An interesting, modern take on the Christmas classic.
A single spotlight opens on a woman in a red dress sitting at a piano with her back to the audience; snow begins to fall. Instantly you’re captivated. That is how The Nutcracker and I begins.
The Nutcracker traditionally requires dozens of dancers, a full orchestra, and intricate costumes and sets; The Nutcracker and I is the short and sweet version. It condenses the massive show into a pianist, a ballerina, and a projector. This shortened version includes the most recognizable and beloved pieces from Tchaikovsky’s ballet: ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’, ‘Arabian Dancé’, ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ and many more.
Pianist and Producer, Alexandra Dariescu is the highlight of this performance. Tchaikovsky’s music flowed effortlessly from her fingers to the piano. It is as though she and the keys were partners in some intricate pas de deux. Her fingers danced across the keys and the energy carried throughout her whole body. Though her back was to us, her strength and grace was evident. I applaud her for the selection of that backless red dress.
Ballerina, Imogen Ash is an exquisite performer. She embodies Clara’s childish playfulness and interacts with the projections just as easily as if they were physical dancers. While technically sound, she did suffer from a few wobbles and seemed to drop off her relève too quickly at times. Her jumps also left something to be desired; she did not find any suspension in the air, instead seeming to rush to and emphasize the landing as opposed to the jump itself. It was unfortunate that the lovely lightness of her expression did not translate into her dancing. This wouldn’t be a very thorough review if I didn’t talk about the state-of-the-art animations and digital effects that set this show apart from all other renditions of The Nutcracker.
Projections are used to convey Clara’s journey and all those she encounters. The art style is charming and especially stunning in how the backgrounds are drawn. The projected dancers are a wonder. Never did I think that I’d be complimenting the technique of an animation but these were flawless. No two animations were alike yet all were exquisite; their individuality lended them a human feel which allowed you to forget that there weren’t really dancers in front of you. The Arabian Coffee number was by far the most visually striking. Sometimes the animations seemed slightly off the music and stilted. There were also points where Imogen Ash and the animations fell out of sync. What was lovely was the way Ash and pianist Dariescu partnered with the projections and played off their energy as they would with live dancers.
The Nutcracker and I is a perfect family show. It’s short enough to hold the little ones attention and intricate and artful enough to captivate all ages. If you’re looking for a show this holiday season, The Nutcracker and I is the way to go.