The Nutcracker * * * *
Birmingham Hippodrome
Review by Susan Turner
It's difficult to find anything fresh and sparkling to say about a ballet that year-on-year never fails to be fresh and sparkling, has a hum-a-long Tchaikovsky score and which is virtually sold-out by opening night.
It's 17 years since Sir Peter Wright created his production of ballet's perennial festive favourite The Nutcracker for Birmingham Royal Ballet. Still, it remains the most magical of all the versions with its plausible storyline, technical wizardry and gorgeous designs that transport the audience from a traditional upper class Christmas party to a winter wonderland and on to a colourful kingdom of sweets.
Most productions sideline Clara to the role of a child onlooker. Sir Peter, with a touch of genius, made her central to the plot, promoting her to a 15-year-old, caught between childish fantasies and fears and a young woman's romantic notions.
As the young heroine, first soloist Carol-Anne Millar is a delightful mix of feisty adolescent meets sweet Victorian miss. In 17 years of Claras, her enthusiastic interpretation stands out as a refreshing new take on what might be considered a goody-twoshoes role.
Hers is an interpretation that contrasts perfectly with the elegant nonchalance of Nao Sakuma as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Classically gifted, Sakuma not only looks the daintiest fairy from the top of the tree but dances like one. A glittering sugary plum, indeed. Chi Cao as her Prince is all technical brilliance; big jumps, spectacular turns, good extensions. Together they make a charismatic pair and are clearly comfortable in their professional pairing.
There's not one bum performance in the show so it seems unfair to single out individuals but Lei Zhao is a joyous Rose Fairy, Kit Holder and Christopher Larsen amuse in the Chinese dance, while Alexander Campbell as the Jack-in-the-Box surely has real springs for legs.
And despite being a teenager, the production's magic tricks and technical effects -including a revolving fireplace, scurrying rats, a huge flying swan, a Christmas tree that grows Topsy-like and a decapitated Nutcracker doll that miraculously mends itself - are as whizz-bang as back in 1990.
Friday's opening night received tumultuous applause and extended curtain calls, proving that far from tiring of BRB's regular Christmas offering, theatregoers are pleased to see it back. Tickets are still to be had but one doubts for long.
