Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we are officially in “Nutcracker” season. This is the time when many Western ballet companies—and indeed ballet and dance companies from all over the world—present their yearly “Nutcracker,” and families make the much-anticipated yearly pilgrimage to the theater for the performance. The first “Nutcracker” was choreographed by Marius Petipa in 1892, and, since then, many choreographers and dance companies have staged versions. While these versions have some significant differences, nearly all of them have utilized the iconic Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky score. Most Americans have likely seen a version based on George Balanchine’s restaging of the ballet in 1954.
Over the years, however, some choreographers have chosen to come at “The Nutcracker” from a decidedly different angle; Mark Morris and Matthew Bourne among them. Also on that list is David Parker, whose Bang Group brings a very original and innovative one-act interpretation of “The Nutcracker” to Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in Tivoli, N.Y., on the weekend of December 20. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it is worth repeating what I have said in these pages in the past: Kaatsbaan Cultural Park is a wonderful place to see exceptional performances of all kinds, and to experience fine visual art as well.
To make sure everyone knows this is no ordinary “Nutcracker,” Parker’s version for The Bang Group is entitled “Nut/Cracked.” Yes, Parker uses the Tchaikovsky music, but not familiar orchestral versions. His Tchaikovsky music comes to us via Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and others. Moreover, Parker employs a wide range of dance techniques and styles, including tap and disco (Parker started out as a tap dancer), as well as some unusual props. Gone is the staging where Herr Drosselmeyer uses magicians’ props and mysterious parlor tricks to amuse the children; in their place, bubble wrap?
Parker is eloquent when speaking of The Bang Group and of his “Nut/Cracked.” This makes sense, given that Parker is the son of the prolific and well-known writer Robert B. Parker. Parker describes his “Nut/Cracked” as “lavish in choreography, simple in production,” and while he says there is certainly artistry and virtuosity in the dancing and the choreography, he whimsically and wonderfully calls the performance the “anti-spectacular.” He notes that the piece is full of off-beat humor and is family friendly. In that regard, this is certainly not the two-act “Nutcracker” we are familiar with—you know, the one where the kids get antsy at times, especially during the first act. “Nut/Cracked” runs just over an hour or so, with no intermission.
Information about Kaatsbaan, and tickets for the upcoming performances of “Nut/Cracked” by The Bang Group, are available on Kaatsbaan Cultural Park’s website.
