Posted on: Friday, December 16, 2005
Four 'Nutcracker' acts take center stage
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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Nicole Lam dances the lead in the "Waltz of the Flowers" in Act II of the holiday production.
Photos by JOAQUIN SIOPACK | The Honolulu Advertiser
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ETIQUETTE: WHAT TO DO, NOT DO • Quiet behavior is mandatory; no talking during performance. • Visit the restroom before the curtain goes up or during intermission. • Applause is suitable when the conductor enters, if there's live music; and when dancers demonstrate their abilities. • No eating or drinking; if you need a cough drop, do not rustle the wrapper. • Boos and jeers are forbidden. |
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Dancers prepare to take the stage at a rehearsal for Hawaii State Ballet's production of "Nutcracker" at the Mamiya Theatre.
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Honolulu Dance Theatre's "The Hawaiian Nutcracker Ballet," taking the stage at Paliku Theatre, has a Hawaiian monarchy theme.
Advertiser library photo
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Ballet Hawaii's "Nutcracker" is a tradition at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
Peter Yee
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Mark Kanemura is a Russian Trepak dancer in Hawaii Ballet Theatre's production at Leeward Community College Theatre.
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Christmas without a "Nutcracker"? Perish the thought!
There are three community takes on the popular holiday ballet, plus a Hawaiian adaptation of the familiar story set in the era of the monarchy. This means criss-crossing show schedules and a test of loyalties among balletgoers.
Do you see one production because a family member is dancing in it? Do you patronize one that you didn't see last year? Do you try to support two versions?
We offer some guidelines on the troupes on these two pages.
HONOLULU DANCE THEATRE
When: Premieres at 7:30 p.m. today, repeating at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College
Tickets: $24 general, $20 seniors and military, $18 children (12 and younger)
Why go: "The Hawaiian Nutcracker Ballet" puts an Island spin on the classic tale.
Crowning glory: Featured dancers include Ian Campbell, Tiffanie Ferrer, Jeremy Lucas, Ioannis Adoniou, Brett Conway and Veronica Caudillo.
Directed by: Matthew Wright
Reservations: 235-7433 or www.honoluludancetheatre.com
And there's more: See story on Page 18.
BALLET HAWAII
When: Premieres at 8 p.m. today, repeating at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall
Tickets: $25, $40, $60; at box office and Ticketmaster locations. (877) 750-4400 or www.ticketmaster.com
Why go: New sets by Peter Dean Beck, exquisite and eye-filling costumes by Anne Namba
Crowning glory: Music performed by the Honolulu Symphony
Also appealing: The cast is composed of many professional dancers, including John Selya, Daphne Hargrove, Maria Riccetto, Timour Bourtasenkov, Vladislav Kalinin, Marian Butler, Therese Miyoshi Wendler, John Tolentino, Maria Jose Beltran-Rowlands, WillieDean Ige, Dorian Cuccia, Ben Moffat, Dr. Phil McNamee, Carol Naish, Alexis Kahanu and Kimberly Low.
Directed by: Pamela Taylor-Tongg
Opening-night extra: A pre-show dinner gala at the concert hall offers food and drink; tickets, $150. With its glitz-glam look on stage, some first-nighters opt for black tie with women in luxe holiday finery, so ogling can be a guilty pleasure.
Reservations: 521-8600
HAWAII BALLET THEATRE
When: Opened last weekend; repeats at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Leeward Community College Theatre.
Tickets: $25 general, $20 ages 12 and younger, older than 60 and military; $12 students (at evening shows)
Why go: This year marks the 25th anniversary of this devoted school of student performers and guest artists.
Crowning glory: A bevy of home-grown stars, many who started as novices with the company, including Andrew Sakaguchi, Greg Zane, Christine Yasunaga and Kristin Ing
Also appealing: Coffee and hot chocolate served after evening performances
Directed by: Charlys Ing
Extras: A popular Sugar-plum Tea follows the matinees. Nibble on sweet treats and mingle with the cast.
Reservations: 456-8100
THE STORY ...
The "Nutcracker" is based on E.T.A. Hoffman's "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" and tells the story of Clara, a German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and an ensuing battle with a Mouse King with seven heads. A revision by Alexander Dumas has evolved into what most folks enjoy as a holiday bon-bon.
• The time: Christmas Eve.
• The place: The Stahlbaum house, with a huge Christmas tree, the setting for a traditional Christmas party.
• The characters: Clara and Fritz are the children of the household; Drosselmeyer, a skilled clock- and toy-maker, is a party guest whose surprise includes two life-sized dolls — the Nutcracker magically turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a Land of Snow journey; a Mouse King engages in a battle with the Nutcracker.
• For first-timers: This is a ballet, so dancers do not speak. Much of the action is through body language, movement and pantomime.
• The music: The score is by Tchaikovsky, who was commissioned by choreographer Marius Petipa.
• Milestones: The first production of "Nutcracker" was Dec. 17, 1892, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia; the first American rendering was by the San Francisco Ballet in 1944.
• A variation: When George Balanchine staged a 1954 production for the New York City Ballet, he recalled the era when, as a child, he danced in the show in Russia. His version paved the way for the ballet's popularity with professional companies, and community schools with ballet pupils of young adults and wee ones.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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