Drama at Alhambra ballet

8:06am Wednesday 21st May 2008

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There was drama on and off-stage at last night's opening performance of Nutcracker when the Alhambra was evacuated just after the second act had begun.

Television drama writer Kay Mellor was among the 800 audience members standing on the street outside as firefighters investigated.

A theatre spokesman said the cause was an over-sensitive' fire alarm activated by steam from an iron backstage.

After 20 minutes the audience was allowed back in and the show continued. And what a show! Strutting marshmallows, skateboarding gobstoppers and a lewd knickerbocker glory all dancing on top of a giant wedding cake - welcome to Matthew Bourne's striking version of Nutcracker!

The maverick choreographer's lavish, family-friendly interpretation of the classic ballet served up sugar-sprinkled helpings of his trademark comedy, fantasy and irreverent charm.

It was gloriously camp, a splendid, larger-than-life production, with vibrant, witty choreography set to Tchaikovsky's rousing score - but at its heart remained the moving story of a young girl's awakening.

From the opening monochrome scenes in Dr Dross's bleak Dickensian orphanage, where Clara and her peers face a miserable Christmas, to the multi-coloured splendour of Sweetieland, where the children escape to, this was a beautifully-staged production aimed at audiences aged five to 95.

The delightful characters - among them liquorice Flamenco dancers, fluffy airhead marshmallow girls and bespectacled Cupids in stripey pyjamas - shimmered in gorgeous costumes.

We journeyed through Anthony Ward's fabulous set into a candy-coated fantasy world, via an ice-skating extravaganza complete with falling snow.

Each dancer brought their character vividly to life through endearing facial expressions and individual mannerisms, woven into sizzling choreography. Forget your faceless ballet ensembles, this was a cast full of distinctive personalities which connected with the audience. Superb performances all round, and well done for picking up after the audience evacuation as if nothing had happened.

There was formidable Dr Dross, transformed into flamboyant show-off King Sherbert in Sweetieland, who was deliciously played by West Yorkshire's Scott Ambler, and sweet-natured orphan Clara, a lovely coming-of-age performance by Hannah Vassallo.

Alan Vincent played the Nutcracker beautifully, Mikah Smillie was a fabulously sneering orphanage matron and Michela Meazza and Drew McOnie were delightful as the spoilt Dross brats, aka Princess Sugar and Prince Bon-Bon.

With traditional elements of the classic story still in place, albeit with the magical Bourne twist, this was a theatrical sweetie tin full of warmth, humour and sizzling energy that dazzled in all the right places.

Runs until Saturday.

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