I attended the Nov. 30th evening performance while visiting a friend in Seattle. What a treat, especially knowing that the unique Stowell and Sendak version is in it's last run!
I've never been a fan of the party scene in any Nutcracker as I'm usually anxious to get to the snow scene and second act. I thought this party scene was as charming as any other one. The Masque dance was an unexpected addition, which I thought was very cleanly danced by Amanda Clark, Kyle Davis and Dylan Ward. I felt that the Sword-Dancer doll (Ryan Cardea) could have danced with a little more energy though. It almost felt like the he was marking the choreography.
Moving into the battle scene, I loved the giant grandfather clock that turned into Drosselmeyer and his long, swinging legs. In addition to the giant mouse head and tail, these were some serious pieces of scenery!
Heading into the snow scene, we got our first glimpse of Laura Tisserand and Karel Cruz dancing together. What a tall, beautiful pair they make. Their pas de deux was exquisite. Laura has beautifully arched feet and creates beautiful lines. And Karel was a very strong partner. The snowflakes were in top form, clearly well rehearsed. I liked this version of snow, but how can you really go wrong with this beautiful music?
In Act II, Laura danced her solo variation almost right off the bat. I had really high expectations after her pas in the snow scene, and I'm sorry to say I was a bit let down by her solo. Yes, she has beautiful feet, legs and extension. But - I felt that instead of being in control of the steps, they were in control of her. She managed to land her double pirouettes, but it looked like she lacked the strength to perform on her own that wasn't noticeable when she was being partnered. Karel's solo was technically strong, but not flashy. Kind of a nice change for me - no complaints here! The biggest standout for me in Act II was Waltz of the Flowers, led by Lesley Rausch. Just wow. Lesley knocked this one out of the park. Rock solid technique, beautiful musicality, and such a pleasant demeanor. What a wonderful example for all of the flowers dancing behind her. The Dervishes (Raphael Bouchard, Ryan Cardea, Christian Poppe) needed more rehearsal. I attended with one person who is very new to ballet, and while he can't tell you anything about technique he was very distracted by them not dancing together. Commedia (Sarah Pasch, Eric Hipolito Jr. and Elle Macy) looked beautiful in their variation, but they could use a bit more rehearsal time too. There's a lot of potential there though, and I'm sure they'll grow as a group throughout the run!
Overall, it was a fantastic evening. Those who live in Seattle are lucky to be able to see such a world class troupe on a regular basis!