For those of you familiar with the Nutcracker, traditional characters are joined by newcomers like lurid kilt-wearing Grandpa's (Kevin Richmond) new purple-haired bombshell girlfriend, Ms V. Aggra (Jane Haworth) and later on the seductively elegant Peacock Lady (Joanne Clarke) who teasingly appears from behind a dozen blue feathered fans to perform the Arabian dance.
The basic story is the same. Young Clara (excellently danced by Alice Crawford) is given a Nutcracker doll for Christmas which comes to life just in time to help her battle the mouse king (Dincer Soloman) and his army.
The dashing Nutcracker Prince and Drosselmeyer then whisk her away for adventures in the Land of Snow and the Land of Sweets.
In an inspired piece of set design, the Land of Snow is a giant refrigerator - containing a giant lobster and a bottle of Moet big enough to make any Christmas bash go with a bang - a myriad of Jack Frosts and Snowflakes leap out of it.
While the Land of Sweets looks literally good enough to eat.
Clara and Drosselmeyer watch the fantastic dance routines in the second act from their guest of honour seats in a giant chocolate box, supported by oversized marshmallows, reached by huge slabs of nut chocolate for steps.
The dancers are superb, artlessly graceful, dynamic and a joy to watch.
An eclectic blending of the traditional and the modern means that one minute husband-and-wife Principal Dancers Agnes Oaks (the Sugar Plum Fairy) and Thomas Edur (the Nutcracker Prince) are flawlessly performing the Grand Pas De Deux, and the next a row of Giant dancing Nutcracker doll heads and parcels on legs are tripping across the stage.
Special mention must go to Yat-Sen Chang for his gravity defying interpretation of the Russian dance leaping and almost flying around the stage in an electric blue bear costume.
There were many families at the Empire last night, but not a peep of noise was heard from the younger members of the audience all night and the standing ovation the dancers received at the end of the production spoke for itself.
English National Ballet's production of the Nutcracker is a visual feast from start to the all too soon finish.
* The Nutcracker is on now at the Liverpool Empire until 22 November 2003.
For ticket information call 0870 606 3536, or click
here.
