Main Street Ballet's Nutcracker 2014 - My Review

This year marked the 26th time that the Main Street Ballet presented their annual holiday production of ‘Nutcracker’ in the Pomperaug High School auditorium. The house for the Sunday matinee was almost filled and there were many well-dressed children in attendance. Nutcracker ornaments and other treats were for sale at a boutique in the lobby and raffle tickets for a huge nutcracker were available.

Artistic Director Sibley Morosco, dressed in a beautiful period gown, graciously welcomed the crowd and gave a brief introduction of the story. The young members of the audience shouted out the names of the central characters in answer to her questions; this ballet seems to me to be the perfect way to introduce the very young to ballet and entice them to sign up for classes.

After a parade of the principal characters in front of the curtain, the first act opened with the Christmas Eve party at the Silberhaus home. Guests at the party danced in wonderful costumes by Ms. Morosco and Pat Nurnberger. The beautifully impressive set was designed by Gabrielle Nurnberger and it was beautifully lit by Kim Skalski. The music written by Peter Ilyich Tchaikowsky was taped but was perfectly fine. The original choreography is by Marius Petipa with additional choreography by Ms. Morosco, Lizabeth Skalski and Slyvia Davidowitz.

Local attorney Rick Richardson returned to the stage as the mysterious and wonderful Herr Drosselmeyer and this year I noticed what a trouble maker this uncle could be when he wasn’t making magic. His wife Attorney Kathy Bower again played a party guest and this year their beautiful daughter Julia Bower Richardson has recovered from a long illness well enough to play the role of Clara at this performance. It was such a gift to see her gracefully dance and masterfully pantomime the action and especially to watch her dance with her grateful dad.

Anna Moyaux played Clara’s naughty brother Fritz and Nina Koobatian was her best friend. Dance instructor Sylvia Kinal Davidowitz was very animated and funny as the Nanny and Grace Ziemke was the family’s maid. Ms. Morosco played Frau Silberhaus and Chris Powderly played her husband. Anna Bower Richardson danced the part of Drosselmeyer’s toy creation the Colombine and her sister Grace danced the role of the Soldier Boy. Leah Tichy was the Harlequin and Julianna Rodrigues was the Soldier Girl. Parents of the dancers stepped up to dance the roles of adult party guests and one would never know that they weren’t professionals.

The end of the first act happened later that evening when the Mouse Queen Juliette Janiszerski oversaw a fight between her mice and the soldiers. The Waltz of the Snowflakes, led by the Snow Queen Chloe Eggert and her Cavalier Daevid Mendivil, included many ballerinas dressed in white tulle and falling snow.

After intermission, the dream continued in the Land of the Sweets. Patricia Liu perfectly danced the crucial role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Celestin Boutin supported her as her Cavalier. The very smallest dancers came to the stage to play angels and there were wrangled by older dancers as their guardian angels. The sweetness continued with the various ensembles that inhabit the land. The Marzipan Shepherdess Madison Griffin danced with all her young sheep, who were wrangled in the audience by backstage mom while not on the stage. Anna Bower Richardson danced the lead in Tea, while Lindsey Oppel soloed on Coffee.
Assistant Director Lizabeth Skalski played Mother Ginger as she watched over a group of young gingerbread girls. Jillian Roden danced the part of head Trepak at this performance with a large group of Russian-like dancers.

The final Dance of the Flowers was led by the lovely Dew Drop Fairy (Juliette Janiszerski) and her Cavalier (Daevid Mendivil) with a large group of flower dancers in various shades of pastels. There was also a pas de deux with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier before the curtain call.

The four graduating seniors included Abby Manville and Emily Spina (Hot Chocolate) Megan Primavera (Demi Dew Drop) and Grace Ziemke. Lots of bouquets were distributed to end the afternoon of beautiful dancing in a wonderful closing performance of the perfect holiday ballet. Without exception, these young dancers display such poise during their performances. This ballet company always brings a high level of professionalism to their annual production and elevates ‘Nutcracker’ to more than a dance recital.

Pictured: Julia Bower Richardson dancing the role of Clara in the Main Street Ballet’s ’Nutcracker’ Photo courtesy of Caring for Julia Bower Richardson page on Facebook