The girls and I have had a very special sweet treat this week
We headed to The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury
To see Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker!
Reimagined for the 21st century.
Music by Tchaikovsky.
It’s a Nutcracker! for all seasons, adored by critics and audiences alike. With family-sized helpings of Bourne’s trademark wit and magical fantasy, Nutcracker! follows Clara’s journey through a shimmering, ice-skating winter wonderland to the scrumptious candy kingdom of Sweetieland, influenced by the lavish Hollywood musicals of the 1930s.
Tchaikovsky’s glorious score and Anthony Ward’s delectable sets and costumes combine with Bourne’s dazzling choreography to create a fresh and charmingly irreverent interpretation of the classic. Expect a sprinkling of delicious new surprises in this re-imagined production.
Recommended 5yrs+
This modern retelling of a Christmas classic
Makes Nutcracker! a show for all seasons
The original Tchaikovsky score is instantly familiar
But the story begins a world away from the original mansion house
Instead we find ourselves in a Dickensian orphanage
With scenes reminiscent of Annie and Matilda
Just you wait for Phys Ed!
There is also a Les Mis style march with flags
My girls absolutely loved the orphans and their wonderful character dancing
Our favourites were Clara and the twins
There was a delightful sequence where Clara’s Nutcracker doll is broken
And the twins give him CPR and perform surgery to reattach his limbs
For us, James Lovell, dancing Fritz, stole the show
His dancing was immaculate and his comic characterisation and timing were wonderful
He was wickedly naughty and reminded us of Hubert Lane from Just William
I could not take my eyes off him whenever he was on stage
He made us smile throughout the show
He was just brilliant
Fritz had a sister, Sugar, danced by Ashley Shaw
Who was also stunning to watch and the two played off one another brilliantly
We loved the fight scene between the orphans and their detestable grown ups
The interactions between the orphans were just brilliant
The boy with the drum on his head wandering round the stage was very very funny
This show was made up of magical dance performances
Hints to other musicals and popular songs
Striking sets
Gorgeous costumes
And madcap humour
We loved every moment
The Sweetie Land entrance sequences were fabulous
Performed in front of a giant red lipped mouth
Guarded by a Humbug Bouncer
We were treated to flamenco dancing Liquorice All Sorts
And the T Bird inspired Gobstopper Trio in place of the original Russian dance
My girls loved the Vogue style dance from The Marshmallow Girls
And when everyone finally entered through the door into Sweetie Land
We loved the dance routines all centred around a massive cake!
I have to come back to James Lovell as Fritz though
Throughout both acts I could not keep my eyes off him
He was an amazing dancer and so so funny with his delightfully naugty antics
This was a treat of a show
The perfect escapism from all the horrors and hurts of the real world
A wonderful way to introduce children to the creative genius of Matthew Bourne
And a master class for aspiring performers
A huge thumbs up from us