Tuesday December 21, 2010 @ 6:00 PM - Today's treat: marzipan!
Having missed my planned NUTCRACKER last week due to waiting too long to secure a ticket, I was back this evening to see a performance featuring debuts by Brittany Pollack and Chase Finlay as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her cavalier.
There was a 'new' (to me) conductor in the pit: Daniel Alfred Wachs. After a stately pacing of the overture he went in for brisk tempos but not so brisk that the dancers seemed rushed. Kurt Nikkanen must have played the violin intermezzo hundreds of times over the years but it still sounds ravishing. Unfortunately it was accompanied tonight by the patter of feet as latecomers were ushered to their seats on the uncarpeted orchestra level. Come on, NYCB: you can do better than this. Late seating sucks.
Gwyneth Muller's smiling, detailed portrayal of Frau Stahlbaum is always a pleasure and Henry Seth was her dapper spouse. Andre Kramarevsky's Drosselmeyer always finds little bits of business to keep it fresh. Megan Johnson and David Prottas were amusing as the grandparents and Likolani Brown, Jenelle Manzi and Austin Laurent portrayed the animated dolls.
So nice to see Mary Elizabeth Sell leading off the snowflakes: with her dark hair and eyes - and a pretty smile - she's an outstanding member of the corps. Dara Johnson, who should have had the evening off, was among both the snowflakes and the flowers, and Alina Dronova used the snow scene to warm up for her excellent Marzipan.
Amanda Hankes and Zachary Catazaro led the Spanish contingent - having loved her Lilac Fairy I think Amanda would make a very fine Sugar Plum. Megan LeCrone's dramatic performance as Arabian was another feather in this fascinating dancer's cap: she really held the audience. Daniel Ulbricht spiced up his Tea with a fantastic triple air turn with a catlike landing, then some high leaps. Anthony Huxley's Candy Cane was light and bright with smooth hoopwork. I very much liked Alina Dronova's Marzipan with her fluent delivery of the steps. Cameron Dieck played Mother Ginger.
In a radiant performance, Sara Mearns danced Dewdrop with prima ballerina grandeur and swept thru each brilliant solo passage with regal assurance. The audience loved her. Lauren King and Ashley Laracey were the charming demi-solistes in the Waltz.
Brittany Pollack's entrance as the Sugar Plum Fairy was greeted with applause which prompted the ballerina to smile - and her smile is one of the best in the business. The solo was very attractively danced with the steps nicely defined and tapered to the music. When Brittany and her partner Chase Finlay reappeared for the climactic pas de deux, looking like young royals, they met each of Balanchine's many demands with flair. A couple of minor timing problems will be worked out by their second performance; they are off to a fine start with this joint debut. The coda went well although Chase wandered a bit in his endless spins in place. But he looks the prince to a T and he and Brittany were given a big roar of applause when they took their bow at the end.
The finale gives us another glimpse of each dancer from the divertissement; I was looking forward to seeing Anthony leap thru his hoop on his exit but he left it out tonight. Likewise the Arabians that I've seen this season are sticking with the held attitudes rather than the pirouette-arabesque combination in the finale. I know: these are minor details that won't make or break an evening, but they are a lot of fun to watch and they add a little extra flair to NUTZ season.
So glad it went well! I love seeing these debuts and am always so happy when they are a success, as it must be nerve-wracking for the dancers!
Posted by: Laura | December 22, 2010 at 08:56 AM
Yes! I sometimes wonder though if it is a good idea to have couples debut together in this very tricky pas de deux or whether it might be more productive to have new SPF's dance with experienced cavaliers and new cavaliers work with ballerinas who have already done the role.
Posted by: Philip | December 22, 2010 at 10:20 AM