The Nutcracker

Yesterday, Sean and I drove down to my twin sister Evie’s house so see my 13 year old niece perform in a local production of the Nutcracker. On our way out of town we saw Santa Claus rushing off to an engagement. No kidding. He drives a black Volvo station wagon, I’d say 90’s vintage. We also saw a half a dozen cars with Christmas trees tied to the roof on our side of the road only! It must be that time of year. When we got to her house, I rushed in to see her clivia and compare it to mine. I think mine is better. What do you think?

Anyway, we had a great lunch, just the four of us, Evie, her husband Adam, Sean and I, and then we had to rush off to the auditorium to get the best seats. We got great seats. We were in the reserved section for parents, balcony, first row, and my seat was on the aisle. Perfect! Of course, then we had to wait an hour for the ballet to begin. But, anxious stage mothers were saving whole rows and we would never have gotten those seats had we not gotten there when we did. So we chatted away happily to pass the time.

Then the lights dimmed and the performance began. Act I was mesmerizing and magical. It just sped by. I was entranced. Then there was an intermission. After that, Act II began. My niece was a crystal flower and on stage for most of the second act. The flowers enter in a garland dance on point with arms linked and this is extremely difficult.

A garland dance

But, it was done flawlessly. Of course, she was the best one (no bias here). She had to stand absolutely stock still for most of the performance, right in the middle of the stage to one side of the throne that Clara sits on, while another flower was on the other side. All of the other flowers lined the sides.

Anyhow, Act II is when the principals of the company get to show their stuff. Some of the dancers were really quite talented. One professional dancer was quite the leaper. We saw him on the street entering the auditorium and he just looked like any other guy. But wow. On the dance floor was another thing. This guy is a star.

After the performance, Evie and I, we had backstage passes since Evie is on the board of the dance company, went back stage to get my niece. The whole cast was back there with relatives and the energy was amazing. I met the head of the dance company and told him this was the best performance yet and he had outdone himself. The niece was understandably reluctant to leave and while we were standing there with her, the man who played the Nutcracker took her photo and gave her a hug. He had accidentally brushed her nose with his toe during a rehearsal one day. Evie knew him, she knew everybody, and introduced me as her twin. All evening people were giving us double take looks and asking if we were twins. At this point in my life I am so accustomed to it I don’t even mention it. I shook his hand and told him he was fabulous. It was really a thrill to meet and see the dancers up close.

After that, we all went out for sushi. It was a perfect end to the day.