosselmeyer and Minimeyer) leading the way to Clarice’s magical journey. The Sugar Plum Fairy (Elizabeth Mochizuki) pays meticulous attention to her. Janelle Gilchrist is comfortable with fluid moves as the lead Branch in the Branch and Flowers. Li-Ann Lim (Arabian) wows the crowd with her flexibility. But this show is all about the children — the ones dancing and the ones watching — and Artistic Director Anthony Williams really focuses on that, making it enjoyable for everyone involved.
While there were a few glitches Opening Night, as a whole, this show gets better every year. And the Wheelock Family Theater is the (new) perfect venue for the family-oriented multicultural production.
But don’t be late!
The addition of a prologue’s high-energy choreography sets the inner-city tone. This year, it’s the return of the Doo Wop Singers and addition of a Bollywood number as well as ultra pop futuristic hip-hop.
Anthony Williams’ ‘Urban Nutcracker’
Through Dec. 19
Wheelock Family Theater
200 The Riverway Boston, Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Fenway or Longwood
$20-$50, 617-879-2300
www.urbannutcracker.org
If classical ballet isn’t your thing, ‘The Slutcracker’ is holiday burlesque that’s both naughty and nice
The Amazing Cast for "The Slutcracker" Photo by Caleb Cole
Whoever said that “The Nutcracker” had to be nice never saw “The Slutcracker.” This naughty sexy-freaky version of the holiday classic playing at the Somerville Theater, is now in its third year and growing with popularity.
Set to Tchaikovsky’s classical score, Clara is all grown up and gets engaged on Christmas Eve. But her Aunt Drosselmeyer will not hear of it — she insists that Clara explore her sexuality and become more intimate with herself before committing.
Highlights that will leave you begging for more include: the Battle between the ugly sweater brigade and the Slutcracker and its batteries; the horny Polichinelles, the Waltz of the Flowers and the Sugar Dish Fairy (Artistic Director Vanessa White).
This show is not for children — and audience participation (read: cat calls) are strongly encouraged. The show will leave you Energized (wink, wink) — truly the best $20 you and your friends will spend all season.
Amazing AND Bodacious!
White (aka Sugar Dish) expands this year’s production with two casts and more performances, including a Christmas Eve show. The Amazing cast (Fridays and Sundays) features the original Clara, Slutcracker Prince and Drosselmeyer — Malice in Wonderland, Oliver Tryst and 86-year-old Vaudeville star Mary Dolan. The Bodacious cast (Thursdays and Saturdays) adds a whole new dimension to the story line with a female Slutcracker Princess (Pamela Passion) and male Dancer of the Reed Pole (Ammon EP).
Enjoy the “Slut” at home:
That’s right. Now you can add “The Slutcracker” to your holiday book collection. “’Twas the Night Before “Slutcracker” written by White and John Wentworth with illustrations by Walter Sickert will be sold exclusively at live performances.
“The Slutcracker — A Burlesque”
Through Dec. 24
Somerville Theater
55 Davis Square, Somerville
MBTA: Red Line to Davis
$20, 617-625-5700
www.theslutcracker.com
Pointe & Press 