Birmingham’s Nutcracker is superb. By David Dougill for The Sunday Times
However often you see them, the superb theatrical effects of John F Macfarlane’s designs never pall. The transformation scenes are stunning, and there are two moments in particular that are guaranteed to produce gasps of admiration and delight: the battle scene, when King Rat bursts out of a smoking fireplace, and Clara’s flight to the magical kingdom on the back of an enormous snow goose. Credit is due also to John Wade, the magician who advised on Drosselmeyer’s nifty conjuring tricks.
Michael O’Hare makes a powerful figure of Drossel-meyer. Rachel Peppin dances fleetly as the teenage Clara, eager and charming.
click for more <small>[ 12 December 2004, 03:01 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>
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