Review: The Nutcracker, Theatre Royal, Newcastle
Feb 5 2010 by Barbara Hodgson, The Journal
AFTER a long day at work, I find ballet can soothe the office-weary soul. Watching that is, not doing.
Sometimes I am so soothed I fall asleep.
But not on Wednesday night when, relaxed as I soon became, this Scottish Ballet production proved such a blast of the bold and beautiful it demanded every bit of the attention.
From the opening image of a huge head with a cut-out section of brain, through which we’re introduced to Drosselmeyer the clock-maker, it promised a fresh twist on the festive classic.
Against the backdrop of Tchaikovsky’s familiar and seductive score, the magical doll’s house world of the nutcracker toy, soldiers, mice and naughty snowflakes was conjured up in cartoon colour-suffused scenes with humour and technical flair.
From Tama Barry’s blue velvet-clad Drosselmeyer – a kind of Jonny Depp-like master of ceremonies – to Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari’s Marie and Nutcracker Prince, the performances choreographed by artistic director Ashley Page were as polished as you’d expect from the award-winning company.
As with post-Christmas panto, I always think festive-theme productions lose something of their sparkle after December.
But this production packed a visual punch which had less to do with the Christmas tree and glittering snow than quirky touches such as a big floating sausage in ‘the little play’ within the Christmas party scene, and a oversize hand which makes an appearance in the style of the Cupid’s foot in Monty Python.
Act two’s feast of Spanish, Arabian, Russian, Chinese and French dancing – introduced here with a series of destination postcard-style pictures – finished all too soon.
Mention too must be made of the costumes, including military uniforms, 20s frocks, classic tutus and fun mice with tails wrapped around their bodies and tied in a knot.
It all looked beautiful.
