The Royal Ballet's "Nutcracker" marks the final Nutcracker in my self designed, transatlantic Nutcracker Festival that has taken in six different productions of Tchaikovsky's magnificent work over the last month or so. I feel both very blessed and not a little bit silly...
This is the Nutcracker that I was basically brought up on, so it exists in a slightly rose tinted sphere in my mind. Objectively it's still pretty impressive. Peter Wright places the focus solely on Drosselmeyer and in the process creates a story that actually works, though Act II's divertissements do still come as something of a break from narrative. Drosselmeyer in this production becomes very much the puppet master, engineering the whole thing in an attempt to rescue his cursed nephew. Clara feels fully developed, as does the Nutcracker, but by broadening the scope, Wright avoids the usual problem of Clara becoming sidelined in Act II's frivolities. Plot aside, it's also one of the most consistently interesting productions choreographically: the Act I battle scene is probably the best and the divertissements have barely a weak link.
It squares off with the Birmingham Royal Ballet's production for plushness, the Julia Trevelyan Oman designs ravishing to look at despite their increasing age. The Act I transformation is absolutely smashing, simple but executed to perfection (no wobbly, cloth trees here), and Oman keeps the fantastical levels high with a gorgeous snow scene and then lots of visual fun in the Land of Sweets. The costumes glisten with beauty whilst avoiding the tackiness that can creep in with so many sequins festooned about.
For all that is good about this production it wasn't given the strongest of outings at this performance. With Gary Avis as Drosselmeyer the ballet's heart was assured, Avis is second to none in character roles, but many of the small solos were adequate and not a lot more. As Clara, Sabina Westcombe looked perfectly the part and offered some lovely footwork but she failed to mesh with any of her partners and just occasionally looked like she wasn't quite sure what was coming next. Her Nutcracker, James Hay, was strong on solos but lacked sufficient upper-body strength for partnering, fluffing more than one lift. Across the Act II dances too much looked unpolished, the shining light was Emma Maguire's delightful Rose Fairy.
The evening never really got going however until Yuhui Choe and Sergei Polunin took to the stage for the Grand Pas de deux. Polunin has got better and better over the last few years and not only does he continue to leap like few others but he now also partners with skill. I'm not sure I've seen the opening duet danced with more assurance. He couldn't have been working with a dancer of more poise however than Choe, who would look robotic were she not so musical. She doesn't have the buoyancy to wow in her solos but she is a classy, magnetic dancer.
A decent evening but not one for the memories (though I'm not short of those with the Royal Ballet Nutcracker). I've had a fabulous month or so of this music and even now don't feel completely Nutcrackered out! It'll never be my favourite ballet but as my travels have shown me, it's a score of real joy that has given licence for a great many happy family outings.
(Review of Performance on Saturday, January 7th, 2012 at the Royal Opera House)
For reference/links to my various Nutcracker reviews:
New York City Ballet's Balanchine production
American Ballet Theatre's Ratmansky production
English National Ballet's Eagling production
Birmingham Royal Ballet's Wright production
New Adventure's Bourne production
The Royal Ballet Wright production
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