Joffrey Ballet - The Nutcracker Reviews

from Chicago, Illinois

WOULDN’T CALL THIS THE NUTCRACKER

I’ve been seeing The Nutcracker (the traditional version) almost every year for the past 15 years and, unfortunately, this version didn’t meet the usual magic that comes with this show. With iconic characters like the sugar plum fairy, mother ginger, and russian dancers being watered down or changed altogether, it was hard to give the different take on the original story a chance. When a story’s setting, characters, and relationships are different than the original, how can it really be called by the same title? Seeing this version once was enough.

LindaT from Evanston, il

JUST OK

I did not realize this was an updated version. Unfortunately, I thought it fell flat. Lots of running around with flapping arms and posing. The chorus not good, dancers out of step. Orchestra amazing as we're 2 main couples. Very disappointed. Worth $35, not $115

Kate Lin from Chicago, Illinois

BLAH, GREYTONED DEPRESSION IS NOT THE NUTCRACKER ANYONE WANTS TO SEE

The dancing is excellent, but my kid kept asking me, "When is the pretty part, with the colors?" And that part never came. Everything, even the Land of Sweets, had greyed down colors. I left the production feeling so dragged down. I don't want social commentary with my nutcracker. I just want something happy and shiny. If you feel the same skip this.

Anonymous from Chicago, Illinois

WOULD NOT RECOMMEND

As others have mentioned, much was left to be desired after seeing this rendition of the Nutcracker. There were very odd changes that just felt out of place for a magical Christmas ballet. There was no waltzflower (instead some sort of polka), no Russian dancers (replaced by Buffalo Bill and his can can dancers), and no sugar plum fairy (now the golden statue). The saving grace of this performance was the Arabian pas de deux. It was the one performance that truly left me in awe. Several numbers were underwhelming, not sure if it was the choreography or because some of the corps dancers timing was way off, but I will be seeing a different company next year.

Anna from Chicago, Illinois

DISAPPOINTING

I didn’t mind the story change, and thought stage effects and the orchestra were great, but the dancing was a complete disappointment. It seemed that the performance was not rehearsed well. A lot of running around the stage, poor choreography, uncoordinated corps de ballet seemed amateur and ruined the magic for me.

David from Chicago, Illinois

TERRIBLE VERSIOOF NUTCRACKERS

We have attended a number of years with daughters and grand daughters as a family tradition but never again.... it was awful. Customers were gaudy. Don’t waste your time and money. Box seat chairs were threadbare and hard. I do not recommend it to anyone.

from Chicago, Illinois

AWFUL!!!

Disliked this version of The Nutcracker! So hard to uunderstand and follow along....iin fact, it was quite boring! I don’t believe this to be for children at all! The only thing that seemed to keep me awake were the people behind us crunching on food the whole way through!!!

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