English National Ballet dancers are in good form for this popular production. Traditional choreography is substantially altered by Christopher Hampson bringing a modern look to the seasonal favourite. Gerald Scarfe’s design illustrates the ballet like a cartoon picture book, imaginatively lit by John Rayment with Timothy Carey conducting the ENB Orchestra.
The opening family Christmas scene has comical examples of appalling relations, such as lecherous, kilted Grandpa (Adam Pudney) and his girlfriend Mrs V Aggra (Jane Haworth). The magical character Drosselmeyer, ably performed by Fabian Reimair, produces engaging toys, including the Pierrot of Juan Rodriguez, to appeal to the many children in the audience captivated by the central character of Clara, beautifully danced by Venus Villa. Midnight strikes, the Christmas tree grows, then battle commences between the brave Nutcracker of Nicholas Reeves and Zhanat Atymtayev’s Mouse King.
Jumping out of a giant fridge are Jack Frosts and snowflakes with leaps and swirling patterns leading us into the Kingdom of Sweets.
The elegant Prince of Dmitri Gruzdyev with the Sugar Plum Fairy of Erina Takahashi give a polished and assured performance of the main pas de deux. The variations enthralled the public, including the brightly costumed Spanish, the Chinese of Juan Rodrigues and Daniel Kraus, the virile Russian Bear of Pedro Lapetra and six lovely Mirlitons, combined with a reliable and charming performance by the Tring Park Arts Educational School pupils. With such a good company of dancers, also catch them in Manon after Christmas.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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