12-21-2022, 12:00 PM
ttt42022
I must say that the above thread is such a flashback. I wouldn't have remembered that Nutcracker had this forum not jogged my memory. If this forum ever collapses, it'll be like me getting dementia...
We saw the latest SF Ballet production of Nutcracker. We took Tara and Bri (who had never seen it before and knew little about it). It was delightful. SF Ballet never ceases to impress. It was crazy to be back so soon after La Traviata (http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...p?tid=7306). The whole place was redone for the Nutcracker. Garlands, wreathes, photo op stations and nutcrackers, of course. So many nutcrackers.
Stacy noted that Jonah Kim, from our own Cruz symphony, was 2nd cello. How she spotted that in the dense program before the show started is beyond me.
It was a packed house. Masking was lax. A person a few seats away from me was clearly sick, sniffling and sneezing. She should've worn a damn mask. I masked all the way through. I like masks.
The production was spectacular. Standouts were the tree erection which was accompanied by Alice-in-Wonderland distorted gargantuan set pieces (my fave was the cabinet that held life size dolls of the dessert dancers later, and the snow drop was a freakin blizzard (150 lbs of confetti according to the program).
Performance-wise, Queen Clara and the Nutcracker were fire. The sugar plum fairy was also good. The orchestra was on point (or should I say pointe?) and there was a warning at the door that there would be cannons (there was only one but it still make me jump).
The two critical points for me are the nutcracker v rat king swordfight and the Chinese tea. The swordfight was ok, not stellar, but I did like the rat king and the use of a giant mousetrap added to the drama. The Chinese tea was a miss - it felt more caricature than honoring, as much as they tried. The dancer attempted some psuedo martial arts poses and those just felt derogative.
There was one big error when a backdrop curtain didn't unfurl revealling backstage to us for a moment. We were in the Orchestra, row F, house right - good seat but due to that, the illusion was broken for a major set change.
It was a nice xmasy experience, especially with all the red & green lights at civic center. SF gave us a lovely evening.
I must say that the above thread is such a flashback. I wouldn't have remembered that Nutcracker had this forum not jogged my memory. If this forum ever collapses, it'll be like me getting dementia...
We saw the latest SF Ballet production of Nutcracker. We took Tara and Bri (who had never seen it before and knew little about it). It was delightful. SF Ballet never ceases to impress. It was crazy to be back so soon after La Traviata (http://www.brotherhoodofdoom.com/doomFor...p?tid=7306). The whole place was redone for the Nutcracker. Garlands, wreathes, photo op stations and nutcrackers, of course. So many nutcrackers.
Stacy noted that Jonah Kim, from our own Cruz symphony, was 2nd cello. How she spotted that in the dense program before the show started is beyond me.
It was a packed house. Masking was lax. A person a few seats away from me was clearly sick, sniffling and sneezing. She should've worn a damn mask. I masked all the way through. I like masks.
The production was spectacular. Standouts were the tree erection which was accompanied by Alice-in-Wonderland distorted gargantuan set pieces (my fave was the cabinet that held life size dolls of the dessert dancers later, and the snow drop was a freakin blizzard (150 lbs of confetti according to the program).
Performance-wise, Queen Clara and the Nutcracker were fire. The sugar plum fairy was also good. The orchestra was on point (or should I say pointe?) and there was a warning at the door that there would be cannons (there was only one but it still make me jump).
The two critical points for me are the nutcracker v rat king swordfight and the Chinese tea. The swordfight was ok, not stellar, but I did like the rat king and the use of a giant mousetrap added to the drama. The Chinese tea was a miss - it felt more caricature than honoring, as much as they tried. The dancer attempted some psuedo martial arts poses and those just felt derogative.
There was one big error when a backdrop curtain didn't unfurl revealling backstage to us for a moment. We were in the Orchestra, row F, house right - good seat but due to that, the illusion was broken for a major set change.
It was a nice xmasy experience, especially with all the red & green lights at civic center. SF gave us a lovely evening.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse