Queensland Ballet: The Nutcracker -
Optus Playhouse, 6 December -
‘Tis the season for The Nutcracker in its many guises to be performed by ballet companies across the world, including this year Queensland Ballet (QB), which has got into the festive spirit with the Australian premiere of a production choreographed by Ben Stevenson. It is also to be an annual event for the company.
A significant bequest allowed no sparing of expense in the design of sets (Thomas Boyd) and costumes (Desmond Healy with Noelene Hill). David Walters’ lighting design as usual, worked its transformative effect on both, while the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and St Peter’s Lutheran College Choir underpinned the whole performance with an insightful rendering of the glorious Tchaikovsky score.
This Nutcracker eschews any pretence at modernity or sophistication, targeting children and the child lurking in the rest of us to entertain and enchant. It follows the traditional dramatic format, although replacing the usual palatial interior of the first party act with a rustic farmhouse setting of rich browns, reds and greens, with the imperative Christmas tree upstage centre.
The act is rich in its detail, with each character clearly defined. There is often so much happening on stage that the focus is happily pulled in all directions. However, Paul Boyd as the doddery Grandfather and Janette Mulligan, the deaf, dithering Aunty, captivated with their acutely honed dramatic skills.
Teri Crilly as Clara was perfectly cast. She captured the innocent joy of a young girl without any cloying unnatural mannerisms, and was enchanting throughout. Riki Kudo (Pre-Professional Year) as the impish Fritz also nailed his character convincingly.
The fight scene was conceived with wit and panache; unusually, all female rats on pointe, the King Rat (Emilio Pavan) with a seriously lascivious looking tongue hanging out of his full head mask and the robotic sword wielding Nutcracker (Alexander Idaszak).
The snow scene conclusion to act one delivered the requisite magic. The corps was cohesive, although more dancers on stage could only add to it.
The pas de deux of the Snow Queen (Clare Morehen) and the Prince (Hao Bin) is musically an exquisite confection, but also here choreographically, with broad sweeping movement, big lifts and expansive use of the upper body. Although it began well, at times the partnering was a little shaky. Similarly, Morehen’s otherwise beautifully expressive performance was marred by a tendency to over-open her mouth when smiling, to emphasise climatic moments in the pas de deux. It is an unnatural artifice unfortunately also noticed in other dancers.
The second act Kingdom of Sweets, in a powder blue setting of art nouveau inspired swirls with bright pink candy adornments, has a very traditional rendering of all the expected divertissements, beginning with a very tightly executed Spanish pas de six.
Meng Ningning and Emilio Pavan, in a sinuous intertwining sashay, kept life in the Arabian Dance, Nathan Scicluna nailed the Russian Gopak, with very clean jumps and turns, while the Chinese Dancers, Joseph Stewart and Andrew Radak (PPY), ‘fought’ tooth and nail with sabre and pole in cleverly conceived fight choreography. The Waltz of the Flowers (again more of them would have been a plus), Mirlitons and Mother Ginger (Paul Boyd) with her brood completed the miscellany. (Incidentally this will be a much sought after annual gig for young Brisbane dancers, with 38 listed in the program to perform across the season, and the young cast this performance very accomplished and natural.)
Principal Natasha Kusch as the Sugar Plum Fairy, showed why she was appointed in her pas de deux with Hao. Beautiful control and impeccable musicality, together with a steely technique made this the highlight of the evening. Her solo showed grace and a delicate lightness, glorious epaulement, and killer balances and turns.
This Nutcracker was a suitably celebratory conclusion to Li Cunxin’s first year as Artistic Director and showed a company that has grown immeasurably.
- DENISE RICHARDSON
The Nutcracker closes 21 December.