top of page

REVIEW: Nutcracker in Havana

opera787

© Johan Persson
© Johan Persson

Charismatic ballet legend Carlos Acosta brings his red hot new production of The Nutcracker to the cold winter heart of England.

 

Nutcracker in Havana is now playing at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

 

Dance maestro Carlos Acosta, who is celebrated by critics and loved by audiences around the globe, has given a spectacular and innovative new spin to Tchaikovsky’s evergreen ballet The Nutcracker.

 

Acosta is a true dance and theatre pioneer who continues to inspire a new generation of dancers and audiences with productions that keep ballet relevant and exciting.

 

As the West Midlands region battles with subzero temperatures, with frosty and foggy starts to the days, Acosta brings sunshine, heat and a sweltering atmosphere to the stage with his sensuous and electrifying take on The Nutcracker.   

 

Tchaikovsky’s ballet premiered in December 1892 at The Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg and it has now become associated with the winter season in the same way greetings cards and fir trees are forever linked with Christmas.

 

Acosta uses his fiery passion to fuse new energy and panache to Tchaikovsky’s ballet by relocating the magic to Havana in Cuba. This production feels like a fitting and uplifting homecoming for Acosta because Havana is his birthplace and his heart still dances to the vibrant tunes and melodies of Cuba.


This seductive new production introduces the pulsating beats of Acosta's beloved nation into The Nutcracker whilst still retaining Tchaikovsky’s instantly recognisable score. The new musical arrangement by Pepe Gavilondo Peon and Yasel Munoz makes clever use of Cuban lute, trombone, flute and electric guitar to give the music a truly spicy vibe.

 

This sultry blend of music, which begins to beat and pulse as soon as the curtain goes up, breathes fresh life into a ballet that is over 100-years-old.

 

E. T. A. Hoffmann’s well-known and well-loved story, which forms the heart of the classic ballet, is given a sparkling new twist in this reworking which adds a new dimension to the tale.

 

Clara’s adventures on Christmas Eve with a Nutcracker doll, given to her by her godfather Drosselmeyer, are relocated from Nuremberg to Havana, and Drosselmeyer becomes Clara’s Uncle in this adaptation.

 

Acosta's heartwarming retelling of The Nutcracker also makes autobiographical references to his impoverished childhood in Cuba by having the opening scene set in a poor wooden shack which would have been very familiar to Acosta during his early years. Clara’s Christmas tree is poignantly decorated with empty drink cans just like the one from Acosta’s childhood in Havana.

 

This imaginative energy is peppered throughout the famous story as Clara’s feverish reality collides head on with the world of dreams. Her surreal journey through the landscapes of her mind includes her Nutcracker battling the mischievous and insidious Rat King.

 

Clara’s adventure in the Kingdom of Sweets takes place in a Cuban jazz venue where she sees colourful and athletic dancers from other countries who bring zest and joy to their performances.  

 

Acosta has conjured up theatrical magic by making the ballet less about something that is performed on a stage at a distance and more about embracing the audience by letting their imaginations relate to the intimate story that involves a joyous family gathering with children and adults making memories as they dance, eat and play.

 

The video projections, courtesy of Nina Dunn for Pixellux, really help to set the scene in a really exciting and vivid manner. The movement and depth of the visuals are very immersive and engage the mind in such a way that it feels as if the stage is moving and shifting closer to the audience.   

 

This trailblazing production of The Nutcracker is performed by Acosta Danza which Acosta formed after leaving the Royal Ballet in 2016. The core idea behind the dance company is to give a platform to emerging dance talent from Cuba and showcase the kinetic energy and styles that Cuba has to offer, and merge that ecstasy with classical and contemporary dance.

 

The dancers of Acosta Danza live up to expectations and deliver vigorous performances in this spellbinding version of The Nutcracker.

 

Former English National Ballet dancer Laurretta Summerscales takes on the iconic role of the Sugar Plum Fairy and she does it with a sparkling charm and finesse. Her duet with the Prince, danced by Alejandro Silva, is sublime and full of dreamy delight. Silva’s chemistry with Summerscales has a fairytale vibe which adds nuance to their pas de deux.

 

Alexander Varona is flamboyant as Drosselmeyer, both in his glittering outfit and exhilarating dancing, while his acting ability makes his character three-dimensional.

 

The role of Clara has to convey innocence and a sense of discovery, and in this production those qualities are brought to the fore by Laura Rodriguez who not only embodies the key aspects but also adds a real undercurrent of strength and resilience.  

 

Caribbean artist Angelo Alberto’s costume design acknowledges Cuban styles and flair, and each dancer is outfitted in attire that accentuates their character. An excellent example of this was the harem outfit worn by Amisaday Naara during the Arab dance. Her shalwar (loose-fitting pants) had a slash running from the waist to the knee that highlighted Naara's sinuous movements and, more importantly, the freedom to revel in her lithe femininity without being controlled or subdued by the external world.

 

Likewise, Alberto removes the trappings of Orientalism by dressing the two Chinese dancers in loose pants and having them dance bare-chested. Leondro Fernandez and Brandy Martinez literally take flight with Alberto’s pared down outfit design by gracefully and effortlessly gliding through though the air. Their martial arts dance is a breathtaking tour de force that is full of acrobatic fervour.  

 

It takes a rare kind of talent and imagination, and a deep reservoir of strength and courage, to take a hallowed ballet and transform it for a 21st century audience without turning the show into a circus sideshow or parody. Acosta’s sensational choreography, and the team of dancers at Acosta Danza, deserve the highest praise for turning The Nutcracker into a hip and sexy ballet show for everyone regardless of age, race or social background.

 

Nutcracker in Havana is an astonishing show destined to become a landmark production.


Verdict: ★★★★★

 

Nutcracker in Havana is now playing at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Tuesday 14th January 2025


28 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page