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(The following is as it appeared on the Ballet.co Postings Page)
Well, here we go, I'll try my best: (By the way, if you don't want to know the story, DON'T read on)
Let me start by saying I didn't see the original production in 1994, and I've only seen a few extracts from it at last year's Friends of AMP's AGM, so for those who did see it, forgive me for telling you things you already know. This new production is again designed by Anthony Ward, who did the first version, but he has updated his designs for this revival, which may explain why some pictures of the sets and costumes look unfamiliar.
Our story opens at Dr Dross' Orphanage for Waifs and Strays, not a happy place, to say the least. The said waifs and strays are preparing an entertainment for the visit of the orphanage Governors, and the Matron (Dr Dross' wife) is making sure everything is ready. The poor children are pathetically thrilled at the tiny amount of decorations they are allowed to put up around their sparse dormitory, including the miniature tree which is little more than a few dead branches. Clara tries to draw the attention of a boy she likes, but he seems rather shy.
We meet the Dross' revolting children, Sugar and her brother Fritz, who treat the orphans just as badly as their parents. The governors arrive and the Dross's show off the children and emphasize how well they are all treated (the lying toads!). At the end, two huge boxes are brought on and given to the orphans, who can't believe their luck until Sugar and Fritz zoom in and pinch both presents for themselves. Inside these beautiful boxes are a large jar of sweets each, a gun for Fritz and a doll for Sugar. The orphans are given a basket with a few modest gifts they are allowed to share amongst them, and at the bottom of the basket, Clara finds a Nutcracker sailor doll. She has such a lovely time playing with this doll that Sugar gets jealous and tries to take it away from Clara. In the ensuing struggle the Nutcracker's arms are pulled off and Sugar and Fritz flounce off, leaving Clara distraught. However, two other orphans help by performing the necessary "surgery" to repair the Nutcracker and Clara is happy again.
Not for long, however. Dr Dross and Matron come back, and now the Governors have gone, everything returns to bleak reality. The decorations are ripped down, and all the toys have to be thrown into the cupboard, including the Nutcracker, which is then locked before the children climb into their shared beds and settle down to sleep. (Oh how I wanted the audience to boo and hiss when Dr Dross drops the pathetic Christmas tree out of the window! He's so mean.)
Clara wakes, and steals across the dark dormitory to retrieve the key to the cupboard. After a few scary interruptions, she unlocks the cupboard, and a full sized Nutcracker lurches out! He stumbles after her around the dorm. trying to catch her, and poor Clara and the other awakened orphans are terrified of him until they suddenly realise that he wants to help them by breaking open the walls so that they can all escape. (This was the only bit I thought might be a bit scary for really little ones, as the dancer playing the Nutcracker wears a plastic mask, which is slightly disturbing. Mind you, the scenery effects are great.) The traditional fight with the King Rat is replaced with a wonderfully inventive Orphans Revolt, with Clara and the orphans (backed by the Nutcracker) setting upon their tormentors the Dross's, and variously tying them up, strapping them to beds, trying to behead them etc. until the whole family is vanquished and the orphans escape, Clara accompanied at the last by the Nutcracker (who peels off his mask to reveal himself to be her shy friend.)
Next, we find ourselves at a Frozen Lake, where everyone has fun skating around, enjoying the snow and ice. However, at one point the Nutcracker "happens" to be in the right place to catch Sugar as she overbalances, and he's rather taken with her. Naturally, Clara is disturbed by this, but in spite of her best efforts he is even more separated from her when Fritz nearly knocks him out with a snowball and Sugar catches him! Poor Clara can only watch in dispair as the Nutcracker goes off his new friends Sugar and Fritz (or should I say, Princess Sugar and Prince Bon-Bon, as they now are), leaving her behind. (I loved the end of this sequence in particular, when virtually the whole company is on stage
skating, with the boys waving part of the girls' dresses to show how the wind is blowing as they skate along. Very simple, but a lovely touch, marking the end of Act 1).
Act 2 starts with Clara on her own, not knowing how to find her lost Nutcracker. Her prayers for help are answered by two pyjama-clad Cupids (her two "surgeon" orphanage friends), who tell her that the Nutcracker has gone to Sweetieland, and magic up a beautiful dress for her to follow him there. The Nutcracker, Princess Sugar and Prince Bon-Bon arrive at the open-mouth entrance to Sweetieland and meet King Sherbert and Queen Candy (aka Dr & Mrs Dross). Princess Sugar introduces the Nutcracker to her parents, and after explaining how they met at the Frozen Lake, the King and Queen welcome the Nutcracker as a suitable son-in- law and they all go through into Sweetieland for the wedding. Clara isn't sure about following them in, and by the time the Cupid's persuade/push her towards the entrance she is too late to get past the Humbug Bouncer. He demands to see her wedding invitation, which of course she hasn't got (this is a nightmare, after all). Several different types of sweets arrive as guests (another great sequence, where the 'nationality' dances from the traditional version are replaced by dances for different sweets and ices:- liquorice allsorts, a knickerbocker glory, marshmallow girls and three gobstoppers). After several attempts are blocked by the Humbug, Clara finally manages to sneak past him into the wedding party.
The Marshmallow Girls
Photograph by John Ross ©
The King and Queen of Sweetieland preside over the wedding of Princess Sugar to the Nutcracker. The back of the stage opens to reveal a luscious tiered wedding cake, with all the guests arranged on the different layers (just like a Busby Berkeley movie, and it deservedly got a round of applause all for itself). Again, lovely witty variations on old favourites, like the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, and even the appearance of a huge heart-shape made of pink roses during the beautiful Pas-de- Deux doesn't seem over the top, just a touchingly romantic gesture exaggerated by a nightmarish dream, as poor Clara watches her lost Nutcracker dispairingly from the cake, before being discovered and ejected from Sweetieland. As the party swirls around, Clara wakes in the middle of the dormitory with the Nutcracker doll in her arms. Sadly she realises she's still at the Orphanage with all her dreams gone, until ....
But no, I can't spoil the very last moments of a wonderful production. If I've haven't got all the details right, forgive my poor memory, but blame the fact that I was laughing and giggling so much I may have got things a little muddled.
This fantastic show is a wonderful combination of innocence, wit, jokes, great sets and costumes, and brilliant performances from everyone in the cast. Adults will sense the darker, more sinister implications from the behaviour of Dr Dross in particular, but this is so deftly and subtly conveyed that I'm sure any children in the audience will just take things at face value and categorise him as a "nasty, bad man"
All in all I reckon "Nutcracker!" will leave you with a huge smile on your face, sore hands from all the clapping you'll do at the end, and if you're like me, a great desire to see it again to catch all the bits you missed the first time round.
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