THE BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME – UNTIL SATURDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2022
REVIEWED BY NADIA DODD
4****
Almost a decade since Matthew Bourne’s version of the Nutcracker! has been on stage, back in 1992 no less and what a spruced up revival it is.
The choreography, costumes and set design have all had a re-vamp to such a spectacular level. Act 2 is so bright and vibrant compared to Act 1 it really is a delight to watch and become engrossed in the magic of this story as it unfolds.
Clara, (Cordelia Braithwaite) lives in a dull, grey orphanage watched over by the Matron, (Daisy May Kemp) and her husband Dr Dross (Danny Reubens). The children there clearly dream of escaping such a monochrome existence and this is where the story leads us….
Clara receives a Nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve and at the strike of midnight he becomes real and turns into an actual hunk (Harrison Dowzell), the story is about first love and the feelings they start to feel for each other. She’s taken on a journey through to Sweetieland, where she discovers a love rival for her hunk, Princess Sugar (Ashley Shaw) who sets out to steal Clara’s man.
Cleverly, all of Clara’s fellow orphan’s are in Sweetieland as bright, vibrant new characters with such delightful costumes. Laddish gobstoppers, marshmellow girls and flamenco dancing liquorice allsorts ! There’s even a Humbug bouncer at a club.
So much taking place all over the whole stage when most of the cast were present it’s easy to miss something, keep your eyes peeled you really don’t want to miss a second.
The music composed by Tchaikovsky is just beautiful, my personal favourite being the original dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, very special to hear at my first ever ballet show.
The performers were just mesmerising their facial expressions and body language really expressing how they were feeling, two hours of blissful music and such a talented group of young professionals with Matthew Bourne’s company ‘New Adventures’, you really couldn’t wish for more.
For a real sweet treat go along and enjoy this delicious show for yourself, it will certainly brighten up a dark winters night.