Ballet's 'Nutcracker' charms out east

By Eileen Sondak

December 21, 1999

The sights and sounds of "The Nutcracker" are among the most familiar of the yuletide season. Last weekend, no less than three full-length productions of the popular Christmas classic popped up around San Diego County, and more performances are on the way.

Audiences at East County's Theatre East were charmed by the San Diego Ballet's version -- a well-rehearsed production that will dance on at Mandeville Auditorium twice tomorrow and Wednesday, before being tucked away in mothballs for another year. San Diego Ballet's adaptation of the old chestnut -- designed by director Robin Sherertz-Morgan (with additional choreographic contributions by Javier Velasco, Jillana, and Thor Sutowski) -- took full advantage of the opportunities to showcase tiny tots and fledgling dancers alongside seasoned performers.

Watching youngsters make their way up through the company ranks is part of the fun of seeing local productions of "The Nutcracker." As usual, several former gingersnaps, toy soldiers and candy canes graduated to the corps and variations in this year's staging.

Elizabeth Fuller was a snowflake and a marzipan, and Katie Fletcher was among the Chinese tea dancers. Melissa Ryan will take a crack at the Chinese variation during this week's run at Mandeville.

Two of the leading roles were danced by returning guest artists. Bolshoi principal Ilya Kuznetsov was an attentive Cavalier, accompanying homegrown dancer Stephanie Aubuchon (San Diego Ballet's fragile but all-too-tentative Sugar Plum Fairy) in the ballet's grand pas de deux. Jonathan Sharp (seen on Broadway in "Carousel") partnered Rachel Sebastian in the pristine world of the Snow Kingdom, and both acquitted themselves well -- surrounded by a fine ensemble of spinning snowflakes.

Dynamic Velasco danced in the role of Drosselmeyer -- the sinister godfather who orchestrates Clara's fantasy through the wondrous Kingdom of the Sweets. With flamboyant swirls of his magical cape, this Drosselmeyer made more than the obligatory party appearance. He followed Clara and her Prince into the icy domain, and ushered them back when Clara's last dream of childhood faded.

The second act divertissements take audiences on a whirlwind dance tour, where folk forms from exotic lands are seen through the prism of an enchanted fairy tale world. They include the fiery heel-tapping and brash port de bras of Spanish dance (performed with gusto by Corina Fabbroni and Mateo Torres), the storybook quaintness of Chinese tea (with some added tumbles to stir the pot), and the airborne athleticism of the Russian variation.

Aaron Pomeroy bounded through his Russian macho moves with bravado, handling the spread-eagled high jumps with admirable skill. Khristina Kravas captured the rippling sensuality of the Arabian with boneless backbends, and Ame Kaplan brought a buoyant confidence (albeit someshaky balances) to the sprightly Dewdrop.

One of the highlights of any "Nutcracker" performance is the comic meanderings of Mother Ginger. This year, it was Paul Smeltzer -- dressed to the nines in a voluminous skirt and gingham bonnet -- who waddled across the stage with a large brood of little ones. Needless to say, the commedia dell'arte antics brought down the house, especially when one maverick gingersnap broke free for a final flip.

This production had an army of rampaging rats (instead of mice). They came in all sizes and featured both a red-eyed, sword-wielding Rat King and his leaping, long-legged queen.

The set looked sparse on Theatre East's sprawling stage, particularly the trappings for the party scene, but the massive growing Christmas tree was impressive.

San Diego Ballet's "Nutcracker" tradition is now in its 10th year, and, for the most part, Friday night's performance was nicely executed. You can catch the last four performances at Mandeville this week.

Eileen Sondak is a San Diego-based arts writer.

Copyright 1999 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.