Customer Rating: 
Summary: A Balletomane's Dream!
Comment: This, besides American Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker (done by Baryshnikov), is perhaps the truest Nutcracker in that it keeps to the original story by E.T.A. Hoffman.
The character of Drosselmeier is dark, mysterious, strange. He struggles with his relationship to Clara and as she encounters the Nutcracker hanging on the tree, sends her a dark dream as a sort of punishment. In another scene right out of Hoffman, instead of "Coffee" being danced in an Indian-style costume, the lady is a peacock! You won't find this anywhere else.
With sets designed by Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are), the choreography, music, and camera work really come together nicely. There is nothing sugary sweet about this production. It is a thinking ballet-lover's production close to the original fairy tale.
Patty Barker is in her finest form here. The dancing doll scene in the beginning is priceless.
This is really a gem. I highly recommend it.
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