What would happen if the cast of the old Carol Burnett Show
did The Nutcracker?Well, the result can be found at the House
Theatre's amazing new production of the classic holiday story.That description may
sound simplistic, but anyone that truly remembers when Carol used to give her
take on classics, the end result was not only hysterical but deeply
moving.That is what Director and
Choreographer Tommy Rapley has accomplished with this work.At one level the humor is close to slapstick
then at the next the emotion of loss, sadness and coping is palpable.Writers Jake Minton and Phillip C. Klapperich
have discovered and brought out The
Nutcracker's true essence and soul.
With a cast of characters that could easily have their own
variety show, the production follows the Stahlbaum family where during a Christmas
party they learn their son Fritz has been killed in the war.Fritz's young sister Clara retreats into her
imagination to cope with the loss with a series of dolls (expertly designed by
Allison Daniel) that her Great Uncle Drosselmeyer has made for her.With the next Christmas approaching, Uncle
Drosselmeyer makes Clara a Nutcracker in Fritz's image.As Clara's world becomes increasingly
disconnected, the dolls, of course, become alive to help her defeat the demons
that plague her.
Laura Grey's 'Clara' is magnificent.Using quick comic timing and emoting innocence that
makes you want to hold her and make everything perfect, Grey is the spirit and the
driving force of this production.
The rest of the company is on equal footing, with Jake
Minton as Clara's crafty (in the Martha Stewart sense) Uncle Drosselmeyer knowing, with just his eyes, what will cure
Clara.Joshua Holden makes everyone
want to go out and buy a clanking Monkey and Joey Steakley's Rat is scary
enough to make you forget the strides Rizzo has made in redeeming the creepy
qualities of the breed.
As seems to be the tradition of The House Theatre
productions, the current adaptation of The
Nutcracker delves deep into the psyche but for all the right reasons and is never preachy.The music composed by Kevin O'Donnell is edgy
yet beautiful as are the costumes by Debbie Baer assisted by Christina Bourcher.
There are just a couple of minor quibbles, including the
string section being slightly flat and some of the vocal numbers not delivering
the impact they should have.This will
surely be remedied as the production has a few more performances under its
wing.
This isn't your mother's Nutcracker but the House's production should become the
new tradition every theatre performs.
Photo by Michael Brosilo: Maria McCullough, Michael E. Smith, Vanessa Stalling, Seth Bockley, Joshua Holden and Laura Grey as Clara
