By Emilie Minshew
Seeing Ballet West’s The Nutcracker at Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City is a cherished Christmastime tradition for this reviewer. Year after year, I look forward to donning a beautiful gown and watching Clara’s journey to defeat the Mouse King and celebrate in the Sugar Plum court inside the familiar walls of Capitol Theatre. Utah is incredibly lucky to have such a distinguished local ballet company for audiences to enjoy.
The Nutcracker is loosely based on a fairytale by E.T.A. Hoffmann written in 1816,which was later adapted for the ballet by the well-known Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 18i8. The story follows a young girl named Clara (Olivia Humeniuk/Stasha Petkovic/Isabelle Latimer/Kelsey Sukla) on a dreamlike adventure in which she is guided by her newest toy, a Christmas nutcracker doll.
According to a 2019 article written by the Salt Lake Tribune, Ballet West’s production of The Nutcracker is the longest-running production of this ballet in the entire United States. Having been performed since 1944, its enduring popularity is, no doubt, due in part to Willam Christensen’sspectacular choreography. Christensen later went on to found Ballet West in 1963, solidifying the company’s place as a premier ballet company.
A show for all ages, the production as a whole is an absolute delight for the senses, but the highlight is very obviously watching the incredibly talented dancers. Each dancer in the production moves with palpable and immaculate energy from the tips of their fingers to the ends of their toes. You can feel each individual’s breath propelling their movements to be light, which results in their dancing appearing utterly effortless despite the immense physical difficulty of ballet.
Clara played by Olivia Humeniuk and her Nutcracker Prince, played by Vinicius Lima (Jacob Hancock/Noel Jensen/Beau Chesivoir/Joshua Whitehead), are the perfect duo to tell the story of the show.
I was absolutely blown away by the Snow Queen, played by Amy Potter (Emily Adams/Jenna Rae Herrera/Katlyn Addison/Chelsea Keefer/Kristina Weimer). As Potter and her cavalier, played by Brian Waldrep (Hadriel Dniz/Jordan Veit/Adrian Fry/David HuffmireTyler Gum), dance through a snowstorm on stage, I could not help but feel absolute awe at the beauty of their dance. There is a particular lift in which Potter leaps backwards into Waldrep’s arms that gives me chills to think about.
Emily Adams (Jenna Rae Herrera/Amy Potter/Chelsea Keefer/Katlyn Addison/Amy Potter/Kazlyn Nielsen) dances a gorgeous Sugar Plum Fairy. In my opinion, the best part of her performance is her pas de deux (dance of two) with the Sugar Plum Cavalier, danced by Hadriel Diniz (Jordan Veit/Brian Waldrep/David Huffmire/Tyler Gum/Jake Preece). Their individual dancing compliments them as a pairing. The cast of the show depends on the performance. For the most accurate casting information, audiences are encouraged to check the boards near the front of the theatre.
The sets by John Wayne Cook and Dick and Belinda Bird, are beautiful. The rich, saturated tones elevate the production immensely and provide the perfect setting for the show. The costumes by David Heuvel are, quite honestly, one of the best parts of the production. In particular, Heuvel’s design for the flowers during the “Waltz of the Flowers” is noteworthy. Truly, it looks as though a bouquet of flowers have grown limbs and begun to dance onstage.
The Capitol Theatre is the perfect venue for such a classic ballet. The atmosphere is rich and inviting. Sparkling chandeliers and golden crown molding garnish the ceilings, and the venue invites audiences to settle in for a night of exciting ballet. This reviewer does recommend that audiences arrive early to the venue to combat the complexities of finding parking in downtown Salt Lake, as the theatre has no designated parking.
Tickets start at $30 and the production runs through the 24th of December, with both evening and matinee performances. Don’t miss this beautiful Utah Classic.
Ballet West presents The Nutcracker; Based on The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by ETA Hoffman, music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Capitol Theatre, 50 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Dec 2-24, 2022, 7:00 PM. See website for individual dates and times.
Tickets: $30-121.
www.BalletWest.Org
Contact: (801) 869-6900
Ballet West Facebook page
The Nutcracker Facebook Event
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