The Gift That Keeps on Giving
ONE THING that is as sure as the setting sun, whether it makes you run and hide or immediately purchase overpriced tickets, is the Christmas ballet darling, The Nutcracker. For close to 100 years, audiences young and old have experienced the magic of this production with super-sized Christmas trees, dancing candy canes , icy Snow Queens, and sublime Sugar Plum Fairies—all visions of a young girl under a yuletide spell.
The Charleston Ballet Theatre has produced a sumptuous production of this nutty spectacular that runs like a well oiled machine, and even though we may tire of the annual event, it does not cease to transport those who are a part of it.
Jill Eathorne-Bahr’s choreography is classical perfection throughout the many facets of this ballet. The party scene is packed with revelers from the tiniest Tim to the venerable grandmother who is over served with merriment. There must be 40 dancers on stage, brilliantly orchestrated to Tchaikovsky’s celebrated score, without stepping on each others’ toes or knocking out neighboring dancers with dolls or swords. The Snow Queen sparkled with graceful elegance and her snowflakes—real and imagined—transported this watcher into the perfect silent night complete with moonlit falling snow. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her able Prince were stunning with eloquent partner work and flawless technical feats.
Part of my enthusiasm for this overplayed ballet is that I had a personal connection to it this year. My six-year-old daughter had landed the role of a baby mouse (a role I shared in my childhood production in upstate New York countless Decembers ago). To be close to this enchantment again and see it through her eyes as the stage exploded with light and set and beautiful dancers with lots of makeup and point shoes is as close to stardom as one might get. For my small ballerina to feel the excitement of a production like this is indeed priceless. She hums the score, dances all the parts, and dreams constantly of sugar plums. Once again I have been completely snowed by the Nutcracker, and I am grateful to be so. •
What a nice report!
This is a charming view of The Nutcracker.