ENB Nutcraker reviews ENB Nutcracker Performances Interview with Tom and Agnes All Nutcraker reviews

To re-cap... the ENB Nutcracker has been given every year in London since the 1950's and as such it is probably the longest running Nutcracker in the world. Of course over the years the production has been changed and re-choreographed more than a time or two. It was also always at the Royal Festival Hall, but after three decades, last year they moved to the rather more glamorous and roomy Coliseum and with the move they treated themselves (or rather Harrods did) to a new production - this time by the company's Artistic Director Derek Deane.

Nutcracker remains as crazy a ballet as ever with the lead dancers appearing for very little time and the Sugar Plum fairy indeed for just a few minutes at the end of the second and last act. It does mean that lots of casts can be seen and as both the ENB and BRB runs go on some less well known dancers will get a chance to display their wares and we will be featuring some thoughts (and their thoughts) on this in another piece.

But back to the ENB London opening... as attended by HRH Princess Michael of Kent, hence the usual late start and some standing to be done. Why these things always start late I know not: perhaps the state Roller has problems with its spark plugs?!

The new Nutcracker is designed by Sue Blane and very crisp it all is. Deane has updated the story to present-day Mayfair where Daddy has a girlfriend (and he eventually becomes King Rat) and mummy is probably on tranquilisers. The dolls are modern day ones - Barbie, Judge Dread and Michael Jackson. In general it moves quickly and seems to telegraph the action more clearly than many productions, but I would not necessarily call it so homely or comfortable. Deane also has Drosselmeyer dance much more with Clara than you would normally expect - though a couple of Russian versions I've seen take this approach. This close dancing perhaps harks back to simpler times and I suspect that in a few years time it will cease to be seen on stage given changing sensibilities. A shame perhaps.

Alice Crawford was dancing Clara and a good job she made of it it too. If we had not seen Tamara Rojo dance last year (when she really started registering with many of us) I would probably be raving even more about Alice. She also plays the role in a little more innocent and childlike way than Tamara - which is perhaps no bad thing given the slightly Freudian undertow in parts. Drosselmeyer was none other than Derek Deane himself - come out of dancing retirement. Regrettably I've never seen Deane dance before. I believe he was always said to be a good actor and certainly he carried off Drosselmeyer well. I suspect the company and he have had great fun in rehearsal and it must have proved a rare opportunity for them to have a go at the Director! As presented it was all very professional and I wonder if Deane will take on more character roles in future. Hopefully yes because he can act and move well.

Perhaps my major disappointment last year was the transformation scene and while some of it has grown on me (groan!) I still think this is the weakest aspect of the Blane designs. On the other hand the the land of snow and the Kingdom of the Sweets are just lovely. Daria Klimentova appeared for a minute or two as the Ice Queen and looked ravishing and danced crisply before it ended all too soon. I still have yet to see her in any major role and I really must correct this.

Thomas Edur was the Prince and Agnes Oaks his Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince actually puts in some early apearences and Tom looked both brilliant and a bit hesitant by turns - still learning a few of the the steps I fancy. Somebody described Mukhamedov as landing with a 'delicious and satisfyingly soft plop' - or something like that - and it sums up Toms jumps as well. When Agnes joined him they looked pretty together and one finds oneself looking incredibly closely for the odd mistake to check they are human. You know, her little finger being a 1 degree out of sync with his! One suspects that even these imperfections will be gone by the end of the run. They are terribly good and one longs to see them for much longer.

As last year the Mirlitons swept me away with their smiles and togetherness and Yat Sen Chang wowed the audience with his Russian dance. With Teddy Kumakawa gone, Chang is now the resident UK "Big jumper, in a small package, with a cheesy grin". And we all love him for it of course!

All up, a nice night, good dancers, fit and fast first act and delightful second act. And new boy Deane could go far in this ballet lark!