The Nutcracker

You always know Christmas is just around the corner when Queensland Ballet’s popular production of this revered classical ballet takes to the stage. This is the ninth Christmas season of the ballet since QB first produced it in 2013, originally in the Playhouse but now a permanent fixture in the Lyric to accommodate the larger audiences it attracts.

It has everything you could want in a ballet; fairytale settings by Thomas Boyd, costumes, recreated by Noelene Hill from Desmond Heeley’s originals, magical lighting with Carmeron Goerg, stepping into David Walters shoes, and one of the most enchanting musical ballet scores Tchaivovsky ever wrote.

Add in an extra frisson of expectation with Principal Dancer Camilo Ramos taking to the stage for the last time and the excitement level was off the charts. Ramos as the Prince, dancing with his wife Yanela Pinera as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the finale pas de deux were the perfect couple. Generating waves of adulation, their superb dancing skills took the characters to a higher level with outstanding pirouettes, leaps, fish-dives, and extensions. It was a master-class of classical dance. (And that’s what Ramos will be doing after the season ends when he takes up a position in 2022 at the QB Academy).

Matching their dance ability, Neneka Yoshida as the Snow Queen and Victor Estavez as the Snow Prince were a formidable team. Their dance with the snowflakes was truly magical, aided by a delightful performance by Lou Spichtig as the wide-eyed-in-wonder Clara, whose dreams set the whole plot in motion.

Alexander Idaszak wore Dr Drosselmeyer’s magician hat well, Vito Bernasconi was a malevolent and amusing King Rat, and later in the divertissments did some spectacular jumps as the Russian Dancer Gopak. Liam Geck was a regimented Nutcracker, and later excelled as a lively Mirliton with Laura Toser and Mia Heathcote. But the highlight of the divertissments was Chiara Gonzalez and Patricio Reve as sensuous and sexual Arabian Dancers.

At times the stage was awash with kids as snowflakes or Ginger Children, with Jette Parker Young Artist Lachlan Mair making the most of his appearance as Mother Ginger.

Nigel Gaynor, waving the baton, led the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in some nuanced and romantic playing with Lucy Reeves working overtime on the harp. If you’ve never seen The Nutcracker, then this wonderful production will blow your mind. If you already know it, then you won’t be disappointed!

Peter Pinne     

Images (from top): Liam Geck, Chiara Gonzalez and Patricio Reve, Victor Estevez and Neneka Yoshida, & Yanela Pinera and Camilo Ramos. Photographer: David Kelly.