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American Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker

Kodak Theatre

By Don Kolman
American Ballet Theatre opened its thirteen performance run of The Nutcracker at the new Kodak Theatre on Friday evening, December 14th, to thunderous applause. The theatre and the complex in which it resides are both quite nice though many of the restaurants and shops are as yet unopened. The acoustics in the theatre are, as noted by others, less than ideal. The orchestra pit is so deep that the entire audience, even those sitting quite close, is entirely dependent on the sound system. Because the orchestra is so heavily miked, an unpleasant shrillness emanating from the woodwind section can be extremely annoying at times. The location of the theatre is also a problem, particularly for those who would venture outside the complex, as the immediate neighborhood is, sorry to say, still dominated by tacky tee-shirt shops, loud hookers, demanding panhandlers, and assorted other vagrants -- not exactly a place the take the kiddies.

Director Kevin McKenzie's "new" production of the Nutcracker is not really new but rather re-worked. Many of the costumes and some of the sets are those used in his previous production of this ballet. The Nutcracker is, under the best of circumstances, a difficult ballet, consisting of a series of scenes which do not always relate well to one other. This is particularly true of Mr. McKenzie's production. There is very little unity, flow, or continuity in this Nutcracker. It appears as a series of highly detached, unrelated scenes that just happen to be placed one next to the other. Additionally, the stage appears alternately empty or so crowded that movement, let alone dance, is difficult. "The Waltz of the Flowers" is so crowded that dancers appear to be virtually dancing over each other. For this scene either the Kodak Theatre stage is too small, or there are too many dancers on it. The inclusion of real children in Act I, Scene 1, though popular with parents and children in the audience, greatly inhibits the dancing in the scene. Party- goers simply stand around chatting while the children horse around to some of Tchaikovksy's most beautiful music.

Xiomara Reyes is an excellent choice as Clara, as she dances and acts beautifully. Miss Reyes is tiny and conveys convincingly the childlike quality so necessary to make Clara believable. Her dancing is delicate, crisp, and precise. She was a joy to watch.

Angel Corella as the Nutcracker Prince is his usual swift, high flying, and buoyant self. Mr. Corella's ever-present grin and body language convey to the audience the feeling that he is truly loving every moment of what he is doing and sincerely hopes the audience is as well. He is a highly attentive partner, and his solos are simply spectacular. It is always rewarding to see a danseur with Mr. Corella's rare combination of charisma and ability.

Gillian Murphy danced the role of the Snow Queen with lighting speed and icy precision. She is a dancer of exceptional ability who is a pleasure to watch. In this all-too-brief role Miss Murphy, however, is only able to whet our appetite for more of her marvelous dancing.

One can ask for no more than Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Delotserkovsky give in their roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Miss Dvorovenko dances with precision and speed while Mr. Belotserkovsky is an extremely steady and able partner who performs well in his variation. Mr. Belotservovsky truly helps make Miss Dvorovenko look beautiful in her turns. This partnership is obviously one of long standing, and it shows. They appear to anticipate each other and are simply beautiful together.

Victor Barbee performs the non-dancing role of Drosselmeyer with panache but comes off a bit too sinister. This ballet is not dark drama. The second act divertissements are all danced with competence and verve. Marcelo Gomes in the Danse Arabe is the major standout. Mr. Gomes dances the role with considerable sensuousness and high energy. He brings the house down and well deserves the ovation he receives. Though certainly not the perfect or ideal Nutcracker, American Ballet Theatre's complement of dancers makes the ticket worth the price. You may not see a great Nutcracker, but you will certainly see some great dancing.

American Ballet Theatre will continue to perform "The Nutcracker through Saturday December 22nd. Tickets priced from $30.00 to $80.00 for "The Nutcracker" are available at the theatre box office at 6801 Hollywood Blvd., by Ticketmaster Phone Charge at 213/365-3500 or 714/740-7878, online at www.ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster Outlets including Tower Records, Robinson-May, Wherehouse Music, Tu Musica, and Ritmo Latino.