I arrived in town early, but my plan to do a bit of shopping was foiled by traffic diverted from the M6 so I arrived at the Hippodrome with an hour to spare. I went to the box office and booked a few future shows - another ballet, an Opera and a couple of Musicals - so my diary for 2014 is filling up!!!
I hung around in the foyer and chatted to the doorperson, Teresa, and then had a big hug, and all encompassing hug, a squash, from another doorperson - loud laugh, wide body and merry dispostion! C arrived and on our way back outside we both received a hug - think bearhug!! We settled into the Dragon Inn and had a very enjoyable meal and then made our way back to the Hippodrome. Guess who was on the door?!?!?
Much laughter later we went to find our seats, this year we sat in the Circle, a few rows from the front. Twas only then that we admitted to each other how excited we both were!!
The music started, the curtain went up and Christmas arrived!
How the story unfolded, the party goers danced and then the Tree changed, the fireplace grew and Clara woke up! how I love it so!
| Not Matthias but same costume |
I break here to ask Susan - Art in Stitches - do you know that your son is being stuffed into a box each night? Matthias danced the part of the Jack in the Box - energetic and brill!
After the interval we saw Clara arrive on the back of a flying swan .... across the night sky she flew until she reached fairyland ....
......... then came the flowers, the national dancers and the Sugar Plum Fairy and then it was all over, Clara woke up and went back to bed ....aaaahhh!!!
Another good show but then when did The Birmingham Royal Ballet ever let us down, well done my friends, well done!
We look forward to seeing you all next year .....
Hi!
ReplyDeleteYes, I knew about the box! All the dancers have multiple roles for this ballet. It is probably a good thing for scheduling but also as a way to keep the dancers as excited about every show. I think there are something like 35 performances of The Nutcracker! Anyway, Mathias does several parts including "the prince". His girlfriend, Laura-Jane Gibson, also has several roles ... including CLARA! We are so excited to be coming and able to see both in their principal parts. A couple of years ago, however, Mathias was crammed in "the box" and had a slight mishap while popping out. The head piece sort of went a little crooked ... covering his "good eye". As a kid, he had "lazy eye" and wore a patch for almost two years. He's still legally blind in that eye ... and had to dance the Jack-in-a-Box that time with only this blurry vision! LOL! He said it went well ... at least as far as he could "see"!
Susan