The Nutcracker at the Fox

         Last Thursday I went to the Nutcracker at the Fox. I have been going to the Nutcracker ballet with my family almost every Christmas season since I was a little girl. This time, I went with my mom and dad and my boyfriend. It was so fun to see the diversity of people attending the ballet. There were older men and women dressed very professional and proper. There were younger people and families dressed in a more casual style, and there were also families and groups of little kids all dressed up in beautiful dresses with sparkles and bows, the works!

            When I first got into the theater and found my seat, I looked at the room and was enamored by the beautiful detail of the architecture. The walls of the Fox are so intricate and ornate, with rich colors and grand structural style. Finally the lights turned low and the symphony began to play. The performance started with a beautiful symphonic introduction. The curtain rose to display the very detailed backdrops and special features, such as snowflakes falling from the sky.

            Out of all the years I have gone to see the Nutcracker at the Fox, there is always an exciting anticipation for what will happen differently in each performance, as compared to the years before. Sometimes the companies change the theme or setting of the story, putting an interesting new twist to the classic story most people have grown so fond of. This year, the company performing stuck with the classic Nutcracker setting and storyline.

            I was a little disappointed this year because the company that performed was the same company who performed two years ago, and their performance was virtually the same this year as the last one. There were a few tweaks, but it was definitely not as exciting seeing the same version again. One thing that annoyed me was that they were trying to be funny. Personally, I love the classic Nutcracker because I think it is so beautiful; unfortunately, when they tried to add youthful humor to the classic ballet, it sort of cheapened the experience for me.

            Besides the uncomfortable child-like humor, I still really enjoyed the performance. The ballerinas are always so talented and athletic and the whole experience never fails to impress me. For anyone interested in dance, I would of course suggest going to see the Nutcracker. And for those who enjoy experiencing the symphony, this is by far one of the best ways to experience the music, accompanied by eye-catching performances and costumes and backdrops, etc.