"Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker" by New Adventures
Nottingham Theatre Royal
A lot of people will have a misconception about ballet. A misconception that it's all tutus and tights and for the middle and upper classes, well it's not! What I love about Matthew Bourne is that he injects so much wit into his productions and smashes all ideas that this art form is not for folk like you or I. A long while ago I never thought that I'd learn to love ballet and it's thanks to Matthew Bourne, and New Adventures that I am now a fully signed up fan to this area of entertainment. It's also not all tutus and tights!
Bourne's image, as always has a darker feel to the story line but still has plenty of fun and comic moments, shoving the character-driven roles to the fore.
This show follows Clara’s journey from a darkly comic Christmas Eve at Dr. Dross’ Orphanage, where Christmas Trees, decorations and presents are locked away as soon as their special guests have left the building. The Dross's daughter and son bully the orphans and have smarter dress than the grey, basic costumes for the orphans. It's almost like Cinderella meets Annie. One of the presents given is a mannequin which Clara gets but is cruelly broken by Sugar, the Dross' daughter and Fritz, the Dross' son.
In a scene resembling Chucky, the doll comes to life and frees the children and defeats Dross, his wife and children. Clara then finds herself at a skating lake for her next adventure. The skating scene on the large frozen lake is straight out of 1930's Hollywood, and the dancers even appear to glide across the stage as if wearing ice skates.
And then when Sweetieland is revealed, the sight and colours practically take your breath away as the set shows a giant wedding cake, only after Clara has managed to get past the Humbug Bouncer, who has already let in a multitude of Allsorts, mouth watering Bon Bons, Knickerbocker Glories, Marshmallows, Gobstoppers - depicting their hardness by being motorbikers, all parading in front of your very eyes. These visions must be what it's like to be on drugs!
But anyway, does Clara get her own Prince Charming? Let me just say that the final scene shows Clara back at The Orphanage with the mannequin on the floor. But also don't forget this is a fairy story!
The set designs by Anthony Ward have to be seen to be believed. They have explosions of colour - mainly pink - and makes you feel as if you are watching a cartoon with its' odd shaped windows and slanting scenery. Complete fantasy. This is a complete contrast to the sets for the Orphange which is practically monochromic.
With every Bourne classic, hair, costume, wigs , hats and make up are paramount to our enjoyment, and this is no different. Wigs that look like whipped cream, good enough to lick, oh and there's plenty of licking, tasting, shoving things in mouths and bottom slapping! Well, it is like a pantomime with the audience being a wide age range. It was lovely to hear the very small audience members giggling and laughing out loud while some of the visual acts of sauciness brought a smile to the parents, and probably the Grandparents in the audience.
It's fruity with plenty of nutcase moments!
I've always said that ballet dancers are stage athletes, and seeing the energy in these performances, I still back that. What they do looks effortless and they never seem to break into a sweat while performing.
Cordelia Braithwaite plays Clara.
Reece Causton is the creepy Dr Dross; his costume and make up similar to Herr Flick in "Allo Allo" with the long leather coat and slicked back hair.
Stephanie Billers is his wife, the Matron, equally as overbearing and unmoving. Both actors double up as the King and Queen.
Ashley Shaw plays Sugar, their daughter and Dominic North, their son. Both characters deserving of the beating the orphan kids gave them on their escape. These pair also double up as Prince and Princess.
Harrison Dowzell is The Nutcracker, and just happens to be a local lad, from Radcliffe On Trent, playing on his home turf for just the opening night.
Ben Brown is The Knickerbocker Glory.
And then there is the gorgeous score by Tchaikovsky, which most people will know at least part of, played in all its' splendour live.
No comments:
Post a Comment