Word: ballets
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...skepticism aside, it is perhaps the most utterly splendid spectacle of the holiday season. More than a showcase for dancing, The Nutcracker is a sensory experience--from scenery to costumes to the memorable Tchaikovsky score. And the Boston Ballet production (with a first act that was entirely revamped last year) succeeds admirably in realizing a beautiful overall effect guaranteed to convert even the most cynical grinch to the holiday spirit...
...amusing is Mother Ginger (Tony Collins) in his last transvestite performance after 34 years as the massive lady with eight children tucked away under her skirt. And the four children dressed as marzipan sheep are just cute enough to elicit some gasps otherwise forbidden in the restrained world of ballet audience protocol...
...Having said this, however, it is a pity that the dancing does not always live up to the enchanting effect produced by the scenery, lighting and costumes. Luckily, dancing alone is not the focal point of this classic holiday performance. It is a long ballet, longer than most at two hours, and includes a continuous change of scenery and characters, posing a particularly difficult feat for choreographers. Also, a large part of the action relies on children, who despite their training at the Boston Ballet School, inevitably lack the precision that comes with years of training. Perhaps a reflection...
...However, brilliant dancing and choreography does shine through in several instances. Most notable were the two principal couples: the Snow Queen and King (Pollyana Ribeiro and Alex Lapshin) and the Sugerplum Fairy and Cavalier (Larissa Ponomerenko and Giuseppe Picone) in their grand pas de deux. Overall the corps de ballet performed well, although the snowflakes in Act I lacked the precision of the lovely Act II flowers...
...words of artistic director Anna-Marie Holmes, "The Nutcracker is a staple of American ballet companies and...an ideal introduction to the magic of theater, music, costumes, scenery, lighting and dance." And I agree. Prepare yourself for a stunning visual experience, and of course, happy holidays...