By Kathryn Olsen
The holidays are here and Ballet West joins artists returning to live performances at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City with The Nutcracker. The company has been performing this classic by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and adapted from the E.T.A. Hoffman novel by Alexandre Dumas for so long that it was the longest-running The Nutcracker in America. Last year, KSL and Ballet West teamed up to broadcast the 2019 production, but it is a joy to see it performed on-stage once more. I remembered attending one of those pre-pandemic performances with fondness and looked forward to seeing it once again, especially with my niece as a much-younger plus-one than usual.
As the ballet opens. Dr. Drosselmeyer (Adrian Fry/Chase O’Connell/Dominic Ballard/Rex Tilton) and his nephew (Noah Engar/Noah Hill/Talmage Child/Rowan Green Geitler) prepare to attend a Christmas Eve party at the home of Herr (Joseph Lynch/Tyler Gum/Dominic Ballard) and Frau Stahlbaum (Anisa Sinteral/Allison DeBona/Oliva Gusti/Lillian Casscells/Victoria Vassos). Meanwhile, at the Stahlbaum household, Clara (Annabelle Jackson/London Williamson/Olivia Humeniuk/Isabelle Latimer) and her brother Fritz (Gabriel Brown/Devin Zurita/Marko Jovanovic-HaconThomas Fowler) are playing host to their guests and impatiently waiting for the Christmas party to start. While many presents are distributed and entertainments are provided, Clara is given a nutcracker doll. She immediately loves and tends to the doll and dozes off with the toy by her side. During the night, she is accosted by the Mouse King (Dominic Ballard/Jake Preece/Tyler Gum/Robert Fowler/Joseph Lynch) and his minions, while the house is defended by the Nutcracker Prince (David Huffmire/Joshua Shutkind/Jordan Veit/Noel Jensen/Dominic Ballard/Beau Chesivoir/Vinicus Lima) and his regiments. The tree and toys grow so that Clara is now their size and able to help in defeating the Mouse King. In gratitude, the Nutcracker brings her to his kingdom of sweets, where she is honored as a hero.
Jackson (Williamson/Humeniuk/Latimer) is a winsome dancer who plays a young girl on the cusp of maturity with great grace. Most striking is the way in which she portrays a person in need of protection and someone who is capable of great bravery. In between the two extremes is her playful depiction of this kind-hearted protagonist.
Huffmire (Shutkind/Veit/Jensen/Ballard/Chesivoir/Lima) plays the titular role as remarkably relatable. While we first see him commanding troops in battle, he is also the prince who gently guides Clara through unfamiliar territory and is charming among his own people in the Land of Sweets as he pays tribute to his defender. Throughout it all, he is a precise and commanding presence on the stage.
As important as friendship between Clara and her Nutcracker Prince is to the story, it could not be told without the intervention of a magical mentor and Fry (O’Connell/Ballard/Tilton) is just such a figure. He certainly puts on a show of his magic tricks towards the beginning, but is revealed to be more as the story goes on. He is the one who conjures extraordinary growth in a Christmas tree and brings toys to life and does so with a mesmerizing dramatic flair.
The two great pairs for each of the pas de deux are understandably outstanding performers. As Clara journeys from her home to the kingdom of her prince, she passes through a snowy forest and the Snow Queen (Emily Adams/Beckanne Sisk/Katlyn Addison/Amy Potter/Chelsea Keefer/Allison DeBona/Jenna Rae Herrera) and King (Chase O’Connell/Hadriel Diniz/Rex Tilton/Tyler Gum/Adrian Fry/Tyler Gum/David Huffmire/Jordan Veit) interact in intricate counterpoint to each other before their steps become more coordinated. This rendering gives the audience the impression that they are snowflakes flitting through the air in search of each other. The Sugar Plum Fairy (Katlyn Addison/Emily Adams/Beckanne Sisk/Jenna Rae Herrera/Allison DeBona/Amy Potter/Kazlyn Nielsen/Chelsea Keefer) and her Cavalier (Tyler Gum/Connor Walsh/Adrian Fry/Hadriel Diniz/Rex Tilton/Chase O’Connell/Jordan Viet) are the duo at the center of Act 2. While the Snow Queen and King are ethereal, the second act pairs characters who demonstrate solidity in their strength and companionship.
Ensemble roles are effectively cast for the personality that is evident in each performance. The Stahlbaums have both elegance and efficiency as they command their household, but their servants keep things in line with a stern, but fond, hand. The mice fight fearlessly for their King, but respond to his defeat as if playing a scene in a medical drama on television. The Prince’s armies are complex, but expertly regimented and allowed to slip some humor into their scene. The children at the party are recognizable for anyone who has anxiously awaited an exciting event, while the Buffoons in Act 2 are delightfully chaotic.
This ballet is well-known for the short exhibitions by different cultures within the Prince’s land and these performances are engaging. The Arabian Dance features a small ensemble, but the soloists draw the audience into the story between them and a bit of romantic suspense. The Chinese Warrior (Joshua Whitehead/Tyler Gum/Beau Chesivoir/David Huffmire/Vinicus Lima) takes on a dragon and the audience cheers on his bravery. The Spanish dance opens the festivities with stalwart and flamboyant performances by dancers who take the flamenco style very seriously. The pastoral scene of the Mirlitons showcases both the artistry of the individuals and their power as a unit. The crowd-pleasing Russian Dance is a showcase for another united ensemble that is thrilled to be working together. Second only to this is the Mother Buffoon dance, in which the oversized and overly theatrical Mother (Vinicus Lima/Dominic Ballard/Joshua Shutkind/Beau Chesivoir) corrals and cares for a legion of children while looming twice as large as any other figure on stage. The famous Waltz of the Flowers is always phenomenal, but the choreography and staging of this production creates scenes within the movement that allow the spectacle to build to its breathtaking climax.
The enchanting choreography is, of course, by the founder of Ballet West, Willam F. Christensen, but the current performances are under the direction of Artistic Director Adam Sklute. The Costume Design by David Heuel, with Costume Dyer and Painter Lisa Waering Sacaris and Masks designer Robert Allsop involved in the execution, is both appropriate to each setting and unique enough to create a rich tapestry among the performers. The Set Design by John Wayne Cook and Additional Scenic Design by Dick and Belinda Bird create a setting that is peeled back, layer by layer, until the audience that has watched Dr. Drosselmeyer travel the streets eventually arrives in the heart of the Stahlbaum home or journeys to the Land of Sweets. Props and Puppetry Design are masterminded by Cory A. Thorell and each seems a natural extension of the performer rather than something that has to be introduced from an outside source. Kevin Dreyer‘s Lighting Design, with Lighting Recreation by Michael Mazzola and Projection Design by Mike Tutaj, determine the mood and time of each scene and the projection is particularly effective when the celebrations include fireworks on a backdrop. As always, Jared Oaks leads the orchestra with inexhaustible energy and attention to the emotional journey of the story.
This ballet is recommended for anyone 5 years old or older and the makeup of Friday’s audience is a good indication that it can be enjoyed by all ages. Masks are required as they point out that the audience should imitate the performers and staff who only remove them while on stage.
The Nutcracker Prince will be visiting the Capitol Theatre throughout December, so there is no time like the present to run away to nineteenth-century Germany or the home of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It may seem like a dream, but it will stay with audiences throughout the holiday season.
Ballet West presents The Nutcracker; Music by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Based on the novel by E.T.A. Hoffman and the adaptation by Alexandre Dumas.
Capitol Theatre, 50 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
December 4-26, 2021 at 7:00 PM. See site for matinees on specific dates.
Tickets: $25-125
Contact: 801-869-6900
www.balletwest.org
Ballet West Facebook Page
The Nutcracker Facebook Event
0 Comments