<B>Nuts, sluts, rats and bats</B><BR>Does Tchaikovsky's grief for his sister explain the enduring appeal of the Nutcracker? Judith Mackrell in The Guardian chronicles the many incarnations of a dark Christmas favourite <P><BR>Christmas is coming and around Britain at least four companies are fattening up their budgets on box office takings from The Nutcracker. Hundreds more around the world will be raking in the profits too. During the ballet's 109 years, its ability to shift tickets has grown dramatically - rather than diminished - with age. <BR>Of course, it offers the perfect festive treat, with snow, angels, a magically growing Christmas tree, fabulous dancing toys and more sweets than your local Woolworths. But why do so many companies perform it to the exclusion of anything else? Why is Christmas always so predictably festooned with Nutcrackers? <P><A HREF="http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/story/0,3604,616128,00.html" TARGET=_blank><B>click for more</B></A><P>Stuart adds: For those who want to see the awesome power of 'The Nutcracker' in the US in particular, go to our <A HREF="http://www.criticaldance.com/cgi-local/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Holiday+Performances+2001&number=20&DaysPrune=365&LastLogin=" TARGET=_blank><B>Holiday Performances 2001</B></A>
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