World News – UK – Dance Review: The Royal Ballet Nutcracker

Everyone is scaling down their festive parties this year, and the Stahlbaums are no exception. The family whose Christmas party begins The Nutcracker has shed many of the usual cousins ​​and kids while the Royal Ballet works to have a toothy, yet covid-safe feast.

Snowflakes, choir, mice, divertissements – all are cropped, but the magic lasts. Senior Stahlbaums sparkles happily at the party (I’ve enjoyed Kristen McNally’s herring grandma and Philip Mosley’s soft-centered gramps), and toy maker Drosselmeyer (Gary Avis) puts glitter in his hat and shows up over the gathering with mostly benevolent secret.

Part of the traditional pull of production is its overwhelming amplitude – but there is something to be said to reduce it. With the orchestra shrunk by more than a third

The Nutcracker, the Royal Ballet