Reviewed by Janine Rumble
Before last night, my tradition of knowing when the Christmas season had begun was once I had seen the Coca-Cola truck advert on television. This has been my tradition for years. However, after going to see the sublime The Nutcracker ballet, danced by the Birmingham Royal Ballet company at the Birmingham Hippodrome, I now have a new annual tradition of when the Christmas season begins. It truly was a magical and enchanting evening from beginning to end.
This was the 29th year of The Nutcracker appearing at the Birmingham Hippodrome and I feel a little sad that I had not seen this here before. However, this will be rectified next year, and every year thereafter.
If you are looking for a new Christmas tradition to mark the Christmas season for you and your family, then I highly recommend you see The Nutcracker. It is Christmas all sumptuously wrapped up in a gorgeous ballet and is a delight for adults and children alike.
The Nutcracker tells the tale of the Stahlbaum family and what happens to them, and more importantly, their daughter, Clara on Christmas Eve. The family consisting of Dr Stahlbaum, his wife and their two children, Clara and Fritz, hold a party for their family and friends. Mrs Stahlbaum invites a magician, Drosselmeyer, who performs magic and brings gifts for all the children. He gives Clara, a ballet dancer, a Nutcracker. The party is an amazing affair with dancing and merriment abound.
When the guests have departed and everyone has gone to bed, Clara sneaks downstairs to the Nutcracker. The clock strikes midnight and Clara shrinks until she finds herself under the Christmas tree with the Nutcracker and the other gifts. Suddenly, giant rats, led by their King attack Clara. The Nutcracker comes to life and along with the toy soldiers, rushes to defend her. The Nutcracker falls to the ground, Clara rushes to his aid and to her amazement, he comes to life, turning into a handsome prince. He dances with her and takes her to the land of snow, before she lies on the back of a swan, through the clouds to a fantastical world conjured up by the magician, Drosselmeyer. He shows her the sun, the moon and flowers and dancers from different lands. Then the Rat King reappears and is banished by Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and Drosselmeyer, who puts on entertainment for Clara. She joins in with the dances and is transformed into the Sugar Plum Fairy, the ballerina of her dreams, before she dances with the Nutcracker Prince. The ballet ends and Clara awakens under the Christmas tree. Was it all a dream?
The whole show is like a dream, from the sumptuous red of the stage and set to the green and lushness of the overly decorated Christmas tree to the sparkling falling snow in the land of snow, all adds to the dream-like state you find yourself in as you watch it. It was just magical.
The ballet dancers are just truly amazing, so graceful as they beautifully move around the stage telling the story through their dances and movements. I watched spellbound and in awe as they moved, the stamina and the talent it must take to perform as they did was truly astounding.
All of the ballet dancers were truly amazing, especially Karla Doorbar, who plays the young ballet dancer Clara. She had to dance through most of the show and she did so with beauty and grace. Miki Mizutani, was a beautiful last minute replacement as the Sugar Plum Fairy, with Cesar Morales dancing as the Prince and Jonathan Payn as the magician, Drosselmeyer. I wish I could applaud and name each dancer and the artists of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, as they were superb, and all danced beautifully together to tell the magical, Christmassy story of Sir Peter Wright’s production of The Nutcracker.
Sir Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov and Vincent Redmon choreographed the show. What a joy it must be to work with the talented dancers to produce this ballet. Music was by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and was played exquisitely by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
The music, the sets, the dancers, the costumes all put together made for a dazzling show that made me feel all warm and Christmassy inside. I smiled the whole way through.
You do not need to be a fan of the ballet to enjoy this show. You do not even have to have seen a ballet before to enjoy it. I took my friend who had never been to a ballet before and it was lovely to watch her experience it. She was enthralled from start to finish. It has to be one of the best ballets, ever.
I implore you to go and see it while you can.
I saw The Nutcracker at the Birmingham Hippodrome. It is a lovely large theatre, with excellent facilities for all. It is a mere 5 minutes walk to Birmingham New Street Rail Station and there is ample parking nearby. The staff were polite and helpful throughout.
I must mention the programme about the show. It is a beautiful programme, packed full of information about the ballet and the Birmingham Royal Ballet company, which is great to read. But my favourite section was in the middle where there is a guide for children to help them understand the ballet. There is a cartoon of acts 1 and 2, explaining what is happening in each scene. A genius idea and not just useful to children.
I give this show 5 out 5. However, I would give it more Christmassy gold stars if I could.
Please go to see it. It will start your Christmas off in the most magical way.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £21 (booking fees may apply).
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker is at the Birmingham Hippodrome from 22 November to 14 December 2019, for more information or to book tickets visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com or call the box office on 0844 338 5000.
Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst St, Southside, Birmingham, B5 4TB | 0844 338 5000
