If you’ve come by looking for my annual stream of consciousness, I do apologize. While I continue to have many thoughts during all viewings of Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, I figure there are only so many times you’re interested in hearing me question the hype over a wooden toy that cracks nuts and how lust-inducing the Russians are, despite all current political affairs.
This year I was sitting in on The Nutcracker’s dress rehearsal {such a treat!} and couldn’t help but think about all of the underrated characters that grace this stage every holiday season. Don’t get me wrong, Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy are bae, but what about the underdogs?
Photo by Liza Voll, courtesy Boston Ballet
10 // Bear
Despite being the face of this show, I fear Bear isn’t reeeally taken seriously as a dancer. Hey! You’ve got it easy – no pointe shoes! Just put on this 15-pound fur costume. Breathing and unobstructed vision are overrated anyway. Oh, and you have to pose for photos with crying children before and after every show.
9 // Fritz
Let’s be real, this kid is a turd, but he is adorable and funny as hell, made cuter by the fact that he seems to be completely unaware of such. His little nervous, sour face is irresistible, so we can temporarily forgive his desperate middle-child attention-demanding behavior.
8 // Russians # 2 and 3
True, this scene receives a standing ovation more times than not, but I can’t help but ache a little for the non-soloists in the back. They’re like Lance Bass and JC Chasez. Of course frontman Justin Timberlake is going to rock your world with his quintuple turn followed by 19 fouettes into 24 of whatever those jump things are, but I dare anyone else to attempt 3 seconds of their routine without breaking an ankle or inducing an asthma attack. These are not your average backup singers dancers.
Photo by Liza Voll, courtesy Boston Ballet
7 // The Conductor
Beatrice Affron holds it down in her pit every. darn. show. with little to no regard. There is no double casting here!! HelLO audience, the show quite literally cannot go on without her unless you’re into silent films. Sure everyone applauds for the orchestra when prompted, but is that the best you got?
6 // Pages
Not only are these tiny children delightful on their own, but they deserve a round of applause for being sub-8-year-olds who have to stand on stage in character, in period clothing, for a large duration of a very long show.
5 // Baby Black Sheep
On that note, from the urchins to the reindeer, there are a lot of freaking cute children in this show, but the Black Sheep takes the cake. Every year, no question. I want to shake this kid’s hand.
4 // Mother Ginger’s Hair
That hair is the size of aforementioned Baby Black Sheep. Everyone is looking at her 50-lb skirt, but I am beyond impressed with the perfectly secured foot-and-a-half tall wig balancing a SHIP headpiece, no less, on it.
Photo by Liza Voll, courtesy Boston Ballet
3 // Pastorale Man
WC Fields once warned, “never work with children or animals,” they’re scene stealing. Yet broseph here has to work with both, AS WELL AS juggle two women. I guarantee 97% of the audience’s attention is on the gals and sheep pals, but this guy always emerges as an A+ dancer who gets so little respect! Next time, give him a second look. I mean, he’s not sore on the eyes anyway.
2 // Ballerina Doll
I could watching this chick dance for far longer than the ~60 seconds or so she is given. Every year, no fail, I pout when her cute little robotic self is carried off stage. She must have a side hustle as a break dancer, no? It takes a certain rare skill set to pop and lock like that. Holler at me if you know anything.
1 // Grandmother & Grandfather
Do yourself a favor and tune out the entire party scene {sorry, everyone else} except Granny & Gramps next time you see this show. I don’t know if this is one of Mikko’s recent insertions of humor or what, but it took me until just last year to give them a second glance, and boy have I been missing out. They have DEF had one-too-many eggnogs and are getting all frisky and flirty to one another! The casting here really puts the wind in my sails.
Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker is running at The Boston Opera House through December 31, and tickets start at just $35. It has become my absolute favorite holiday tradition, and I couldn’t recommend this production and cast—ALL of them—more.
[ follow along love! instagram | twitter | rss | bloglovin ]
Leave a Reply