Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Hugh Duncan Bigney Mitchell | ... | Herr Drosselmeier / The Pasha (as Hugh Bigney) |
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Vanessa Sharp | ... | Young Clara |
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Patricia Barker | ... | Dream Clara / Ballerina Doll |
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Wade Walthall | ... | Nutcracker Prince |
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Maia Rosal | ... | Mrs. Stahlbaum / Peacock |
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Carey Homme | ... | Mr. Stahlbaum / Moor |
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Russell Burnett | ... | Fritz |
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Jacob Rice | ... | Fighting Nutcracker / Dervish |
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Martha Boyle | ... | Adult at the Party / Snowflake / Waltz of the Flowers |
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Laura Schwenk | ... | Adult at the Party / Snowflake / Moor / Waltz of the Flowers |
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Benjamin Houk | ... | Adult at the Party / Mouse Captain / Dervish |
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Beatrice Bassett | ... | Adult at the Party / Grandparent |
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Ann Renhard | ... | Adult at the Party / Snowflake / Waltz of the Flowers |
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Dianne Brace | ... | Adult at the Party / Snowflake / Moor / Waltz of the Flowers |
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Christian Cederlund | ... | Adult at the Party / Moor |
The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed children's story author and artist Maurice Sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to the original story. A lavish, exciting and heart-warming celebration of dance, of music, and of life. Based upon the Pacific Northwest Ballet's original production. Written by Anonymous
PickMePickMe's commentary is almost three years old now, but it isn't too late to completely refute it. What was this reviewer watching? As far as the performers and dancing is concerned, this troupe has been 'fooling' the people of the US Northwest for over twenty years now with the Sendak Nutcracker. Tell it to the annual sold out performances!
As for the production itself, it couldn't be more cinematic without losing its balletic base. The Drosselmeyer toyshop background for the overture, for example, isn't even seen on stage, nor are the soaring views of Clara's living room. I could go on, but I suspect that PMPM is locked into to the wooden performances of the seventies, well represented in the current VHS/DVD world.
The overall production, as far as Nutcrackers go, is a stupendous, breathtaking affair and very accurately implies the dark E.T.A. Hoffmanesque background of the ballet.
The only letdown associated with it is the lack of a DVD, with which everyone's Christmas would surely brighten.