***** Highly Recommended ***** The Joffrey Ballet’s “Chicago-centric” version of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, is quite simply magnificent. By setting The Nutcracker amidst Chicago’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, Wheeldon gave the city a unique gift. It’s become a holiday tradition at my house! No matter how many times I see The Nutcracker, I never get tired of the feeling of anticipation and excitement before a performance, waiting for that first chord of Tchaikovsky’s glorious music! The Nutcracker is absolutely perfect in every way. 4 BIG Spotlights
As the lights dim, The Nutcracker logo is replaced by projections of real Chicago newspaper headlines/stories proclaiming the Columbian Exposition – the Chicago World’s Fair. One of those headlines just happens to mention that building the Fair is creating jobs for immigrants.
Note: as you read through my review, please understand that the dancers I saw performing might not be the same at your performance. Several different dancers will alternate in the leading roles throughout the run.
The Great Impresario of the Fair (Alberto Velasquez), flourishing his cape, assisted by his apprentice, Peter (José Pablo Castro Cuevas), shows VIPs around the site, also pointing out important features on a model. Outside the site, people go about their business, passing the fences around the construction.
Some teenaged boys (Zachary Manske, Wictor Hugo Pedroso) have managed to sneak onto the grounds. After crawling out through the fence, they jostle each other around as Peter passes by pulling a wagonload of packages. Franz (Sheppard Littrell) steals a tall, red box. His older sister, Marie (Anabelle de la Nuez), tries to grab it, but he tosses it to one of the boys and they play keep-away. Hiding the package under his jacket, Franz runs away. Meanwhile, the Fair’s Rat Catcher (Dylan Gutierrez) terrifies Marie.
At home, their Mother (Amanda Assucena) has been working on a sculpture for the Fair. When the children come home, Franz hides the package in a cupboard while Marie helps Mother get ready for the holiday potluck she’s hosting.
Other Fair Workers and their families begin to arrive, bringing decorations and food for a Christmas celebration. The Fair Workers are: Coco Alvarez-Mena, Anais Bueno, Valeria Chaykina, Lucia Connolly, Olivia Duryea, Dara Holmes, Yumi Kanazawa, Nae Kojima, Edson Barbosa, Evan Boersma, Derek Drilon, Stefan Goncalvez, Reed Henry, Hansol Jeong, Blake Kessler, Valentino Moneglia Zamora
When the Great Impresario and his apprentice arrive, they project a silhouette of the Fair on a sheet, entertaining the workers with a glimpse of what they’re building. With Peter’s help, the Impresario rewards the workers with bonus envelopes, then he gives each child except Marie a gift. When he finally gives Marie a very familiar red box, Franz runs to check the cupboard, which is empty. Marie is thrilled with her nutcracker until Franz knocks it to the floor, breaking it. When the Great Impresario fixes it, Marie hugs him. After the gifts, everyone began to dance. Eventually the party wound down leaving the family alone.
Mother tucks Franz and Marie – with her nutcracker –into bed. Marie has a really vivid dream about rats. The Fair’s Rat Catcher (Dylan Gutierrez) is transformed into the Rat King. He and his giant Rats (Derek Drilon, Reed Henry, Hansol Jeong, Blake Kessler, Zachary Manske and Wictor Hugo Pedroso) surround her. Suddenly the Rats are battling toy soldiers (Jonathan Dole, Stefan Goncalvez, Jackson Miles, Davide Oldano, Aaron Renteria and Ryo Sasaki). A life-sized Nutcracker (Maxwell Dawe) is fighting the evil Rat King when he miraculously transforms into a real Prince.
Suddenly, the Great Impresario appears, whisking Marie and the Prince into a giant sleigh and they sail across the icy lake. On the ice, the Snow Soloists Anais Bueno, Gayeon Jung, Brooke Linford and Yumi Kanazawa are joined by the Ice Cavaliers, Edson Barbosa, Stefan Goncalvez, Hyuma Kiyosawa and Zachary Manske. Wearing gorgeous ice blue costumes, they are joined by the Snowflakes: Coco Alvarez-Mena, Lucia Connolly, Olivia Duryea, Dara Holmes, Nae Kojima, Lindy Mesmer, Lauren Quinn, Princess Reid, Basia Rhoden, Julia Rust, Natali That and Ao Wang. The soloists, the Cavaliers and the Snowflakes are all involved in one of the most exquisite dances of the whole show, The Snow Dance.
As their ship makes land, the Queen of the Fair (Amanda Assucena) welcomes them with an incredibly graceful solo. The Great Impresario leads Marie and the Prince through the exhibits of the Fair, but not before Marie and the Prince have a chance to dance together.
Frequently, they are joined by the Fair visitors, the women (Lucia Connolly, Olivia Duryea, Dara Holmes, Yumi Kanazawa, Lauren Quinn, Princess Reid, Natali That and Ao Wang) in graceful dresses with pastel ruffles; the men (Maxwell Dawe, Derek Drilon, Reed Henry, Hyuma Kiyosawa, Blake Kessler, Xavier Núñez, Valentino Moneglia Zamora, Aaron Renteria) in white top hats and tuxedos with bright colored vests.
The Great Impresario escorts Marie and the Prince to various pavilions:
- In the Spanish Pavilion, Spanish Dancers Anais Bueno, Brooke Linford, Evan Boersma, Stefan Goncalvez stomp with a flamenco flair.
- In the Arabian Pavilion, Dancers Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez take sensual to a whole new level.
- A Chinese Dancer (Wictor Hugo Pedroso) and two Chinese Dragons celebrate Chinese New Year.
- Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is a featured act on the Fair’s sideshow. Buffalo Bill (Edson Barbosa) demonstrates his roping and leaping skills while his Wild West Girls (Coco Alvarez-Mena, Basia Rhoden and Julia Rust) dance backup.
- There are Venetian Masked Dancers, Valeria Chaykina, Gayeon Jung,and Nae Kojima
- Mother Nutcracker (Fernando Duarte) sits on the roof while the Walnuts dance below.
- Finally, The Queen of the Fair and her partner (Alberto Velasquez) return for a final dazzling pas de deux.
Tchaikovsky’s glorious music was played by the Lyric Opera Orchestra conducted by Scott Speck, the Joffrey’s Music Director.
Northwest Indiana audiences: I saw Kelly Boersma, principal of Frank H. Hammond School in Munster, is very proud of her son, Evan, a member of the Joffrey company. In different performances this year, he’s a Fair Worker, a Toy Soldier, an Ice Cavalier, a Spanish Dancer and a Fair Visitor (wearing a Kelly green vest).
In most cases, I’ve credited the adult dancers above. I do think that everyone, including the child dancers should be recognized, so here they are. Note: these performers do not appear in every production.
- Ragamuffins/Rats: Annelise Balster,**** Oliver Reeve Libke,**** Jaziel Peralta, Viansa Pollina, Lilah Raphael,**** and Annabelle Webster
- Worker Girls: Norah Cuevas, Aranza Davalillo,**** Chloe Hazizi,**** Nieva Kaeding, Valentine Selah, Kim Penelope McAllister,**** and Caroline Price****
- Teen Worker Girls: Coralai Groulx and Sophia Singleton
- Soldiers/Nutcrackers: Stella Francesca Caliendo, Julissa Flores, Kerri Hagen, Desdemona Landazuri-Mortensen, Madeline Maine and Gabrielle Singleton
- Cavalry/Dragons: Alexa Akkurt, Lily Burch, Ava McGregor,**** and Madeline Penkrot
- Walnuts: Annelise Balster,**** Aranza Davalillo,**** Chloe Hazizi,**** Penelope McAllister,**** Caroline Price,**** and Lilah Raphael,****
- Waves/Dragons: Coralai Groulx, Oliver Reeve Libke,**** Viansa Pollina and Sophia Singleton
- Junior Snowflakes: Ava Rosas, Olivia Jean-Baptiste, Madeleine Leonard and Eden Parmer
- Snowflakes: Clara Cuevas, Hailey Grace Ocampo, Hannah Fischel, Kate Kitching, Ariana Monserrat Rivera, Solomon Rosenthal, Ruri Kishi, Zara Sadikhova, Maelyn Stoner, Stephanie Tang, Aamani Varadhi and Noemi Vázquez
*Joffrey Studio Company | ** Joffrey Academy Trainee | *** Joffrey Conservatory Student | ****Joffrey Academy Pre-Professional
The Joffrey Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker runs through December 27th at the Lyric Opera House, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago. The best parking option I’ve found is the Poetry Garage, 201 W. Madison. Visit www.joffrey.org/performances-and-tickets/plan-your-visit/directions-and-parking/ for reduced rate
Running time is two hours with an intermission. Remaining performances are: Friday, December 8th at 7:00 pm; Saturday, December 9th at 2:00 & 7:00 pm; Sunday, December 10th at 2:00 pm; Thursday, December 14th at 7:00 pm; Friday, December 15th at 7:00 pm; Saturday, December 16th at 2:00 & 7:00 pm; Sunday, December 17th at 1:00 & 6:00 pm; Wednesday, December 20th at 7:00 pm; Thursday December 21st at 2:00 & 7:00 pm; Friday, December 22nd at 2:00 & 7:00 pm; Saturday, December 23rd at 2: & 7:00 pm; Sunday, December 24th at 2:00 pm; Tuesday, December 26th at 2:00 & 7:00 pm; and Wednesday, December 27th at 2:00 pm. Tickets start at $36. FYI (312) 386-8905 or www.joffrey.org.