Graham Lustig's The Nutcracker
Oakland Ballet At Paramount Theater
2025 Broadway, Oakland
December 22nd, 2024
The holiday spirit was contagious. Celebrating their 60th anniversary, Oakland Ballet pulled out all the stops for their performance of The Nutcracker on December 22, 2024. Under the artistic direction of Graham Lustig, the company deftly delivered a performance full of the playful magic we expect from a holiday classic.
No longer a child, I couldn’t help but view the whimsical storyline through a slightly different lens—one that found the giant rats (the germaphobe in me is silently screaming) and mischievous children a little more nightmarish. Yet despite my adult sensibilities, this production, with its captivating costumes, brilliant Tchaikovsky score, and infectious joy, was what was needed for the holiday season.
On stage, a Christmas Eve party, a century past. Adults in elegant finery danced gracefully and mischievous children crept toward the pile of gifts near the front of the stage. Marie (Nicole Townsend) and with her family had just finished a festive meal, and her enigmatic Uncle Drosselmeyer (Benjamin Kubie) presented her with a beautifully painted Nutcracker. Delighted, she danced across the stage, er enchantment by the gift contagious.
But now I wondered: what’s so exciting about a wooden Nutcracker? They’re not exactly cuddly, and as we saw in the performance, easily breakable. So why was Marie so thrilled to receive one? In German tradition, Nutcrackers are believed to bring good luck and protect the home, which helped explain her joy, but the plot still strayed far into the realm of sugar coated absurdity. Did I mention the colorful, dancing candies and fluffy blue snowballs that waltzed across the stage like something from a fever dream? There were plenty of them too.
The set and costumes, designed by Zach Brown, were a visual feast, with a mix of whimsy and beauty that had the full house of children gasping and giggling. From the opulent holiday party scene to the magical world of the Land of Sweets, the entire production was a work of art come to life.
The elaborate party quickly gave way to a chaotic battle between the Nutcracker (Lawrence Chen), the rat army, and toy soldiers. The Nutcracker, with his crazy pinwheel eyes and sword drawn, valiantly defended Marie, but ultimately succumbed to the rats, losing his "nutty" head. In a surprising twist, the Nutcracker transformed into a handsome prince, much to Marie’s delight.
In Act II, Marie and her Prince were transported to the Land of Sweets by a hot-air balloon. There, they were greeted by a sweet group of mice who’d managed to eat their way through a cupcake but had been sentenced to lose their tails as punishment. Ever the champion of the underdog, Marie stepped in to save them, and the Sugar Plum Fairy (Jazmine Quezada) rewarded the two with a series of dances.
I couldn’t help but miss some of the dynamic energy I recalled from past performances—particularly the exuberant Russian dancers and the graceful Waltz of the Flowers, which both felt a bit subdued this time around. Despite my minor quibbles, this production of The Nutcracker succeeded in drawing on the creative energy of Oakland’s vibrant community. The Oakland Symphony and the Piedmont Children’s Choir lent their talents to the performance, supporting the dancers with a lush, sweeping rendition of Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, resulting in a high-energy experience that brought the audience to their feet.
In a season filled with Nutcracker productions, Oakland Ballet’s version stood out for its combination of tradition and local creativity, offering a fresh, heartfelt take on this holiday standard. Whether revisiting the familiar tale or experiencing it for the first time, this production delivered a holiday lift bound to bring a smile to your face.
