Moscow City Ballet The Nutcracker at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury Review
The Nutcracker
Moscow City Ballet
Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury
6-8 November 2014
Reviewed by Hilary Whates
What better way to forget a cold, wet and blustery evening in Aylesbury than to take a very comfortable seat in the auditorium of the Waterside Theatre and be transported to a magical world full of colour and music and delight?
The Moscow City Ballet is known as a ballet company presenting more traditional interpretations and performances and this is clear from the outset. We’ve all heard and probably seen the Nutcracker but this was a less familiar version. The curtain opens to the sounds of the orchestra and we were transported to a magical world.
It’s Christmas Eve and Clara’s father, Dr. Silbergaus, has thrown a party. This was obvious as people arrived bearing gifts. I will admit to slight irritation that to portray their excitement all the dancers spent a lot of time (perhaps ten minutes) waving their arms in the air. All this excited arm waving got a bit much and seemed a rather easy interpretation of having a good time. Clara’s god-father arrives and gives her a book which she is very excited to read, and of course a present of the Nutcracker. For those unfamiliar with the story (such as it is) what followed became a little confusing and many people could be seen consulting their programmes in the interval to understand what had been happening. To put in a ‘nutshell’ Clara’s god-father becomes a magician and brings the toys to life. We see the Nutcracker, the doll and the mouse king appear – seemingly out of nowhere.
The set design is minimal with virtually no furniture or props save for enormous very beautiful drapes with a huge Christmas Tree at the centre. Given that the Moscow City Ballet company are on an extensive (and therefore expensive) tour it is understandable that they have minimised props which does provide a clear stage and is again an indicator of their more traditional approach to the performance.
The costumes were mostly beautiful – with the exception of the magician’s costume which was really very mediocre when it could have been lavish and ‘magical’.
I really enjoyed the Second Act – superb dancing, fantastic costumes and wonderful music.
Unfortunately the programme doesn’t specify which of the dancers played Clara on that particular evening but I would just like to mention her as she really was enchanting to watch.
Disappointingly the theatre was probably only two-thirds full – something I haven’t seen there recently so quite surprising. The performance ended to rapturous applause which was just as well as throughout the evening the principal dancers would often move to the front of the stage and leave with a flourish once they had received due acclaim.
With aching hands from all that clapping we left the warm glow of the theatre to be greeted once more with rain and wind having enjoyed a pleasant evening which definitely warmed our hearts and gently stretched our imaginations.
Rating: 3/5
Tickets cost from £11.90 to £42.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
The Nutcracker is at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury until 8 November 2o14. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 7607.
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 1UG
