The Nutcracker - London Coliseum

Pointe shoe Christmas tree at Coliseum

I've wanted to see a traditional production of The Nutcracker for years, but have never got round to it due to a) the limited amount of time for which such productions normally run and b) the expensive nature of the beast. This being a Christmas present, for the first and possibly last time I got to sit in the middle of the THIRD ROW OF THE STALLS! At the Coliseum! I was so close to the stage I got to see not only the faces of the back row of the orchestra, but every muscle twitch of the skimpy tights-clad bottoms of the male dancers. 

I loved this production. Set in the 1900s, the costumes were exquisite, the sets gorgeous, the dancing divine and the atmosphere enchanting. It did a perfect job of setting the scene at the beginning, in conveying the excited atmosphere of anticipation before a party on Christmas Eve. The skating and sledging scene outside the house - complete with projected falling snow - was beautiful. It was all so elegant; even the fallings over on the ice were elegantly performed. 

My favourite scene was the party scene. There was so much going on! Elaborate set with big Christmas tree blazing impressively and comfortingly away at the back of the stage? Check. Party guests all doing interesting things in the background, showing that they had personalities of their own? Check. Actual children dancing (as opposed to adults pretending to be children)? Check. Eccentric magician guest? Check. Arrival of Father Christmas? Check. I loved seeing the children receive their presents and particularly liked the little old-fashioned hot air balloon present...and the way it made an appearance in Clara's dream as a life-sized balloon. Child Clara's (Sereina Mowlem's) dance with the Nutcracker doll was sweet and slightly poignant.

The Dance of the Snowflakes was enchanting, especially as it included the voices of the children singing in one of the theatre's boxes. 

Drosselmeyer (eccentric magician guest, who, according to Wikipedia, was also a 'local councilman' (!)), played by Daniel Kraus, was my favourite character. I loved his gesturings towards the curtain in the second half, for it to draw back and reveal a new, captivating scene. The Mirliton dance brought back fond memories of my own dancing days - that was the music to which my ballet class danced in a show, many moons ago. The triangular cylindrical (I don't know how else to describe them) costumes of two of the 'Russian' dancers were exceedingly impressive, as were the jumps of the male 'Russian' dancer. The dance of dream Clara (Begoña Cao) as the Sugar Plum Fairy with the Prince (Junor Souza) was another highlight.

I felt the parts featuring the mice went on for a smidge too long, especially the big fight in the first act. And I didn't get why the 'real', human Nutcracker kept being replaced by the Prince only to be replaced by the Nutcracker again. I could understand the Nutcracker turning into a Prince, but why turn back in a Nutcracker?? Wikipedia sheds no light on this. And apparently the Prince is Drosselmeyer's nephew! There's no way you would know this stuff without looking it up.

The final scene, where child Clara and her brother (Seamus McIntosh) stood outside the house and saw the balloon sail past in the distance, brought a tear to my eye. Wonderful!

Next: Legally Blonde