By JESSICA NEU
Each year, as the holiday season draws near, there are countless symbols, themes, metaphors, and representations of Christmas. The spirit of Christmas is all around, from songs to decorations to movies to presents, large and small. But what does Christmas mean to you? A special memory from years past, a favorite tradition, a favorite place, or a favorite meal. However you define Christmas, the odds are that you can see your favorite aspect of the holiday in Terrence S. Orr‘s classic ballet, The Nutcracker. With music by P.I. Tchaikovsky, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater‘s The Nutcracker showcases a wide range of PBT dancers at their absolute best.
The timeless show encapsulates nearly every aspect of Christmas. As the Nutcracker clock (inspired by the Kaufmann clock) ticks away at the top of the stage, dancers delicately glide across the floor carrying presents big and small as they arrive at the Stahlbaum home in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood. Godfather Drosselmeyer (Corey Bourbonniere) and his nephew (Josiah Kauffmann) arrive at the party and unload some mysterious yet seemingly magical Christmas presents. As the party begins, children delightfully throw snowballs as their cheeks glisten with the wonderment of Christmas. Palpable excitement fills the air as each dancer exudes the same innocence and anticipation as a child discovering that Santa came on Christmas morning. Orr’s choreography incorporates principal dancers, soloists, corps de ballet, and PBT students to fill the Stahlbaum house with joy, warmth, and love.
As the home begins to bustle, Dr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum (Sam DerGregorian and Grace Rookstool) gift their daughter, Marie (Abigail Huang), with a new scarf and a pair of pointe shoes to mark her maturity.
Before they enter the party, Drosselmeyer tells of the Rat King’s (Colin McCaslin) 400-year curse on his nephew, who is actually a prince. Zack Brown’s scenic and costume design join forces with Julie Duro’s lighting design and Orr’s choreography to create a scene filled with delightful illusions, suspense, and intrigue.
The party gets underway accompanied by familiar music that makes The Nutcracker such a timeless piece. Orr may have borrowed a few tricks from Liberty Magic down the street from the Benedum Center as dancers turned dolls magically come to life as children received their gifts. Emry Amoky gives a standout performance as the Pirate during this sequence, and his captivating presence commands the stage with a perfect frame and pristine turnout.
There is a playfulness amongst the children surrounding the unveiling of Drosselmeyer’s gift – a nutcracker. As with any highly sought-after Christmas gift, the children are eager to get their hands on the intriguing toy. However, all of the commotion causes the nutcracker to break. Marie is briefly saddened until Drosselmeyer’s nephew helps mend the nutcracker and gifts it back to Marie. Huang is delicate and en pointe as Kauffmann hands her the gift. She takes four steps toward him, light as air, and her tiptoes articulate her joy. Kauffmann and Huang’s duet that follows this exchange is poised to perfection and nonverbally communicates a unity of trust, admiration, and tenderness.
Meanwhile, Bourbonniere portrays Drosselmeyer in a maestro-like way as he conducts dancing mice and makes TheNutcracker come to life. Part wizard and part Houdini, he moves about the stage with omnipresent grace, precision, and confidence. As surprises continue to pop up across the stage and Christmas magic allows toys to come to life, you will undoubtedly feel a twinge of nostalgia as traditional toys fill the stage. There is not an electronic device or battery-operated toy in sight, which adds a sense of purity and homeliness to The Nutcracker.
Orr also does a brilliant job of incorporating comedic relief (the slain mouse waving to the audience as he was carried off of the stage drew audible laughs from the crowd) and anecdotes of modern choreography juxtaposed perfectly against stellar relieves to make the production feel fresh while still timeless.
The magic and mischief led by Drosselmeyer lead to the unveiling of the Snow King and Queen (Colin McCaslin and Tommie Lin Kesten). McCaslin, a soloist, and Kesten, a principal artist, are always stunning with their grace, technique, and beauty, and their performance in The Nutcracker is no exception. Throughout the rest of the show, McCaslin and Kesten lead the Corps de Ballet dancers as each dancer’s arabesque extends into the twinkling land of frosty snowflakes, each turn sequence swirls like the winter wind, and each leap elevates like Santa’s sleigh. Kesten’s enchanting “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” reminds audiences why they return to see this beloved holiday classic each year.
Cast members and roles vary based on each performance. Still, with PBT’s longstanding history of stellar performances, each cast configuration is sure to dazzle as much as the next. Whether you are seeing The Nutcracker for the first time or returning for your favorite yearly tradition, may you revel in the Christmas spirit that this marvelous PBT production embodies.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s production has performances now through December 27th, 2024 at the Benedum Center. Tickets at https://pbt.culturaldistrict.org/production/93458/the-nutcracker
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