Dance Scene
Each 'Nutcracker' has a distinct personality
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
Illustrations by Greg Taylor
Advertiser Graphics Artist
Big or intimate, with live or pre-recorded music, with imported ballet luminaries or homegrown student stars-to-be, Hawai'i's four holiday "Nutcracker" productions offer 'em all.
One even dares to set the story in monarchial Hawai'i, with the appearances of historical figures (enacted by dancers, of course) ranging from Princess Ka'iulani to King Kalakaua.
And that's how the ballet ball bounces this holiday season (details below).
Clearly the most performed holiday-time work, "Nutcracker" still features the timeless and moving music of Tchaikovsky. And hours of student rehearsals, parental chaperoning, backstage preparations.
The Honolulu Dance Theatre dares to be innovative by taking the original score and changing the locale to Hawai'i, including a grand ball at — where else? — 'Iolani Palace. Set in the splendor of the Hawai'i Theatre, director Matthew Wright's world premiere includes Island Moments (Warriors battling to save Ka'iulani), Island Schemes (King Kalakaua's Magical Land of the Rainbows) and Island People (an appearance by Robert Louis Stevenson).
Hawaii Ballet Theatre is first at bat; its family-friendly production, directed by Charlys Ing, boasts local and Mainland dancers but is noted for its apres-show bon-bons: tea with Santa, surely to set off visions of sugar plums and ballerina fairies, following the matinees, free souvenir photo with Clara (first 50 kids, evening shows only) and hot stuff at night (coffee for adults, chocolate for kiddies). Nourishment comes not only from nurturing the arts, but nibbling together afterward, too.
Ballet Hawaii's is the most ambitious undertaking, mounted by Pamela Taylor-Tongg, with notables front and centerstage: dancers known for their prowess outside of the realm of the stage (like the screen — notably, Ethan Stiefel from "Center Stage"). Plus, Stuart Chafetz conducting the Honolulu Symphony, performing live, the way Tchaikovsky intended.
The Hawaii State Ballet, which regularly produces homegrown stars (such as Amanda Schull) who emerge on the ballet landscape elsewhere, offers a modest but riveting version, directed by John Landovsky, whose joy may be in showcasing a future Somebody.
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Hawaii Ballet Theatre
2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 15, 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 16
Leeward Community College Theatre
$22 adults, $17 children 12 and under, seniors and military
839-1596
Trademark: Free "Sugar Plum Tea With Santa" after matinees, Starbucks coffee and hot chocolate after evening shows and souvenir photo with Clara for keiki (evening shows only)
Hawaii State Ballet
7 p.m. Dec. 14 and 21, 2:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 22, 2:30 and 6 p.m. Dec. 16, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 23
Mamiya Theatre, St. Louis Center for the Arts
$22, $18 and $16 for adults, $2 discount for seniors and children
947-2755, 783-2747
Trademark: Solid work by student cast
Honolulu Dance Theatre
7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15
Hawai'i Theatre
$16 to $24
528-0506
Trademark: New spin on a classic — King Kalakaua and Princess Ka'iulani emerge in the retitled, relocated "King Kalakaua's Nutcracker"; cast includes Ian Campbell as Kalakaua, Marina Hitosugi-Levesque as Ka'iulani, Celia Chun as Kapi'olani and the Boar Queen, Micah Kutzberg as a Hawaiian warrior, Sergei Domrochev as the Cavalier
Ballet Hawaii
7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 and 22, 2 p.m. Dec. 23
Blaisdell Concert Hall
$35-$55; discount for students, seniors and military
526-4400
Trademark: Biggest show, with live music by the Honolulu Symphony; "star" presence in Ashley Tuttle, Ethan Stiefel, Tai Jiminez; opening night gala, $100, includes post-show champagne gala
Correction: The Hawaii State Ballet will perform "The Nutcracker" at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 23 at Mamiya Theatre in addition to shows listed in a previous version of this story.
