The Joffrey Ballet's joyous 'Nutcracker' returns to the Lyric

The Joffrey Ballet began its second season of “The Nutcracker” at the Lyric Opera House today, December 3. This reimagined version by Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon first debuted at the Auditorium Theatre in 2016 and was an immediate hit, although many were initially skeptical about retiring Robert Joffrey’s beloved version. In Wheeldon’s unique production, Marie and her immigrant family are relocated to the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, where Marie (played by Yumi Kanazawa) embarks on a whirlwind adventure with the Nutcracker Prince (played by Zachary Manske).

Even though the production, as seen before at the Auditorium Theatre, was magical from the start, this production at the Lyric Opera House seems bigger, bolder and brighter. Maybe this could be because the stage is larger at the Lyric than at the Auditorium Theatre which gives the dancers more room to shine in their moves and more space to showcase the spectacular “World’s Fair” size scenery and set designs.

Act 1 sets the stage in a small shack on the grounds of the soon-to-be-built Fair. Every visual is Chicago-centric and when authentic images of the 1893 World’s Fair flashes onscreen, you wish you could’ve been there to see Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, the “Venetian canals”, the Moorish “castles” and so much more. Wheeldon’s/The Joffrey’s Nutcracker takes you to all of these exciting experiences through visual displays that will leave you gasping. And even though the performance is two hours long (with an intermission), I didn’t see one child squirming in their seats. On the contrary, all the kids around us were transfixed by the show, oohing and ahhing as the toy soldiers, snowflakes, ice cavaliers and little Nutcrackers flew around the stage. Many were even dressed in their holiday finery to resemble some of the characters.

Every scene was a highlight and the entire cast was superb, but when veteran Joffrey dancer/star Victoria Jaiani hit the stage as a sultry Arabian dancer, with partner Edson Barbosa, you could’ve heard a pin drop. Her languorous moves and unbelievable extensions were a sight to behold, as they have always been.

From the moment you entered the Lyric Opera House, you were immersed in the festive atmosphere. A 17-ft-tall tree decorated with colorfully wrapped packages dominated the lobby while lighted wreaths were hung throughout the ceiling. During the production, the live musical accompaniment by the Lyric Opera Orchestra added to the palpable excitement.

Ashley Wheater, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director said, “We adapted a holiday story to dovetail with our city’s legacy. Marie could be any child. Following one performance, a single mother came to me to thank us for telling her story. We hope you see some of your story being told by the artists onstage today.”

(The Joffrey Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” runs through December 27, Joffrey.org)

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