Main Street Ballet's 'Nutcracker' - My Review

The Main Street Ballet has been presenting an annual holiday production of 'Nutcracker' for many years. The first was held in the living room of a dance instructor. Clearly the company has come a long way over the years because the 25th Anniversary production filled the large stage of Pomperaug High School auditorium with color and grace.

More than 60 alumni of the production had attended a reception following the opening night performance on Saturday. The house for the Sunday matinee was almost filled and there were many well-dressed children in attendance. Nutcracker ornaments and other treats were for sale at a boutique in the lobby and raffle tickets for a huge nutcracker were available. Pomperaug High School National Honor Society students helped with programs and refreshments.

Artistic Director Sibley Morosco, dressed in a beautiful period gown, graciously welcomed the crowd and gave a brief introduction of the story and the pantomime that would be used in the ballet. The young members of the audience seemed to already know the basics; this ballet seems to me to be the perfect way to introduce the very young to ballet. I am sure that many a young child wished that they could move as gracefully as the dance students on the stage.

The first act opens with the Christmas Eve party at the Silberhaus home and many of the members of the company played guests at the party in wonderful costumes by Ms. Morosco and Pat Nurnberger. The beautifully impressive set was designed by Gabrielle Nurnberger and it was beautifully lit by Kim Skalski. The music was taped but was perfectly fine.

Local attorney Rick Richardson returned to the stage as the mysterious and wonderful Herr Drosselmeyer. His wife Kathy Bower again played a party guest and his daughter Julia Bower Richardson had a cameo role as one of the party girls. It was such a gift to see that Julia was well enough to appear onstage and she did not miss a cue.

Hannah Dreska played his godchild Clara at this performance and Isabella Witte played her naughty brother Fritz. Dance instructor Sylvia Kinal Davidowitz was very animated and funny as the Nanny, while the mother of the artistic director danced the role of the grandmother for what she says will be the final time.  Ms. Morosco played Frau Silberhaus and Chris Powderly played her husband. Dance students danced the part of Drosselmeyer's toy creations.  Parents of the dancers stepped up to dance the roles of adult party guests and one would never know that they weren't professionals.

The end of the first act happened later that evening when the Mouse Queen Lindsay Oppel oversaw a fight between her mice and the soldiers. The Waltz of the Snowflakes, led by the Snow Queen Mikayla Sapack and her Cavalier Daevid Mendivil, included many ballerinas dressed in white tulle and falling snow.

After intermission, the dream continued in the Land of the Sweets. Senior Maggie Powderly perfectly danced the crucial role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Celestin Boutin supported her as her Cavalier. The very smallest dancers came to the stage to play angels and there were wrangled by older dancers as their guardian angels. The sweetness continued with the various ensembles that inhabit the land. A quartet of dancers (featuring seniors Megan and Sydney Anderson) played hot chocolate, the Marzipan Shephardess (Kate Rupar) danced with all her young sheep, a trio of dancers danced as tea, and Coffee (Abby Manville) and her cohorts danced an Arabian piece. Assistant Director Lizabeth Skalski played Mother Gingerbread to a group of young gingerbread girls. Juliette Janiszewski danced the part of head Trepak with a large group of Russian-like dancers.

The final Dance of the Flowers was led by Anna Bower Richardson as the lovely Dew Drop Fairy with a large group of flower dancers in various shades of pastels. There was also a pas de deux with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier before the curtain call. Lots of bouquets were distributed and many thank yous given out to end the afternoon of beautiful dancing in a wonderful closing performance of the perfect holiday ballet.