Play in the City : The Nutcracker and Imagine That

I took in two performances in downtown Milwaukee this past weekend – The Nutcracker at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and "Imagine That: A Cabaret" at the Skylight Opera Theater Skylight Lounge.

I'd never been to a ballet before so when the boss offered to buy us all tickets for opening night of The Nutcracker, I jumped at the opportunity.

Other performances I've seen at Christmastime in the past couple of years – the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in NYC and Scrooge The Musical starring Richard Chamberlain in Minneapolis – have left me absolutely bursting with emotion and holiday spirit, and I anticipated that The Nutcracker would leave me feeling the same way.

Our seats were sixth row center, which turned out to be a bit too close since we couldn't take in the whole stage all at once very well. We were mere feet from the orchestra pit, though, and the music was enchanting. It was music that I'd heard at Christmastime my entire life, but I'd never been aware that many of those songs were from this show.

The border that framed the stage sparkled, and then the sheer, glittery curtain rose. For the next two hours, I sat mesmerized by the elaborate sets and props, the gorgeous, colorful costumes and the music and dancing.

I don't have any other ballet performances to compare this one to, but I'm confident that as far as ballets go, this one was as grand and beautiful as some of the very best.

The dancers were amazing. My favorite scene was at the end of the first act when the snow queen danced as white snowflakes fell all around her; and I also loved the clowns (and I usually can't stand clowns!) dancing to the fast Nutcracker music and the sugar plum fairies dancing with their flowers.

Despite all this, though, I'm afraid to say that I'm just not a ballet person, and The Nutrcracker didn't give me the same feeling that those other shows did. I gave it a try and I found myself quite bored.

I understand how children would be completely entranced by all the movement and the oversized Christmas tree, train, carousel animals and characters, but I needed more. Singing or speaking or … something. I was very disappointed to feel this way – and I know many, many people disagree with me!

Milwaukee has a world-class ballet and I know folks come from miles and miles around to see the performances - so please, know how great it is for those who do enjoy ballet!

I do see the appeal of watching the muscular, athletic dancers do their thing. There was one couple in the show that I couldn't take my eyes off of whenever they took the stage. The man didn't wear a shirt and the woman wore just a skimpy top and … wow. Their dancing was so passionate, and their bodies were awe-inspiring.

I suppose I could be into ballet, just the more modern stuff. The next show that the Milwaukee Ballet is performing is "Premieres of Passionate Dance" in February around Valentine's Day. This will be a sampling of short ballets, three shows in all, and I do believe they will consist of more modern dancing. One of the shows is actually done to the music of Ben Folds and the poetry of William Shatner. Now that sounds cool! So perhaps I will give ballet another try.

I'd definitely recommend The Nutcracker to those who enjoy ballet and also for anyone with children. During the second act, a child near the front suddenly let out a squeal of delight and everyone near us laughed – to be that innocent and uninhibited and excited! It's definitely a wonderful tradition to start with one's family.

The Nutcracker runs at the Milwaukee Ballet through December 29.

And on a side Ballet note: Michael Pink, the artistic director of the Milwaukee Ballet, will be the subject of an answer on Jeopardy! this Friday, December 22. Read more about it here.

Moving on to Saturday … Imagine That: A Cabaret was the show I blogged about last week that stars my downstairs neighbor, Linda Stephens.

Mom and Dale met Dave and me at our apartment a little after 9 p.m. on Saturday night and together, the four of us drove to the Skylight Opera Theater in the Third Ward. We arrived just in time – the performance of South Pacific let out about three minutes after we secured one of the few available tables in the small lounge. After that, it was standing room only.

Linda started just a few minutes after the room filled up, and she took the stage looking happy and festive in a red jacket and sparkly red earrings. A lively piano player named Jack Forbes Wilson accompanied Linda and sang with her on a few songs.

The performance lasted about an hour and Linda sang songs from the various productions she's been a part of during her 39 year career, including a few I recognized like "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and "I Feel Pretty" and "What do you get when you fall in love?"

She sounded absolutely wonderful. Her voice was very big for that small space – definitely a Broadway voice! The quiet woman I know from the neighborhood just came alive on that stage, and I was so happy to be seeing her perform.

In between songs, she told stories of the plays she's done, and one story in particular about meeting famous playwright Tennessee Williams and him telling her, a dark-haired girl who wore a blonde wig in his play, that she "should always be a blonde." She said she eventually took his advice.

Linda finished the show with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and invited the audience to sing along, which we all happily did.

I'd received an email a couple weeks back from a friend of Linda's saying that Tuesday, December 19 was Linda's 60th birthday and that this friend was trying to get Linda's friends who lived close-by to come to the December 16 performance. I came prepared with a birthday card, and I knew what was coming when the whole place started singing Happy Birthday before Linda left the stage.

Out from the kitchen came a huge birthday cake filled with candles and Linda was so surprised. She blew out the candles and thanked everyone, and after a few minutes, we were all served some delicious birthday cake. It was a really enjoyable evening.

The Skylight Lounge is a dim, very cozy space with a scattering of tables surrounding a small stage. The whole building has a warm, old feel to it and I love going there. My one complaint about the bar is that mixed drinks are a hefty $7 a piece, and on Saturday night, we all swore that our second round didn't have a drop of alcohol in it! I think next time I'll insist on watching the bartender make my drink, or I'll go for wine. Otherwise, though, a lovely place!

Between the ballet Friday night, lunch (at California Pizza Kitchen – not overly impressed, I have to say) and Christmas shopping Saturday, Linda's show Saturday night, and a family holiday party in Illinois yesterday, it was a FULL weekend, to say the least. I returned to work this morning feeling less-than-refreshed.

Thank goodness that Christmas is just a week away!

Comments

Crazy how busy things get this time of year, huh?

I agree that $7 for a drink is a lot if there's nothing in it... C'mon bartenders - do the job right! But let's be glad that Milwaukee's mixed drink prices are still below average compared to the likes of places like Miami or LA!

Happy Holidays!

Posted by: Audra Shalles | December 18, 2006 at 11:01 PM

I've heard that the ballet company has gotten a whole lot better in the last few years, which is great. I saw The Nutcracker here three or four years ago though, and it was pretty bad - and I have been to the ballet enough to have a reference point. I was certain that one of the dancers was going to eat it during the show.

And just to compliment the performance, some of my extended family was there, and we were in the balcony (where dressing up means a leather Packer jacket and your "nice" jeans). My sister got sick in the middle of it and puked on the floor... and a little on the people in front of her. At intermission, when I went with her to cut the long line of people at the bathroom, a drunk woman talked smack. I told her to "shut it". Then almost got in a fight with her boyfriend.

*That* is how my family rocks the ballet.

Posted by: Andre | December 19, 2006 at 09:51 AM