THE NUTCRACKER

BY ED BRUCE edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

THEY SHOULD BE ASHMADED OF THEMSELVES FOR PRODUCING THE BEST NUTCRACKER IN HISTORY AND NOT STARTING ON TIME...17 MINUTES LATE FOR WORLD CLASS BALLET FROM NEVADA BALLET THEATRE. JUST AWFUL !

Well...got that out of the way !

I was more than ready for the NBT's annual production of this Christmas classic at the Paris Casino Theatre...I was fortunate to review the last show of the December 17-26 run...many say there are times the last show is best...maybe because of the "live rehersals" production repitition or just talent...whatever I found this production the best I have ever seen. Maybe too after seeing Europe for 29 days I was anxious for Las Vegas and its great opportunities and eager for the "strip" !

I cannot see the Nutcracker enough and could go to it blind for the hall of fame music from composer Peter Ilich Tchiakovsky...not live here but still the greatest stuff ever from the worlds second greatest composer ever...LENNON-MCCARTNEY .
After 30 years of this (still not enough) I know whats coming but just like professional ball team...we have new players and new plays. Sad part it for them to top this next year ! Thats their job of course and the NBT appears to always be able to the task ! My partner at 70 had yet to see the Nutcracker and the joy and pleasure it gave her means a lot to the world...new...exciting...dynamic...all elements including in spectacular form !

What to say if you still have virgin eyes...just go... the menu of class and production from NBT their invitation to everyone's life.

THE LIGHTING...last summer at the PAGEANT OF THE MASTER...I learned most shows and lighted by computer...don't know how this one was done at this world class theatre but it was the best lighting production show I have ev er seen....Peter Jakubowski's name is on this...I stand and applaud ! Name wise artistic dirctor James Canfield, costume director Pamela Williams and choreographer Peter Anatos...your efforts were not less appreciated.

Some highlights of already high...a flash photo was taken early in the show...to put 40 dancers toether in two seconds and hit the flash perfectly just astouding...I didn't miss it...but it was brilliantly quick. I hate kids and of course this must be a collasool pane in the ass running them around and hitting marks...entrances and exits....THEY WERE ALL GREAT...and most of them quite talented in groups and acted like they were real dancers, some additional moves were given them in this production and the entire effort was again not lost on my lovely afternoon finale.

NBT has always had perfect costumed to the effect that it has been a signature look to their ballets thru the years...no change to that here and towards the finale 10 ballerinas in the best reddish pink costumes came out and danced perfect in what could have been a ballet inself...I hate to see them go...all their training and love for ballet paid off perfectly this Sunday afternoon.

The big Paris stage seemed to fit this production perfectly...the set transitions were as good as any ever seen by this old Nutcrackerian lover...the solos is the second act had color lighting changes to fit the mood and color of the dancers...just gorgeous looks and transitions...over dancing in this very well done too...I love the lines and timing and I got it all this day...damn it was the last show and I can't go again til next year...PBS does have a run this Friday but nothing can match the look of live theatre.

I guess their is no way to start on time or have all the patrons arrive on time or prevent kids from running up and down the aisles or having intermissions (sweeping up the snow at halftime permissable here) or having drunks spill their drinks on other patrons (I was hoping for a fight on this one the guilty party actually got up out of his chair and conforted his younger stronger victim-people are such assholes).

They couldn't spoil this for me thou...THANK YOU NEVADA BALLET THEATRE

B-81

THANK YOU !