Christmas 2008
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The Nutcracker (December 21st)
After a sold-out series of performances in 2007, Festival Ballet Theatre’s lavish full-length professional production of The Nutcracker returns to the Barclay. Continue your family holiday tradition and celebrate the season with the Sugar Plum Fairy, her dashing prince, our heroine Clara and a cast of hundreds as they take you on a magical journey to mystical lands.
The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story
"The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman.
Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the
original story, the basic plot remains the same; The story of a young
German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle
against a Mouse King with seven heads.
When Marius Petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet,
it was actually based on a revision by Alexander Dumas, a well known
French author. His version reflects more of what we have come to love as
the Nutcracker Ballet.
The Party Scene
It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house
-- A large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable. The
Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the
arrival of their family and friends. The children, Clara and Fritz, are
dancing and playing as they welcome their friends too.
The party grows festive with music and dance as godfather Drosselmeyer
arrives. He is a skilled clock and toy maker and always full of
surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone's attention as he presents two
life-size dolls. They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn
to dance.
The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his to Clara
and Fritz. Although his gift to Fritz is quite nice, he gives Clara a
beautiful Nutcracker that becomes the hit of the party. Fritz becomes
jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the
nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is heartbroken
looking on as Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a
handkerchief he magically draws from the air.
As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family
retires for the evening. Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker,
sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her
arms.
The Fight Scene
As the clock strikes midnight strange
things begin to happen. Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful
Christmas tree grows high above her. The toys around the tree come to
life while the room fills with an army of mice, lead by the fierce Mouse
King. As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into
battle with the mice. The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker and battles
him one-on-one. The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King.
The Nutcracker and his army can go on no longer and are captured by the
mice and their King. Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her
slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on the head. The Mouse
King drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their
leader's lifeless body.
The Land of Snow
The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.
The Land of Sweets
The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince tells her about their daring battle with the army of mice and she rewards them with a celebration of dances.
* The Spanish Dance
* The Arabian Dance
* The Russian Dance
* The Chinese Dance
* The Mirliton Dance
* The Waltz of Flowers
As a finale, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas
De Deux.
The Dream Ends
Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker.
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