The Joffrey is always amazing so I was happy to be assigned this show to review, but I have to admit I wasn’t totally thrilled – I’ve seen Nutcracker several times and I’m just a little bit over it.

Imagine, then, my delight as the curtain opens, not in the familiar opulent parlor; rather, we see ragged children grouped excitedly before posters of the 1893 Columbian World Exposition – a new background story! The Joffrey premiered Christopher Wheeldon’s(he,him)  new choreography six years ago; my companion had seen the new show but they’re a good friend and didn’t spoil it by telling me. I’m not going to be so considerate of you. Spoilers to Come!

It's Christmas Eve 1892, and families of the immigrant construction workers for the World’s Fair meet for revelry in one of their hovels. There they receive a surprise visit from The Great Impresario (Dylan Gutierrez(he,him)), magical designer of the Fair, with his lovable assistant Peter (Hyuma Kiyosawa(he,him)). Gifts are delivered to the children but Marie’s is missing! With a swirl of his red silk cloak, The Great Impresario produces her gift: a beautiful nutcracker.

The party winds down, but Marie (Yumi Kawasawa(she/her)) wakes at midnight to see her little brother Franz (Elliot King(he,him)) being kidnapped by Rodents of Unusual Size! The Nutcracker, now alive and lifesize, battles and defeats the Rat King.  This victory transforms him into the dashing Prince Peter. 

The Great Impresario sails up in a gondola, and the Queen of the Dream Fair (Jeraldin Mendoza(she,her)), resplendent in a gown of gold, grants Marie and the Prince permission to enter the Dream Fair. There, at the various pavilions, we see the familiar dances from countries around the world. 

This recreation changes the entire story of the Nutcracker in several important ways. One detail that’s always bothered me is ‘why is this rich little girl so excited about a nutcracker, of all things?  Surely she’s also received dolls, ice skates; a dozen other gifts’. But here, the Nutcracker is her only Christmas gift, and it comes from none other than The Great Impresario himself, and nowMarie’s excitement makes far more sense, yes? 

But the most important change is that THE NUTCRACKER is now a Chicago story! this version of NUTCRACKER won’t play in New York or Memphis or San Francisco; this is our very own NUTCRACKER, from our very own Joffrey Ballet Dance Company. How fabulous is that?! Thank you for this gift of a NUTCRACKER, choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and Assistant Jacqueline Barrett(she,her).

Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez in Joffrey Ballet's 'The Nutctracker' at Lyric Opera House

There are a score of others to thank for this extravaganza, beginning, of course, with the company. NUTCRACKER is a great production for showcasing Joffrey’s many superb dancers. Victoria Jainani(she,her) once again performs the Arabian Dancer in her characteristic sinuous mode, partnered this year by Edson  Barbosa(he,him). And the final pas de deux with The Great Impresario and the Golden Queen is stunning on many levels; not the least of which is that Gutierrez, after two hours constantly onstage, still manages to make Mendoza float effortlessly.

I already spoke of choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, who was assisted by Story Adaptation Director Brian Selznick(he,him). Thanks, of course, to composer Piotr Ilyich Tchiakovsky and to the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Scott Speck, with Asst director Michael Moricz. Artistic Director Ajhley Wheater MBE(he,him)  orchestrated the talented production crew, including Staging by Nicholas Blanc(he,him), Adam Blyde(he,him) , and Suzanne Lopez(she,her), and Lighting Designer Natasha Katz(she,her). Katz et al created the staging in 2016 when this Chicago version opened at the Auditorium Theatre. Decisions had to be made about ‘downsizing’ the staging to accommodate the smaller stage at the Civic Opera House (a brilliant venue, by the way). I am charmed that Lighting Recreator Chris Maravich(he,him), with Projection Designer 59 Productions simply projected the “too large” lighting design onto the smaller stage, creating imagery above and to either side of the stage. It felt to me as if we were enclosed – embraced, even – by the entire production. This cozy and inclusive quality suits the new story perfectly. Assistants were Asst Scenic Design by Frank McCullough, Asst Lighting Design by Jon Goldman; and I have to give a shout-out here to 

Basil Twist designed the Puppetry and it can’t be easy for Tandem Otter Productions  to construct  a Nutcracker head that will withstand multiple tours in l’aire and cabriole! The children’s cast requires several directors (talk about herding cats!): Suzanne Lopez, Adam Blyde, Michael Smith, and Caitlin Meighan.

To fully credit THE NUTCRACKER I have to include the audience: scores of little girls – infant balletomanes – in their best Christmas dresses, seeing live ballet for the very first time. What could be more festive?

My heartfelt thanks to all for this enchanting spectacle, a splendid introduction to the 2022 Holiday Season.