The Nutcracker

This is the seventh successive year that Queensland Ballet has mounted The Nutcracker, and judging by the full-house of littlies and oldies audiences can’t get enough of it. The company deliver a simply joyous and magical production that is precision sharp and fresh.

The familiar story of Clara and her nocturnal dreams that whisk her to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets is beautifully danced and executed in this revered and popular classic.

Standout performances were Yanela Pinera as the Snow Queen, Mia Heathcote as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Victor Estavez as the Prince. Pinera shimmered with beauty as she executed impressive extensions and pirouettes which ended with fingers fluttering. Heathcote excelled in her lifts with incredible balance and grace, whilst her pas de deux work with Estavez was supremely accomplished and in tune with his spectacular leaps and spins. Together they created magic.

Chiara Gonzalez was a sweet and innocent Clara, whose confrontation with the Nutcracker (Kohei Iwamoto) and the Rat Army provided humour, as did Luke Dimattina’s obnoxious and bratty Fritz, and Rian Thompson’s curmudgeonly but sprightly Grandfather. Alexander Idaszak’s eccentric Dr Drosselmeyer was a mysterious cape-swirling magician whilst Jack Lister’s King Rat had delicious menace.

The second act divertissments, always a delight, didn’t disappoint with Neneka Yoshida and Joel Woellner’s very sensual and athletic Arabian dancers (the overhead lifts were incredible), Liam Geck’s fiery Gopak, and the Mirlitons (Tonia Looker, Lou Spichtig, David Power) who gave a sparkling edge to their routine.

But for sheer magic one can’t top the first-act finale, with the stage awash with ballerinas in the “Waltz of the Snowflakes” and fake snow descending from the flies and in the auditorium. The kids loved it as did the kid in every adult.

Nigel Gaynor did sterling work in the pit with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and Noelene Hill deserves kudos for the wondrous job she did of recreating the late Desmond Healey’s vivid and outstanding costumes.

Ben Stevenson’s storybook ballet never dates – it’s got wonder, it’s got magic, it’s the epitome of a theatrical delight. Long may it continue!

Peter Pinne

Photographer: David Kelly