Daily Times

“Nutcracker” is a ballet that elevates the spirit and puts you in a festive mood right from the start. This classical ballet has all the potential of transporting the audience to a magical realm if done right and this year the English National Ballet (ENB) has showcased a brilliant performance. Around this time of the year, the Nutcracker is on at numerous venues but this will surely its impress the audience.

On the premier night of the ENB’s 2019 “Nutcracker” at the London Coliseum, the Eta Hoffman’s story of an orphan child Clara who is fond of a doll called the Nutcracker, opens up with children rejoicing the white winter, skating on the frozen Thames.

The sweet-faced Sophie Carter holds her promise and performs the role of young Clara effortlessly, who in her dream transforms into the beautiful principal from Japan, Erina Takahashi. The child Clara who receives Nutcracker as a gift from Dr Drosselmeyer losses her favourite to his nephew who is over from boarding school.

For many of us, magic begins whilst at sleep and so does for the little Clara, who in her dream sees her new toy being attacked by rats and mice led by the Mouse King. The drama that she dreams unfolds brilliantly on the stage; whilst the narrative may at times be tough to navigate for the young; nonetheless, the choreography will leave you awestruck.

ENB’s dancers, the rich costumes and the sheer scale of the performance grips the attention of the audience. The performers have to stretch the imagination of the audience in a manner that they are convinced with the character and that is why I have put so much weight on getting it right else it would just another cliched performance. The Mouse King has to convince the audience of all ages that he is leading an army of rats and mice who fights and injures the toy (in Clara’s dream) that transforms into a soldier. The fact that even the Mouse King was generously applauded speaks volumes about the success of this performance.

The sweet-faced Sophie Carter holds her promise and performs the role of young Clara effortlessly, who in her dream transforms into the beautiful principal from Japan, Erina Takahashi. The child Clara who receives Nutcracker as a gift from Dr Drosselmeyer loses her favourite to his nephew who is over from boarding school

The snowflakes and the colourful escape scene in Drosselmeyer’s hot-air ballon a shade before the end of the Act 1 enchants the audience. But thats not it, the Act II is mesmerising as the dancers from across the world take the stage. Only the dancers of the ENO can convincingly showcase performances representing countries like: China, Arabia, Russia and Spain. The second part moves from strength to strength with a brilliant pas de deux by Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the nephew, as the Prince.

Wayne Eagling’s choreography coupled with ENB’s finest dancers dancing to Tchaikovsky’s scores has all the ingredients of the most sought-after performance this holiday season at the London Coliseum-where a delightful pointe-toe Christmas tree summons the attention of the audience in addendum to a brilliant ballet performance.

The writer is an educationalist and broadcaster. He can be reached on fahad@caa.columbia.edu