The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
November 26 - December 24, 2011

The Nutcracker is an undeniable classic, but it was not a tradition for my family. I was interested in find out the appeal of this holiday ballet.

It is my understanding that the Colorado Ballet production is abridged for families. I'm not sure how long the original is, but this performance seemed just the right length.

The story is simple. Clara is given a nutcracker for Christmas by the mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer. On Christmas Eve, the nutcracker comes to life and with Clara's help defeats the evil Rat King. Then to thank her, the Nutcracker Prince takes her to a magical land of dancing snowflakes and luxurious treats.

I was surprised at how much of the music I knew. The Tchaikovsky score is very familiar. However, the dancing and costumes make it even more special. When the Sugar Plum Fairy dances her theme song is completely new.

Visually, the story is compelling. The snowflake ballerinas in their fluffy white tutus make you feel the snow. And the gorgeous costumes twirling on the stage surrounded by falling flakes for the close of Act One is stunning.

Act Two is a collection of dances inspired by international holiday treats. "The Waltz of the Flowers" is very beautiful, but the male Russian dancers and the Chinese Tea dancer steal the show with their athletic leaps.

The show is charming and fun. Even those who are not fans of the ballet will enjoy the magic and wonder of this holiday classic.

The Lion King

The Lion King
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
November 2 - December 4, 2011

I saw the first tour of The Lion King nine years ago. The show was so outstanding I knew I wanted to see it again.

I arrived only a few minutes before curtain and was dismayed to learn that I would not be seated until after the show began. The ushers informed me that Disney sets a seating cut off which cannot be violated. Due to this policy, I missed the stunning opening number, "The Circle of Life." Very disappointing!

Despite missing the opening, it was easy to get engrossed in the show. The audience is familiar with the characters and situations from the movie version. In the theatrical context, the Tim Rice/Elton John songs soar to new heights. Hearing "Be Prepared" sung live by a trained voice breathes new life into a song many tend to overlook. And "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" becomes a gorgeous ballad in the show.

The songs that have been added only improve the story. Nala's "Shadowland" reinforces the desperation of the pride. "Endless Night" performed by the adult Simba lets us into his mixed emotions when faced with his past. "They Live In You" and it's reprise "He Lives In  You" are sweeping spiritual songs which tie the whole story together.

The costumes and the staging share the spotlight with the music.Transforming a human into an animal is not an easy feat and the results are astonishing. Birds sweep overhead during the production numbers and you are lost in the savannah. The staging of the wildebeest stampede is magnificent. The shared use of puppets and live actors clearly show the increasing danger.

The Lion King is not an ordinary musical. Even those who are not Disney fans will appreciate the ingenuity which brought this movie onto the stage.

Les Miserables

Les Miserables
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
August 31 - September 10, 2011

Les Miserables is one of my favorite musicals. The songs are deeply personal to me and I saw tours of the original production over and over again. It's hard to believe it is already being restaged.

It's hard to imagine a new take on this epic spectacular, but somehow the producers have brought Les Miz into a new generation.

The sets are more intimate, less concrete than the previous generation. And somehow the new staging brings greater light onto the spiritual aspects of the story. The costumes are very similar to what I've seen before, that's helpful with such a large cast.

The music and the story are still in the spotlight though. The songs are still deeply moving. The emotional impact possibly stronger than ever before.

If anything, this updated staging only reinforces that Les Miz is timeless.

Cinderella

Cinderella
Opera Colorado
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
April 30 - May 8, 2011

Upon hearing that Opera Colorado was presenting Cinderella, I thought this would be popular with families. I noticed many children seated around me. While the show was effective at drawing the families in, the show was not geared toward children. Act One was very long and many of the children did not return after intermission.

While the story was familiar, this telling was not as we have grown to expect. Cinderella was indeed a servant to her stepmother and  stepsisters, but it took a very long time for her to get to the ball. When she arrived, she wore a glittering black dress. And instead of a glass slipper, she left behind one of two identical bracelets.

The score was beautifully sung, but none of the arias were particularly memorable.The costumes and sets brought the story to life. While this wasn't Disney's Cinderella, it was a compelling version of the fairy tale.