METRO Boston reviews Boston Ballet's Nutcracker:
“The Nutcracker” is a timeless holiday tradition. And even though E.T.A. Hoffmann’s fairy tale about a girl and her nutcracker prince remains the same, Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen makes sure there’s always a little unexpected something year after year.
For 2009’s production, that something is Misa Kuranaga’s Sugar Plum Fairy. With accuracy and delicacy this new principal dancer takes the lead role to the next level and lights up the stage with her grace. She’s an excellent asset and a refreshing sight to those who go year after year.
Other standouts include the complicated and intricate patterns of the corps de ballet in the snow scene and the giant bear (Robert Kretz) that Drosselmeier brings to entertain the children in the party scene.
While the rest of the show seems a little stale, predictable and under-rehearsed, (Nutcracker/Cavalier Nelson Madrigal looked bored), Nissinen’s choreography is top rate, the live orchestra makes all the difference, and children watching will stare wide-eyed at the costumes, set design and magic that is “The Nutcracker.”
Dazzling in glimmering white, Snow Queen (Erica Cornejo) is perfectly partnered with Snow King (Sabi Varga, in the performance this reporter saw, but also played by James Whiteside and Lorin Mathis) as he lifts her across stage as the white stuff begins to fall.
‘The Nutcracker’
Through Dec. 27
The Opera House
539 Washington St., Boston MBTA: Green Line to Boylston
$35-$162, 617-695-6950
www.bostonballet.orgParty! Battle! And sweets!
“The Nutcracker” is broken up into two acts (with several scenes), including the Party scene, the Battle scene and the Kingdom of Sweets. In the first, Clara receives a nutcracker as a gift at a party. She and her brother fight over it, and the doll breaks, leaving her godfather to mend it. In the Battle scene, Clara has fallen asleep, and the nutcracker has come to life. He whisks Clara off to the Land of Sweets, which is Act II.
by KATRINA T. LALLIER for Metro :
http://www.metro.us/us/home/
