A BEAMED DREAM
As with most fairy tales, E. T. A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (1816), has some gruesome aspects. With a freakish, seven-headed Mouse King, his squished mother, and frightening violence inflicted upon an infant, young Marie 
Stahlbaum’s adventures with her beloved Christmas toy can easily be viewed as a nightmare. When Tchaikovsky and choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov turned Alexandre Dumas (père)’s French translation of the story into the ballet The Nutcracker, a little darkness remained, especially in the music. But the team concentrated on the confectionary aspects, from a Sugar Plum Fairy to waltzing flowers. While some modern companies have attempted to update the ballet utilizing the darker themes, the perennial favorites, such as Peter Wright’s production for the Royal Ballet, understand that the show’s attractiveness resides in the sugary surface.
This gorgeous Nutcracker is easily one of the best in the world, and for one night only on Dec. 17, U. S. audiences can see the Royal Ballet’s gorgeous 2013 version, staged by Christopher Carr, when it is beamed to a local theater. This year, a few tricks are added which will offer the snowy charm and outstanding dancing of previous productions, but there’s an insinuation of darkness in this one. 
Wright’s construction has been fine-tuned since it was first seen at Covent Garden in 1984: Now there’s an unexpectedly intelligible narrative throughout, with Clara’s escapades are presented as an endeavor by toymaker/illusionist Drosselmeyer to protect his nephew.
Julia Trevelyan Oman’s enchanting visual designs, which recall a traditional 19th century Christmas, remain. The dashing Federico Bonelli, who was extraordinary in the live broadcast of Royal’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland last month, will be the Prince. Laura Morera, the exquisite Royal Ballet Principal, adds classical lyricism to the role of The Sugar Plum Fairy, Gary Avis is Herr Drosselmeyer, and Emma Maguire is Clara. Tchaikovsky’s intoxicating score will be performed by conductor Tom Seligman and the Royal Opera House Orchestra, which matches the virtuosity of the world’s best philharmonics. Best of all, you get a front row seat to the Royal Ballet, one of the top five ballet companies in the world, for an average ticket price of $15.
photos © ROH / Johan Persson and Bill Cooper
The Nutcracker
Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House
in collaboration with Arts Alliance Media
presented by NCM Fathom Events
Tuesday, December 17, 2013 7:00 PM local time nationwide
running time: 2 hours 10 minutes, including a 20 minute intermission
for tickets, visit http://www.fathomevents.com/