While the last couple weeks have seen Victoria saturated with Christmas lights and holiday greetings, I usually don’t even start thinking about Christmas until after exams. However, that transition came a little early this year, as I went to see The Nutcracker at the Royal Theatre on Friday night.
Despite the show being a joint production by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Victoria Symphony, and local child dancers, it came together seamlessly in a breathtaking performance that put me in an early Christmas mood.
I’ve seen The Nutcracker before, and I have to say, the dancing in this production of it is superb.
Sarah Davey is lovely as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Josh Reynolds is charismatic and dynamic as Drosselmeier. I do have to give a shout-out the tiny Victoria dancers who stole their various scenes as polar bear cubs, reindeer, and angels.
The Victoria Symphony did an amazing job at bringing Tchaikovsky’s iconic music to life. More than once, I got goosebumps listening to them recreate the timeless score.
The sets were water-coloured and elaborate, and costumes were a pastel dreamland of lace and sparkles. The scene transitions, although stunning when revealed, happened behind a white curtain that would drop to hide the set changes; this became a tad cumbersome at times. Also, while the effect of snow falling in the magical forest was done well, the rogue remnants of white fluttering down for the remainder of the show were a little distracting.
That being said, this was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. It was particularly fun to see all the kids in the audience; the little girl behind me was captivated, leaning forward onto the back of my chair to get a better glimpse of what was happening on stage. I can picture her now, dancing in her bedroom mirror, dreaming of sugar plum fairies, waltzing flowers, and a Nutcracker Prince. Shows that inspire and cultivate creativity should be celebrated, and this certainly was one of them.
The Nutcracker
Various times, Until Sunday, December 2
Various prices, The Royal Theatre
rmts.bc.ca