The Orlando Ballet’s production of Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker’ performed at the Bob Carr auditorium was as traditional, form-fitting and elegant as a red velvet dress. Dedicated to one of Orlando’s true stars Jan Stratton and with distinctly innovative choreography by Robert Hill, this perennial Christmas favorite was originally based on a story by A.E. Hoffman, with revision by the French author Alexander Dumas.
‘The Nutcracker’ was first choreographed into a ballet by Marius Petipa, the Frenchman considered “the father of Russian ballet”, who also created ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Swan Lake’, comprising what many feel are the trilogy of the greatest classical ballets of all time. The story of the young German girl Clara, and her magical adventure is set by a backdrop of family and friends gathering for their annual Christmas celebration party. The fantastic set designs and elaborate costumes here are outmatched only by the actors and dancers, who are joined in the merriment by the wonderful children of the Orlando Ballet, who on occasion, almost steal the show.
When Clara falls asleep after the Christmas Eve party, she and we are transported to an enchanted forest and a Land of Snow where dancing snowflakes are aswirl.
Then we’re off to be welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy to the Land of Sweets, and an assortment of dances from around the world, including Spanish, Arabian, Russian and Chinese. A touch of danger enters Clara’s dream in the form of battling mice led by the Mouse King and played with great hilarity by Douglas Horne in Friday’s performance. Where some productions of this ballet often have the mice appearing in angular, threatening and misshapen visages, Orlando Ballet’s mice, small and big, were as cuddly as kittens, and were one of many highlights of the evening, met with roars of approval by the audience. It was moments like these that had me feeling I was seeing ‘The Nutcracker’ for the first time.
Hopefully, if Orlando can forge ahead with the construction of the Performing Arts Center, we can all look forward to experiencing this world-class ballet company in a setting worthy of their gifts and talents. Then, when Orlando truly comes of age, we may someday see the Orlando Ballet accompanied by a ‘live’ orchestra again. Wouldn’t that be fine?
By Marc Latta
Special to West Orlando News
