All I Want for Christmas…
December 18th, 2006 by Lauren
The holiday season has begun for me, and I know exactly what I want…not that that should be any surprise. I want a nutcracker—but not just any nutcracker. A well-hung, jaw-chiseled, tall nutcracker. My nutcracker needs to dance, have nice posture and speak only when spoken to—except to shush me when I’ve been naughty! He’s out there, and though you may not touch him, you can watch him. He resides at 55 E. 59th St., in the New York Theater Ballet production of The Nutcracker. This isn’t the New York City Ballet and it isn’t at Lincoln Center…but neither is he.
It wasn’t just my nutcracker who was enchanting, it was the whole performance. I had come prepared to see a huge production with a cast of 100, the kind I remembered from being a little girl. Instead, I found myself surrounded by small children in an intimate theater large holding a couple hundred audience members. There wasn’t a symphony, and it seemed like sound was only coming from the left speakers, but it was great to see the cast play different characters so well on stage. That… and Mr. Nutcracker.
As I sat next to Glamourite Tracee, a true ballet and theater snob, I waited nervously for her response to the production and choreography. Happily, she laughed, gasped and smiled right in time with the children surrounding us. Then I realized, not only is Tracee a child… ha!… but The Nutcracker made me want to be one again. After the performance I wanted to sing Christmas carols to complete strangers, purchase gifts for my Secret Santa, and watch the snow fall. It really is the most wonderful time of year.