Last night Ballet BC hosted the Alberta Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. It was an evening brimming with feminine grace and acrobatic strength. “The Nutcracker” has long been a Christmas favourite. Not just because it is set on Christmas Eve, but also because it is tactile and very richly textured. This ballet is as cosy and as warm as they come. It has family, it has magic, it has exotic notes from lands far, far away. It hits all the right festive notes! There will only be two more shows: one on the evening of the 30th and the other in the afternoon of the 31st. So I would recommend that you get your hands on some of these hot tickets very soon!
The Alberta Ballet production tours the country regularly and it has visited Vancouver for quite a few years now. Choreographer Edmund Stripe and Costume and Set Designer Zack Brown have created a timeless, high quality masterpiece. The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra adds another dimension of perfection to this ambitious ballet with their masterful renditions of Tchaikovsky’s compositions. Although it tells the story of a German family, “The Nutcracker” has Russian origins. It opened in St. Petersburg, in 1892. Stripe has cleverly adapted the original ballet to reflect its Russian roots. The choreography, the costumes and the set, all reflect Stripes’s innovative artistic decision. Because the setting is Russian and not German, the family we visit is the Vishinsky family. This Nutcracker has a refreshing Russian twist!
You know the story well. Klara receives a Nutcracker doll from her godfather who helps bring it to life in the form of a handsome prince. The Nutcracker Prince, with the help of the Snow Tsarina, takes Klara to the Land of Sweets, which is ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Sugar Plum Fairy then has her multicultural (and slightly politically incorrect) sweets put up pretty dances for her guests. Chocolates from Spain, coffee from Arabia/India, tea from China, Russian candies, Mother Ginger et al., shepherds, shepherdesses, and some gorgeous flowers, all dance to impress!
The set is romantic and intricate. Stripe’s vision for an authentic Russian ballet sees faithful manifestation on Brown’s very carefully designed stage. Beautifully painted screens adorn the entire height of the stage. The opening screen shows the street view outside the Vishinsky house. On the horizon we see the aladdinesque confection that is Saint Basil’s Cathedral. The streetlights and their surrounding shadows take us vividly to St. Petersburg. We get just as delicate and detailed screens for the interior of the Vashinsky home, for the wintery domains of the Snow Tsarina and for the gardens of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The costumes are very Anna Karenina. Puffed-out sleeves for the women and army uniforms for the men. Klara floats in light, girly frocks that allow her to show off her physically demanding dances. We see the Russian influences in Grandma’s Orthodox Russian hat as well as in the traditional dancing incorporated into the waltzes.
The Rat costumes are probably the most sophisticated I have ever seen. When Klara was swarmed by those furry creatures I got shivers! The Snow Tsarina is an absolute vision in her frosted coat with its fur trimmings, and a majestic diamond crown to match. Her Snowflakes perform in beautiful unison. The Snowflakes are dancers at the top of their game. They hit every beat in the music and perpetually float a foot above the ground. Their silver blue outfits and sparkling tiaras are the prettiest things. These girls were my favourite. Seeing a whole flock of ballerinas perform sharp, fast, yet graceful, choreography set my heart aflutter. The same team of ballerinas later play the Sugar Plum Fairy’s flowers in hyperfeminine peach outfits and take the prettiness to a whole ‘nother level!
The Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier’s duets and solos are technically mindblowing. As a spectator it was one awe-filled moment to the next. Klara is also a fantastic ballerina. She is full of grace and her expressions can be read from across the room. The Nutcracker Prince that we got yesterday is a super cute guy who fuses smooth masculinity into his grace. The children add a beautifully innocent core to the ballet. They lend a wide-eyed excitement to the production that rubs off on to the more experienced ballet dancers. They add an element of relaxedness to an otherwise super-precise and carefully calibrated show. The dancing is top notch. These are dancers at the top of their game and they are a enthralling to watch. Their sprawling jetés and endless pirouettes left me breathless. How. Do. They. Do. That?!!
Through hard work and discipline.
Yes.
Got it.
This Nutcracker is not to be missed. It is a visual and aural treat. Stripe’s production really does stand out from the rest with the very sincere homage that it pays to the originators of the ballet. His choreography brings out the strongest grace in the dancers while Zack Brown’s costumes enhance their beauty. Come down to Queen E to witness these mega-talented dancers showcase their breathtaking craft and give you some serious holiday feels!
Tickets available here!
-Prachi Kamble