Puppet Co. Playhouse The Nutcracker

By Michael & Laura Clark • Nov 30th, 2011 • Category: Reviews

The Nutcracker
Puppet Co. Playhouse
Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo, MD
Through December 31st
50 minutes
$10
Reviewed November 26th, 2011

The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, with the score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The Nutcracker is the story of Clara who is given a nutcracker by a mysterious but kindly old gentleman who visits the house on Christmas night. Clara is later led on a magical journey through a land with mice, huge soldiers, and finally a prince. When you think of ballet you think of girls in tights and pink skirts dancing around the stage. Sounds a bit mundane.

Until you turn everything into puppets of various sizes. The five performers (Nora Achrati, Brestt Messiora, Christopher Piper, Matt Reckeweg, and Leslie Vincent) each played multiple roles, as several different types of puppets. The opening scene featured body puppets wearing pajamas. The performers relied on large movements and gestures to make the music of the story come alive.

The puppets ranged in size from hand puppets to marionettes to body puppets. The body puppets were ingenious, such as Russian dancers on stools wearing head masks, to a floating genie on a fluorescent table dancing with a magic scarf. The hand puppets were surprisingly expressive. The music was pre-recorded so the performers really had to have the timing down, which they did. The audience, both young and old, were entertained by the colors, puppets, and music.

After the performance we were given a backstage tour by Christopher Piper, who shared with us some of the magic of puppetry. The Puppet Company also features an on-site reference library for puppetry, and several examples of different puppets (A Christmas Carol) are on display in the library and lobby windows.

The Puppet Company’s telling of The Nutcracker, in a not-so-traditional way using not-so-traditional actors, was enchanting. If you’ve never experienced The Nutcracker, this is an excellent introduction. And if you’re weary of ballet versions, the Puppet Company comes to your rescue with their 24th year of performing this holiday classic.