This perennial Christmas entertainment may have arrived at the Playhouse Theatre a few weeks later than usual, but it's still a magical winter treat for all the family to warm the heart. The Chisinau National Ballet of Moldova has been brought to the UK by Ellen Kent productions, which has arranged tours of popular classical opera and ballet from Eastern Europe since 1994. This production of The Nutcracker is the modern version choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich and first performed in 1966 by the Bolshoi Ballet, of which he was the leading choreographer. He edited and revised Petipa's grand ballet (premiered 1892) to create his own new "unity of style". Forty two years on and Girgorovich's lively balletic style appears still fresh and contemporary.
The classic fairytale of Hoffman's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is perfect for a narrative ballet revolving around a child's dreamworld filled with Christmas presents, puppets, a magician, toy soldiers, scary mice and a red suited doll who turns into Prince Charming. The atmosphere is magical from the moment Tchaikovsky's lyrical overture begins. Against an icy blue gauze backdrop, a thick flurry of snowflakes falls as a group of well-dressed party goers wrapped up in cloaks and hats, walk, dance and skip across the stage. A top-hatted man in a yellow-lined flowing cape, marches in exaggerated steps, leaning back and forward, in a manner reminiscent of Raeburn's portrait, "Reverend Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch."
And so the Christmas party begins with presents and a puppet show. The tiny, athletic Kristina Surucheanu is a comic star turn as the Nutcracker Doll, holding a rigid pose with bent knees as if her limbs were made of wood. The choreography celebrates every style and step of dance from sedate ballroom waltzes to the energetic displays of cultural folk dance by the Russian, French, Spanish, Indian and Chinese dolls while an exquisite Corps de ballet, a vision of white tulle, create neat lines and swanlike formations.
The principal dancers in the lead roles of Marie and Prince Nutcracker are Kristina Terentieva and Alexei Terentiev. The fact they are husband and wife adds to a sense of sweet true love to the theatrical scenario as they sweep across the stage. Kristina has a look of a young Margot Fonteyn about her oval face, dark hair and quiet grace. She is captivating and completely believable as a twelve year old girl, partnered by the dashingly romantic, Alexei. Performances throughout the ensemble are enhanced by impressive lighting, superb costumes, elaborate set, rich colour and vitality. The only downside on opening night was certain sections of the Chisinau Ballet Orchestra, where poor, out of tune woodwind and brass playing, (on several occasions), added a disappointingly low note to this overall fine production. A packed Playhouse theatre loved it.
Times: 13 - 16 February 2008