SEATTLE — The new Pacific Northwest Ballet production of “The Nutcracker” is enchanting and deserves every bit of the positive attention it’s receiving.
Some diehard fans of PNB’s decades-old, but much-beloved Maurice Sendak/Kent Stowell version of the ballet, might find the first act a tad bit boring. Maybe it’s not scary enough or doesn’t take advantage of Tchaikovsky’s music in quite the same way.
But the second act of the new Ian Falconer/George Balanchine production is absolutely gorgeous.
Balanchine’s classic Nutcracker choreography is, of course, not new. The late ballet master created it in 1954 for the New York City Ballet, and ballet companies around the world perform the mid-century modern piece each December.
Especially wonderful in the second act is the Waltz of the Flowers, in part because PNB’s talented corps de ballet (also seen as the Snowflakes in the first act) embodies the strength of Balanchine’s choreography.
Falconer, the children’s book author and illustrator (“Olivia” the pig), has previous stage design experience, so his work designing the Nutcracker’s costumes and sets was not a stretch. Falconer was in attendance the first weekend of the production and looked to enjoy himself a great deal as he waved to the cheering audience.
Falconer’s signature stripes and splashes of red are everywhere, but he also stepped out of the gray and black background comfort zone in the “Olivia” book series to came up with rich color combinations. I am thinking again of the Flowers, who are dressed in fabulous coral-orange-pink with their accompanying Dewdrop in bright green.
Falconer’s Olivia even makes an appearance. There she is on the left of the stage, dressed in red and white stripes, seated in a painted opera house box seat, enjoying the show. The rich, perhaps haughty, lady next to Olivia peers at the charming pig through her lorgnette. The scene sets the stage for fun.
(Applause also to the makers of the sets and costumes, all built and sewn in-house, a shoutout to glass artist Dale Chihuly, whose team constructed a huge glass star for the production, and kudos to lighting designer James Ingalls.)
Most people recall the Nutcracker’s Christmas Eve story (Balanchine’s is based on the Alexandre Dumas version of the 1816 E.T.A. Hoffman tale) in which young Clara falls asleep after a big party thrown by her parents and dreams (or does she?) that her new nutcracker soldier doll is battling the mouse king.
The nutcracker slays the mouse and becomes a prince, he crowns Clara his princess and they (still children) are whisked off to a land far away.
In the Land of the Sweets, Tchaikovsky’s music and Balanchine’s ballet jibe seamlessly.
The night I attended, Seth Orza was Herr Drosselmeier, Eden Anan played Clara and Joh Morrill was the nutcracker prince. The young PNB students in both acts did well. Especially great were the little golden angels whose movement and costumes made them appear to float across the stage.
The talented and lovely Noelani Pantastico performed the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the athletic James Moore was her cavalier. Each solo by the PNB dancers was flawless. Exceptional were Chelsea Adomaitis as Dewdrop, Matthew Renko as Candy Cane, Margaret Mullin as Marzipan and Sarah Ricard Orza as Coffee (the peacock.)
Emil de Cou and his talented pit orchestra were equally superb.
PNB artistic director and longtime fan of Balanchine’s choreography Peter Boal and his assistants Judith Fugate and Garielle Whittle staged the beautiful production.
The thing about “The Nutcracker” is that everyone dresses up, packs up their kids and flocks to see this ballet. Yes, it makes PNB the money it needs to get through the rest of the year. But why not also see the upcoming productions of “Romeo et Juliette,” “Le Corsaire: A Pirates Tale” and “Coppelia”?
Like “The Nutcracker” they are classic and beautiful tales.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
If you go
George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” with sets and costumes by Ian Falconer: Pacific Northwest Ballet, through Dec. 28, McCaw Hall, Seattle Center. Ticket prices range from $25 to $156. Call 206-441-2424 or go to www.pnb.org.
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