The RWB’s Nutcracker at Centennial Concert Hall, Wednesday December 21, 2011
Reviewed by Stephanie Adamov
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker has evolved into one of Winnipeg’s most nostalgia-inducing family traditions. My sister and I saw mirrored reflections of our young selves as little girls coming in from the cruel Winnipeg winter at Wednesday’s opening night. The girls hustled together with their parents as they climbed the icy stone steps to the warm sanctuary of the Centennial Concert Hall’s lobby. Balancing on anything stable within a tiny arm’s reach, they replaced their sensible winter boots with sparkling black patent Mary Jane shoes. Mothers straightened festive dresses compacted with tulle after the children filed into the theatre, toddling past already seated patrons.
RWB's Nutcracker on the prairies
The current RWB’s Nutcracker has been performed almost annually since its revival by co-choreographers Galina Yordanova and Nina Menon in 1999. The rendition of this enchanting holiday classic has established a distinct and undeniable prairie presence in the original tale.
Inspired by the classic novelette by E.T.A. Hoffmann, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, Tchaikovsky produced the brilliantly epic orchestrations for the original ballet premiering in Moscow in 1892. The music for the RWB’s rendition is performed by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s musical director and conductor Tadeusz Biernacki. From the delicate, rhythmic melodies to bold and daring movements, the pieces are effortlessly recognized no matter what the media setting.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet once again takes audiences young and old on the magical journey of Clara and her beloved Nutcracker Prince. Alternating the roles, the dancers create a spectacle as each arabesque, fouetté and grand jeté is executed with such precision and skill.
Noteworthy performances include that of the “not so scary” or mysterious grandfather to Clara, Drosselmeyer, performed on Wednesday by Alexander Gamayunov, who brings exuberant new energy to the role. The role is shared by Thiago Dos Santos on alternating nights. Also, the display of the Arabian dancers, performed by Carrie Broda and Eric Nipp (Serena Sandford and Liam Caines on alternate nights) is mesmerizing, intricate and hypnotic in its delivery on stage.
Drosselmeyer acts as the guide for Clara, performed by Morgan Theissen/Jo-Ann Sundermeier (Katie Simpson/Amanda Green and Sophia Lee) as she navigates between reality and her fantastic dreamscape. He is the catalyst for the tale as it is the Nutcracker he has gifted to Clara that becomes her fantasy Prince.
Rather oddly, Drosselmeyer acts as a dance partner to the Spanish and Chinese performers in the Kingdom dance sequence. But for the Arabian and Russian dances, he joins the corps de ballet of little angels, Clara, and The Nutcracker Prince, and sits beside the majestic Sugar Plum Fairy, Serena Sandford (Carrie Broda alternates). It stands out as being unusual as he appears mismatched against the elegant story book costumes designed by Paul Daigle. This felt misplaced, just as the LED lights on the Christmas tree during the party scene did not match the turn-of-the-century Wellington Crescent mansion.
For an adult, there are times when the comedy in this piece tends to overcrowd the skillful dancing and dull the magnificent orchestrations. Though admired by his young friends, Filbert the overstuffed and dessert stealing Bear, performed by Catherine Rutherford, can at moments be overbearing. However, it is noted that he could appear during the Kingdom dance sequences and mock the diverse range of dances from different countries to truly steal the show. This would definitely dissolve the attention of the audience, should it be directed. But rather than distracting the audience during the whole piece he has his single and enormously memorable scene as he breaks into Clara’s house and hides from the Butler.
There is a slight disconnection between the pacing of the two acts. Act I ends with an altogether adorable fight sequence between Mice and Mounties, where guns are fired and carrots thrown on what is recognizably Parliament Hill. The audience is in uproar of laughter as mini mice provided by the RWB recreational division scurry across the stage. However, after intermission the “Baking with Drosselmeyer” scene and the dance of the Sugar Plums may not grip attention quite so firmly, specifically with younger audience members.
The nostalgic set with accents on Canadian roots completes this childhood fantasy tale. Designer Brian Perchaluk uses a house that once stood on riverside of Winnipeg’s Wellington Crescent as a touchstone for the entire piece. Through various perspectives he transports the audience from gazing at the house on a hill, to a closer exterior. The semi-frosted French windows are then particularly noticeable from the interiors of Clara’s bedroom as well as the living room. This cinematic attention to detail is remarkable and I well remembered it from seeing this show as a youngster when it premiered in Winnipeg in 1999.
Perchaluk also gives quiet homage to the rich Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s heritage as co-founders Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally find their cherished home adorning the walls with their iconic portraits on the sets.
These portraits are recognized by every RWB student both in the professional and recreational division who contribute to the collage of burgeoning talent in this classic ballet. This opportunity for these young aspiring dancers to partake in coveted roles beside such admired company performers must be an ideal Christmas present for both promising ballet students and their many admiring relatives in the audience.
In short, the Nutcracker remains a Winnipeg tradition among families, especially those with dancers in their midst. It presents an entertaining narrative of movement and music. The cinematic quality of the sets, and the breathtaking orchestrations originally produced by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky continue to resonate in every audience member.
Nutcracker presented by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet at the Centennial Concert Hall, 555 Main Street, Winnipeg, showtimes: December 23, 27, 28 at 2 pm •Dec. 23 at 7 pm • Dec. 27 at 7 pm.
One Comment
So good to have youthful reviewers for performances like the Nutcracker and work done by MTYP.
This writer has helped to raise the profile for this new online journal. She has brought many readers who may become a regular new audience for The Winnipeg Review.