Seeing the Nutcracker at the Cleveland Playhouse with my family stands out as a hallmark of Family Christmas rituals in my memory. My sisters and I would wear our new Christmas dresses and formal wool coats. Dad would yell at one or more of us about proper attire in public, and eventually we would assemble in the minivan for the 45 minute ride up to Cleveland. We always had dinner at the Sweetwater’s Café, and later Sweetwaters’ Cafe Sausalito, before the show. I felt so grown up, eating at a fancy restaurant and seeing a ballet in a city!
I’ve seen the Nutcracker more times than I can count. I like Act I best because the characters are relatable, but my favorite part is the Waltz of the Snowflakes. All those dancers acting in coordinated unison really do embody the beauty of gently falling crystalline snow. I never tire of that dance. Sorry Act II.
My daughter had the honor of being part of the cast of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater Company’s production of the Nutcracker for several years. If you’ve ever been to this annual performance, the little toy soldiers and the mice at the end of Act I are ballet students – support the ballet school and buy your tickets now (and no, I’m not getting a commission for this shameless plug).
Sugared Plum, a complex layered scent, is good for dressing up and feeling fancy. Like going to the Theater fancy.