Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker
Dec. 30th, 2021 06:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitIt was December 2019 when we agreed we wanted to see the Nutcracker, as our between Christmas and New Year treat at Sadler's Wells, in London. So, as soon as February 2020 arrived and tickets went on sale we booked them. It was then postponed to this year, and with Omicron running riot a few performances were cancelled before Christmas and we were on tenterhooks whether we would finally see it or not. However, on Tuesday it was announced it was running again and we agreed we would go.
We drove up to London, not wishing to risk the train - either whether it would run, or how many people would be crammed in if it did. With a major delay on the motorway it took us five hours from leaving home to the Travelodge we were staying in overnight. However, we made it, and only had a 15 minute walk to the theatre.
The Nutcracker was wonderful. It begins in an orphanage and then via a frozen lake to reach Sweetieland. In the process the theme moves from the grey and black of the orphanage, through the white of the lake to the explosion of colour in Sweetieland.
I can't pick out any dancers to highlight them - they were all incredible. The complicated routines - and so many of them - together with the obvious joy in performance - means that every time I think someone excels, there's another to take their place. The sweeties are marvellous, beginning with the humbug, who acts as bouncer. There's the brightly coloured Allsorts Trio, and the rather dubious Knickerbocker Glory. The very pink Marshmallow Girls escorting a deeper pink Princess Sugar are complete airheads, while the three Gobstoppers are simply spoiling for a fight.
After the year we've had it was such a joy to finish it with something so bright and cheerful. In any year this would have been a highlight, but this year it was even more so.
We drove up to London, not wishing to risk the train - either whether it would run, or how many people would be crammed in if it did. With a major delay on the motorway it took us five hours from leaving home to the Travelodge we were staying in overnight. However, we made it, and only had a 15 minute walk to the theatre.
The Nutcracker was wonderful. It begins in an orphanage and then via a frozen lake to reach Sweetieland. In the process the theme moves from the grey and black of the orphanage, through the white of the lake to the explosion of colour in Sweetieland.
I can't pick out any dancers to highlight them - they were all incredible. The complicated routines - and so many of them - together with the obvious joy in performance - means that every time I think someone excels, there's another to take their place. The sweeties are marvellous, beginning with the humbug, who acts as bouncer. There's the brightly coloured Allsorts Trio, and the rather dubious Knickerbocker Glory. The very pink Marshmallow Girls escorting a deeper pink Princess Sugar are complete airheads, while the three Gobstoppers are simply spoiling for a fight.
After the year we've had it was such a joy to finish it with something so bright and cheerful. In any year this would have been a highlight, but this year it was even more so.
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Date: 2021-12-30 08:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-12-30 09:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-12-30 09:35 pm (UTC)We'd booked to see it in 2020 too (I think we'd booekd for Xmas eve or Boxing Day - it's a bit of a rtraiditon that we do Bourne then if he's got anying on at SW). *G*
Then it got postponed.
One of the group I'm going with was going to be travelling over Xmas (alas she was unable to go on the holiday she'd planned because rstrictions) and with Omicron looming we've booked towards the end of the run and are supposed to be seeing it on 28 Jan.
I just have everything firmly crossed that we're still able to go as it sounds wonderful.*G*
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Date: 2021-12-30 09:41 pm (UTC)I do hope you get to see it - it really is a great evening!
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Date: 2021-12-30 11:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-12-30 11:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-12-31 03:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-12-31 04:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-12-31 08:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-12-31 08:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 05:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 06:45 am (UTC)(Whoops, hit "send" too soon.)
I'm so glad your performance was not cancelled and you could end the year on a bright note. :)
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Date: 2022-01-01 09:15 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2022-01-01 12:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-01-01 12:30 pm (UTC)