Is this possible?!?
Tonight I went to Raleigh's Progress Energy Center Memorial Auditorium to see the Carolina Ballet's annual performance of "Nutcracker!" It's wonderful watching the graceful and elegant ballet set to Tsaikovsky's music. The little chocolate truffles at the start of the 2nd Act before the appearance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Mother Ginger's gingerbread cookies were so cute. The only blemish of the show were the three Candy Canes. One of them was always half a beat behind the other two, and so the whole sequence seemed awkward.
For those who don't know the story, here's the description from the program guide.
*****
Act I-Christmas Eve
It is Christmas Eve in the the home of Dr. Stahlbaum, a city official, and his wife who are preparing for a Christmas Party. The children, Clara and Fritz, having fallen asleep waiting for the arrival of the guests, awaken in great anticipation. Soon the guests arrive with their children, and there is much rejoicing at the sight of the lighted Christmas tree. The adults greet one another and there is exited speculation among the children about what is in the many packages. Dr. Stahlbaum divides the children for games and dances. Some of the parents join in, and soon the grandparents arrive at the party.. Refreshments are served, and most important of all, presents are given out.
Suddenly the lights flicker, and a terrifying owl flaps its wings on the huge grandfather clock as the hour is struck. The door opens and in comes an old family friend, Herr Drosselmeyer, who is also Clara's godfather. A mysterious man and a marvelous inventor of toys, he has brought with him three large boxes and is accompanied by his handsome young nephew. Drosselmeyer kisses Clara's hand and introduces her to his nephew, whom she likes immediately. The gifts in the large boxes are a Cavalier, a Ballerina and a Toy Soldier Doll who dance to jolly tunes, delighting everyone. Then he brings out a large Nutcracker, a soldier, for Clara. She is very pleased when she sees how it works, but Fritz is furious. He grabs the Nutcracker and stamps on it. The nephew chases him away as Clara weeps. Drosselmeyer plays doctor and ties a handkerchief around the Nutcracker's broken head.
The nephew brings Clara a bed for the Nutcracker, and he is tucked in and put under the tree. Dr. Stahlbaumm and his wife lead all the guests in one final dance. Clara dancing with the nephew. The guests all depart, and the family goes off to bed. As the room darkens, Drosselmeyer returns and fixes the Nutcracker with a magic screwdriver.
Clara enters the room at midnight in her nightgown. She goes directly to the Nutcracker and cradles him in her arms. There is a rustle, the Christmas tree lights flash on and off. Giant mice take over the room, and Drosselmeyer and the Rat King appear in the portraits as antagonists. Clara dashes to the sofa and huddles there. Suddenly everything in the room grows, including the Christmas tree, the toy soldiers and even the walls. The soldiers protect clara by fighting the mice, but the mice, lead by their fierce king, seem to be winning. Then the Nutcracker, grown to life size, rises from his bed and leads the soldiers. A cannon is brought and cheese is fired at the mice. Clara throws her slipper and catches the Rat King by surprise. The Nutcracker kills him with his sword, and the battle is won. He bows to Clara and proudly gives her the crown taken from the Rat King.
Clara falls onto the bed which then mysteriously glides out of the room into the snowy evening. She arrives at the Kingdom of Snow where the Nutcracker has turned into a handsome young prince. In a snowy forest, snowflakes dance, tossed by the Northwind.
Act II - the Land of Sweets
The curtain rises on twelve Chocolate Truffles. The Sugar Plum Fairy, who rules over this Kingdom of Sweets, makes a regal entrance and dances a charming variation to the tinkling celesta. The Truffles enclose her in a semi-circle of love. Then leading the Truffles off, the Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes the full candy box: Chocolate and Coffee and Tea sweets, Candy Canes, Ribbon Candy and Gingerbread Cookies, and a lovely candy Butterfly.
A walnut boat arrives with the nutcracker Prince and Clara. The Prince escorts Clara to the shore and introduces her to the Sugar Plum Fairy. He relates the story of the battle with the mice, and she congratulates him on the victory and escorts Clara to a throne high on a beautiful cake. Clara is given numerous sweets to eat as she watches the entertainments.
There follows a series of dances by creatures of the candy kingdom, culminating in the grandest dance of all - a pas de deux with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier. All of the candies come back in as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier bid the young couple farewell. Clara steps into the nut shell boat and before our very eyes, she rises right into the sky and away.
*****
Tonight I went to Raleigh's Progress Energy Center Memorial Auditorium to see the Carolina Ballet's annual performance of "Nutcracker!" It's wonderful watching the graceful and elegant ballet set to Tsaikovsky's music. The little chocolate truffles at the start of the 2nd Act before the appearance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Mother Ginger's gingerbread cookies were so cute. The only blemish of the show were the three Candy Canes. One of them was always half a beat behind the other two, and so the whole sequence seemed awkward.
For those who don't know the story, here's the description from the program guide.
*****
Act I-Christmas Eve
It is Christmas Eve in the the home of Dr. Stahlbaum, a city official, and his wife who are preparing for a Christmas Party. The children, Clara and Fritz, having fallen asleep waiting for the arrival of the guests, awaken in great anticipation. Soon the guests arrive with their children, and there is much rejoicing at the sight of the lighted Christmas tree. The adults greet one another and there is exited speculation among the children about what is in the many packages. Dr. Stahlbaum divides the children for games and dances. Some of the parents join in, and soon the grandparents arrive at the party.. Refreshments are served, and most important of all, presents are given out.
Suddenly the lights flicker, and a terrifying owl flaps its wings on the huge grandfather clock as the hour is struck. The door opens and in comes an old family friend, Herr Drosselmeyer, who is also Clara's godfather. A mysterious man and a marvelous inventor of toys, he has brought with him three large boxes and is accompanied by his handsome young nephew. Drosselmeyer kisses Clara's hand and introduces her to his nephew, whom she likes immediately. The gifts in the large boxes are a Cavalier, a Ballerina and a Toy Soldier Doll who dance to jolly tunes, delighting everyone. Then he brings out a large Nutcracker, a soldier, for Clara. She is very pleased when she sees how it works, but Fritz is furious. He grabs the Nutcracker and stamps on it. The nephew chases him away as Clara weeps. Drosselmeyer plays doctor and ties a handkerchief around the Nutcracker's broken head.
The nephew brings Clara a bed for the Nutcracker, and he is tucked in and put under the tree. Dr. Stahlbaumm and his wife lead all the guests in one final dance. Clara dancing with the nephew. The guests all depart, and the family goes off to bed. As the room darkens, Drosselmeyer returns and fixes the Nutcracker with a magic screwdriver.
Clara enters the room at midnight in her nightgown. She goes directly to the Nutcracker and cradles him in her arms. There is a rustle, the Christmas tree lights flash on and off. Giant mice take over the room, and Drosselmeyer and the Rat King appear in the portraits as antagonists. Clara dashes to the sofa and huddles there. Suddenly everything in the room grows, including the Christmas tree, the toy soldiers and even the walls. The soldiers protect clara by fighting the mice, but the mice, lead by their fierce king, seem to be winning. Then the Nutcracker, grown to life size, rises from his bed and leads the soldiers. A cannon is brought and cheese is fired at the mice. Clara throws her slipper and catches the Rat King by surprise. The Nutcracker kills him with his sword, and the battle is won. He bows to Clara and proudly gives her the crown taken from the Rat King.
Clara falls onto the bed which then mysteriously glides out of the room into the snowy evening. She arrives at the Kingdom of Snow where the Nutcracker has turned into a handsome young prince. In a snowy forest, snowflakes dance, tossed by the Northwind.
Act II - the Land of Sweets
The curtain rises on twelve Chocolate Truffles. The Sugar Plum Fairy, who rules over this Kingdom of Sweets, makes a regal entrance and dances a charming variation to the tinkling celesta. The Truffles enclose her in a semi-circle of love. Then leading the Truffles off, the Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes the full candy box: Chocolate and Coffee and Tea sweets, Candy Canes, Ribbon Candy and Gingerbread Cookies, and a lovely candy Butterfly.
A walnut boat arrives with the nutcracker Prince and Clara. The Prince escorts Clara to the shore and introduces her to the Sugar Plum Fairy. He relates the story of the battle with the mice, and she congratulates him on the victory and escorts Clara to a throne high on a beautiful cake. Clara is given numerous sweets to eat as she watches the entertainments.
There follows a series of dances by creatures of the candy kingdom, culminating in the grandest dance of all - a pas de deux with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier. All of the candies come back in as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier bid the young couple farewell. Clara steps into the nut shell boat and before our very eyes, she rises right into the sky and away.
*****
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