UK: The Christmas classic, "The Nutcracker" returns to impress audiences in London for the 56th year running.

Record ID: 644210

  • Title: UK: The Christmas classic, "The Nutcracker" returns to impress audiences in London for the 56th year running.
  • Date: 15th December 2006
  • Summary: (L!1) LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DMITRI GRUZDYEV, BALLET DANCER PLAYING THE PRINCE, SAYING: "It's a nice ballet to watch - easy, fun for kids, beautiful music. And just before Christmas, everything is beautiful I think."
  • Embargoed: 30th December 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA1XJSJMO0GFD2OHVHJXN4U76IV
  • Story Text: World famous ballet "The Nutcracker" had its opening night at the London Coliseum on Friday (December 8) -- keeping up a Christmas tradition that spans over fifty years.
    The ballet, based on the story "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" by E.T.A. Hoffman follows a young German girl named Clara who receives the gift of a nutcracker from godfather Drosselmeyer one Christmas. It's a very popular ballet with music by Russian composer Pyotr (Peter) Tchaikovsky, and has been performed all around the world.
    Czech ballerina Daria Klimentova has been playing the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy for years -- and thinks this year's version of the ballet has much to offer.
    "But our (English National Ballet) Nutcracker is not so traditional. It's, we have a - it's done by a designer, Gerald Scarfe as you probably know. And everything is exaggerated, all the characters - they have a big noses, big ears and I think it's much more funny," she said.
    Scarfe has turned the first half of the ballet into a colourful comic-book world.
    "It's a Christmas treat that grannies and mums take their children and grandchildren to. And I've aimed it with colour and exciting costumes and fun, at the children. But it doesn't mean to say that there isn't everything that an adult would want there too," said Scarfe.
    Dmitri Gruzdyev is another veteran of "The Nutcracker," having performed many times before. He says that he brings his children to see the ballet.
    "It's a nice ballet to watch - easy, fun for kids, beautiful music. And just before Christmas, everything is beautiful I think," said Gruzdyev.
    The story has been interpreted in many different ways, though some things remain the same; and the crux of Act I lies in the battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King -- with Clara dealing the final blow, killing the Mouse King and causing the army of mice to retreat.
    Act II kicks off with Clara and the Nutcracker arriving in the Kingdom of the Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince.
    A series of dances are performed for Clara and the Nutcracker -- the highlight of which is the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince, a Grand Pas de Deux. The 'duet' is made up of a complicated sequence of steps and lasts for about 10 minutes.
    "This year it was a little bit different actually, they changed it because the performance of the prima ballerina and the guy she danced with was a lot longer, more classical. I think they've gone back more classical," said a woman who's made it a tradition to watch "The Nutcracker" every Christmas.
    Even first-time goers were in awe of the performance.
    "I thought it was really really good, so exciting - all like bright colours and everything, it was just so great. It was the very first ballet I've ever been to, and I really enjoyed it," said a young girl.
    "The Nutcracker", performed by the English National Ballet, will run until December 24.
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