The dress rehearsal for this year’s The Nutcracker ballet was not promising. No wonder, when it involved the blending of two large casts that included everyone from young dance students to professionals at the final rehearsal on the day of the first performance. Some of the dancers were meeting for the first time the guest dancers who were fresh from other productions in other cities and new to Coasting Along Theatre Society’s lavish Christmas special.
By the time the curtain glided back at 8 p.m. on opening night, Dec. 16, the magic had worked. Cast A put on the most magnificent The Nutcracker yet – it was glitch free and sparkling. When audiences entered the lobby to find a glossy souvenir programme and silver-rimmed wine glasses, it was apparent that The Nutcracker was truly a class act.
Natalie Martin played to perfection the major role of Clara in Cast A (Sophie Malcolmson in Cast B). The young dancer meets Graham McMonagle dancing as the mysterious Drosselmeyer who gives Clara a nutcracker doll then takes her on a journey to the Lands of Snow and Sweets.
Dancing the role of the Snow Queen and King were Chloe Slade, from the New Ballet Ensemble in Tennessee, and Denzel Taylor, fresh from Ballet Inc. in New York. The starring Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier were no less professional.
Emilie Menezes de Siqueira has danced in the Coast’s The Nutcracker before, and now she returned as a seasoned performer partnered with Kostyantyn Keshyshev who has danced with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Dance professional Eric Burrough as the life-sized nutcracker fought valiantly in a battle scene with the Coast’s own Halle Holmes as the Mouse King.
With so many highlights in the performance it’s difficult to single out individual dancers from the Coast’s own troupe, but special mention goes to the Spanish dancers again – they were great last year – with Jaime Butler in the lead role in Cast A (Bronte Hansen in Cast B). Jasmyn Evered as the lead Arabian dancer has grown in beauty and suppleness over the years, while Jennifer Norquist as the stilt-dancing Mother Ginger showed exceptional skill. Costumes, lighting and scenery added eye candy to the visual feast.
After the final act, artistic director Kathleen Holmes appeared on stage in a dazzling white gown to receive her enthusiastic applause. It was an audience thank you for the huge amount of effort and long hours it takes to produce the show and bring such a valuable contribution of performance art to this community.
