A perennial Christmas favorite, The Nutcracker evokes the holidays as nothing else can. Dances Patrelle, founded in 1988 by famed choreographer Francis Patrelle, makes well-trodden musical territory feel fresh with its 18th annual production of The Yorkville Nutcracker at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College. Set in New York in 1895, the homes and forests of the original are replaced with city landmarks like Gracie Mansion, Central Park, the Dakota, and the New York Botanical Gardens in stunning homage to the nineteenth century and the holidays alike. The story begins with the election of William L. Strong, who served as the last mayor of Olde New York between 1895 and 1897, just before the 1898 Charter of New York, which established the counties surrounding New York Harbor. Strong and his wife are invited to Gracie Mansion for a Christmas Eve party held in honor of their children, Mary and Putnam Bradlee, adorably played by Madison Heller and Finn Duggan, respectively. In attendance at the party are foreign dignitaries and their offspring, meant to expose the children to foreign customs; this aspect lends a variety of costumes and cultures to the production, making it especially appropriate to New York.
As the clock strikes midnight and the adults retire to sleep, Mary and Putnam become the protagonists of the ballet, with the latter child masquerading in a Nutcracker mask and gorgeous red velvet suit for a portion of the act. The children are conveyed from Gracie Mansion to Central Park in a sleigh “pulled” by children dressed as reindeer, perhaps the most “aw”-inducing moment of the performance. As Mary and Putnam’s night continues and they visit different locales around the city, the theatre is filled with the beloved songs of The Nutcracker, rendered no less enjoyable by the production’s uniqueness. The sets, designed by Gillian Bradshaw-Smith, are festive without veering into triteness, and Rita B. Watson’s costumes range from traditional ballerina tutus, such as those worn by the Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy, to more typical nineteenth century garb, forming a show that feels both familiar and contemporary. The Yorkville Nutcracker celebrates a bygone New York while remaining true to Tchaikovsky’s music.
The Yorkville Nutcracker is running through December 8th. Additional information can be found here.
