The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
November 24 - December 24, 2012

After seeing The Nutcracker for the first time last December, I was looking forward to seeing it again this year. Truthfully, not much has changed, and that is fine. Some traditions just don't need to change.

Since The Nutcracker is a relatively new tradition for me, there is plenty I did not remember. The party scene is long but keeps your attention as you wait for the main event - the transformation of the Nutcracker into a prince.

The majority of the dances in Act Two are representative of holiday treats and exotic cultures. They remain delightful. The costumes and choreography are entertaining in themselves. The Sugar Plum Fairy's series of dances are the highlight, but the familiar music is what we're really there for.

The humorous moments aren't what this show is known for, but they are memorable. The over dramatic Rat King brings laughs to what could be a tense scene. The appearance of Mother Ginger breaks up a long series of dances with some much needed relief.

 The ballet isn't perfect, but it's pretty close. That must be why so many attend every year at this time.

The Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
October 5 - 21, 2012

The Colorado Ballet has been presenting quite a few fairy tales lately. That seems to be a good plan - this will appeal to families with little ballerinas. Ballets don't get much more classic than The Sleeping Beauty.

The story is very similar to the Disney movie, but there are differences. Princess Aurora is courted by a number of suitors prior to her falling under Carabosse's spell. Her sleep lasts 100 years and a new prince awakens her.

This is a beautiful ballet to watch. The costumes are stunning, although I often wondered why Princess Aurora wore a traditional tutu while the rest of the women in the cast wore costumes that looked more like dresses from the period. Carabosse is very glamorous, but doesn't look much like the Disney character.

The first act introduces us to Aurora, her family and suitors. Act Two is the battle to awaken her. The last act is the royal wedding where a zany cast of characters dance. This final part might be the most entertaining for children, even though there isn't much story.

The music by Tchaikovsky may also be familiar to fans of the Disney movie. Some of it was adapted for the film. No matter the similarities and differences from the film, the ballet stands on its own.

The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter
PACE Center
Parker, CO 
September 13-16, 2012

Like many students, I read Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter in high school. It didn't seem like the most obvious subject for a musical, so I was interested in this production written by a local composer.

Since I have read the book, I suppose my reaction was colored by my interpretation of the book. Honestly, I was disappointed by the letter itself. It was a rather easy to miss, small patch.  I always thought the "A" on Hester Prynne's chest should be so eye catching you can't look away. It wouldn't have bothered me if it was made with sequins.

The story is basically what I remembered. Hester keeps the paternity of her illegitimate child a secret to protect her lover. Meanwhile, her cuckolded husband shows up to take his revenge. And the people of the Puritan town shun her as a result.

Arthur Dimmsdale, the saintly pastor, is just as I imagined him - tortured by his sinful relationship with Hester. His song "What Is Love?" is a showstopper. Hawthorne hinted that Dimmsdale suffered from chest pains, but left it up to the readers to decide what was bothering him. This show makes a choice for you and it wasn't the one I would have chosen.

The character of Roger Chillingsworth has been given redemption in this work. Hawthorne painted him as cold and vengeful. However his character is more human in this version. While he is still bent on revenge, he clearly has a heart.

By far the biggest disappointment for me was the character of Hester Prynne. She always struck me as strong, almost haughty. This version was more like Cinderella, meek and accepting of her fate.

Hester's attitude toward the town was centered on her knowledge that everyone in the town sinned as well, they just hadn't been caught.  This is suggested by three characters just called "Different" who go into the woods and take their hair down. Their presence felt forced and too obvious.

The show had it's moments. The tenderness between Dimmsdale and his daughter Pearl were heartwarming. And the humanity of Chillingworth made the triangle more complicated. But overall, the show has obvious holes.


 

Cinderella

Cinderella
Boulder Dinner Theater
Boulder, CO 
May 19 -September 1, 2012

The Boulder Dinner Theater has been around for a long time. Not only is that an impressive feat for a dinner theater, but their ability to draw new audiences in that time is to be commended.

Performing a classic like Cinderella is a great choice to bring a new generation into their theater. It was also charming that they offered a tea party with Cinderella on several dates prior to the show.

The casting of this production was brilliant. The stepsisters were played by male actors. They were appropriately obnoxious and had a great chemistry together. And their Cinderella was played by an actress who has a significant difficulty walking. While the script never addresses it, the staging makes this unnecessary. And it only emphasizes the cruelty of her step family.

The sets are delightful, including an actual carriage for Cinderella to ride in. The costumes are just what you would expect.

The real stand out is the Rodgers and Hammerstein music. And the cast performs them beautifully. It's a testament to the timelessness of the show.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
March 14-18, 2012

I saw Beauty and the Beast on Broadway years ago. If ever a Disney movie was meant to be on the stage, it was this one. The show has been running for a long time now, but it still brings the crowds when it arrives in town.

The show is much what fans of the movie will want to see. All the songs from the original are there. The song "Gaston" has an extended dance sequence which was fun to watch. The new songs which have been added are delightful. Both Belle and the Beast have solos which seemed to be missing from the original. They blend seamlessly into the story.

The love story between Lumiere and Babette is much more sexual than the movie and it might make some viewers uncomfortable.

For fans of the movie and parents wanting to introduce their children to the theater, Beauty and the Beast will not disappoint.

Peter Pan

Peter Pan
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
February 24 - March 4, 2012

I haven't been to many ballets, so I was intrigued by how a familiar story like Peter Pan could translate into a story without words. The advertising promised we would see the characters flying and I was looking forward to that.

When we arrived at the theater, ushers handed out lights to the children. I was told there was one per family. I was with a friend and her two children and was given grief in asking for a light for her "family." We later found an usher willing to give one per child, which is really how it should have been handled to begin with. Whoever came up with the "one per family rule" clearly doesn't have more than one child.

Before the show began, the director came on stage and discussed the lights. He called it a "Fairy Fixer" and the kids would be able to use them in Act Two, they would know when. But, he advised, that if they were used at the wrong time, they could become "Fairy Killers." I was impressed that the children actually respected those instructions. 

Being familiar with the storyline helped, but the costumes and sets were very effective in setting the scenes. For the most part, the costumes looked more like they belonged in a play than a ballet. The Indian maidens were an exception. They looked more like cheerleaders for a team with a Native American mascot.

The flying by Peter and the children was fun to watch. Never have these characters flown more gracefully. It was nice to see Tinkerbell played by a dancer and not just a lighting effect. 

The story was well told. The best moment came when Tinkerbell ingests poison meant for Peter and dies. The lights in her wings flickered and went out. What happened next was extraordinary. Lights began to flicker on throughout the theater. They seemed a bit tentative at first, but when the children realized that this was the time to use them, the seats were filled with light. We saw Tinkerbell's wings flicker again before she bounded up. The moment was electrifying.

Overall I was very impressed with this production. It showed just how great dance can be for telling a story.