The Nutcracker
Written and devised by Clare Beresford, Dominic Conway & Alexander Scott in collaboration with Lakesisha Lynch-Stevens, Caroline Partridge, Edith Tankus and Shamira Turner
Little Bulb, originally co-produced by Polka Theatre
St Martins Theatre
Star rating: 3
A very far cry from ETA Hoffmann’s original story, this 60 minute children’s show seeks to create magic of its own with emphasis on sibling bonding, kindness, forgiveness – and cheese.
A strong cast of five, all of whom were involved in the development of the piece, presents two modern-ish children arriving, with their single-parent father, at a mysterious new house. It is populated (infested?) with mice. And everyone in the audience is co-opted to membership of the musine community.
Clare Beresford leads the cast as narrator and a cackling, menacing Mouse King until she finds redemption and recognises the error of her ways. She’s feisty and full of energy from the “Christmouse” slushy, pre-show songs, when the cast forms a band, through to the piece’s final moments. This isn’t really a musical but Beresford gets a few songs as part of the action and she really is quite a singer.
The other four double extensively with Lakesisha Lynch-Stevens as a pleasing Clara and Dominic Conway suitably boyish as Fritz. Caroline Partridge is less prominent in some minor roles but there’s a fine turn from Shamira Turner as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Not that there’s any dance in this show. Don’t go expecting ballet although there are few Tchaikovsky references in the sound track, along with other music which is often too loud.
Sam Wilde’s set, props and costumes are generally effective and the puppets are nice. Wilde’s spider costume for Caroline Partridge is great fun but does he really think that spiders have only six legs?
I’ve never understood why people who stage children’s theatre think excrement jokes are essential. They are not. The turd scene in the sewer adds nothing to this production.
This version of The Nutcracker is a decent enough show of its type although it’s not likely to set fires alight. I was pleased, however, to see an unusual number of men and boys in the audience. The Nutcracker, whatever form it is presented in, is definitely not a “girly” thing.
