The Marcus Performing Arts Center was buzzing with excitement ahead of the opening night performance of the world premiere of Michael Pink’s The Nutcracker: Drosselmeyer’s Imaginarium, performed by the Milwaukee Ballet. While we sat in the full house waiting for the performance to begin, a small rat puppet popped up from behind the set on stage, running around and going in and out of drawers – a foreshadowing of the fun that was to come.
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With new choreography, sets and costumes, the show was reinvented, while still paying homage to the original version. And after years of planning, designing, collaborating and fundraising, the world premiere was on Dec. 8, 2023. “It has taken five years but we’re finally here,” Michael Pink said to the audience in his opening night speech before the show.
And it was well worth the wait. The production was beautiful from start to finish – and full of surprises and wonder throughout. I was on my seat guessing how we would be wowed next, and it continually brought excitement.
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After a playful opening scene in which Drosselmeyer (Garrett Glassman) packs up his Mary Poppins bag and sends his workshop into the air via hot air balloon, the stage opened up to the living room of the Tannenbaum’s house for their annual Christmas party. The room’s set – which I had seen renderings of beforehand and was excited to see if it looked as magical in person – was magnificent. Its glass atrium-like windows and the giant Christmas tree were elegant and bright, all larger than life. I loved the energy on stage, particularly the rambunctious kids and the magic Drosselmeyer performed for everyone.
But the real fun began after the party. The scene ended with Drosselmeyer placing the nutcracker on the mantle of the fireplace, and everyone going to sleep. But the toy nutcracker didn’t! The toy marched across the mantle in one of the many magical moments that puppets brought to the show. It was delightful and fun, and really set the stage for the childlike wonder that was about to ensue.
Fritz (Barry Molina) was a little terror of a kid, and it was great. He was incessantly picking on his sister throughout the show but it added a great comic relief. Not to mention he was jumping and spinning and flying through the air so much that he was genuinely bouncing off the walls. Despite being an adult, Molina really brought the mischievous young brother to life. And it was so much fun to watch. And Clara (Alana Griffith) was hopeful and innocent. Her dance with Marie (Marize Fumero) and Karl (Randy Crespo) was adorable – as she wiggled her way into his arms and danced with the two of them, dreaming of her prince.
The whole stage transformed to bring us to the floor of the apartment to witness the battle scene between the rats and toy soldiers. For the battle between the rats and toy soldiers, the stage transformed to a rat- and toy-sized view of the apartment. The new rat costumes did the creatures justice – curly toes, bouncy tails, striped pants and huge ears. And perhaps one of the funniest moments of the show was when the rat king saluted before his final fall. The matchstick flag and spool of thread weaponry was also a highlight. Also of note: the toy soldiers shot the rats with a cheese cannon; the audience erupted in laughter over the silliness of it all.
As we drifted – it truly felt like the audience was being moved along with the characters – into the Imaginarium, we were met by the Snow Queen (Lizzie Tripp-Molina) dancing in a Christmas ornament snow globe hanging from the Christmas tree. The dance was beautiful, with snow falling throughout the entire dance and the ballerinas so gracefully moving around the stage in stunning blue and white costumes. I can’t stop thinking about how sparkly the costumes were – it looked as if they were made of actual ice crystals. There was so much snow that Clara and Fritz could have a believable snow fight, throwing it at one another and laughing around.
As Drosselmeyer led the kids through the sky to the Imaginarium – which opened with the cutest flock of swans I’ve ever seen in my life, played by children dancers in yellow tights – we got to meet new and reimagined versions of the characters we know and love. My favorite was Madame Bon Bon (Eric Figuerdo), along with her little cupcakes, treats and chef dancers. Her candy cane-striped Dr. Martens boots were a great touch on a fantastic costume, and the kids bobbing around as desserts was adorable and joyful. You can’t go wrong seeing kids with mustaches and chef’s hats – it was hilarious and just the icing on the cake (pun intended) for the scene.
Also wildly fun was when they journeyed to the Balloon Meadow, in which the Mechanical Doll (Marie Harrison-Collins) and an ensemble of dancers with balloons were swept up in the wind and let the balloons take them all over the stage.
And, of course, not all of the show was fun and games because there were also so many moments that were just gorgeous. The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy is always a fan-favorite, and it did not disappoint in this new interpretation. She lit up the stage so gracefully in her peppermint candy costume. And Prince Karl and Princess Marie’s dance was also one to remember. Filled with difficult lifts, jumps and spins, their performance was thrilling and enchanting.
That’s what this show was – enchanting. From the minute we sat in our seats to the finale, we were enchanted by The Nutcracker: Drosselmeyer’s Imaginarium. It was sparkling and grand, and filled with the childlike wonder of Christmastime. The dancers brought Pink’s show to life with incredible precision and talent, and we were all left thinking about it for days after – eager to come back again to see the magic again next year.
The Nutcracker runs through Dec. 26. Tickets are available online.
