This Friday I went to see The Nutcracker at Citizens Bank Opera House. Fresh off the T, I was greeted by two teenagers asking me if I was over 21. Not interested in buying alcohol for minors, I quickly responded, “No.” As I strode past them, I heard one of them say, “Dude, he’s definitely over twenty-one” to which I yelled back “I’m seventeen!” (I am seventeen, and I always will be).
For the holiday season, the Opera House’s opulent halls have been ornamented with holly and wreaths and trees galore. Walking through the venue’s lobby, a Baroque design complimented with marble columns and gold detailing, made me feel like an aristocratic patron of the arts. The Opera House was built in 1928 as a movie theater, but after over half a century of progressive decline and disrepair, it was revived under the direction of Mayor Thomas Menino in 2004 to host opera, ballet, and Broadway shows.
Among all the Christmas trees in the lobby, one stood king with a huge line to get your photo taken in front of it. “Odds bodkins!” I yelped. I’d rather dip my toes in piranha-infested waters before waiting in a line. In quick fashion, I produced an ingenious solution. Outsmarting all the other patrons, I took an unobstructed photo of the tree so that after the fact I could seamlessly edit myself into the picture.
The show itself was spectacular. For those unfamiliar with the ballet The Nutcracker, me too! Something I learned very quickly however is that ballets do not involve speaking, which made deciphering the plot all the more difficult. Fortunately, it’s fairly simple. A young girl, Clara, is a gifted a nutcracker toy by a universally beloved magician and the story follows her journey through magical lands where the nutcracker comes alive. I know what you’re thinking – that doesn’t sound realistic! A beloved magician!?
The Boston Ballet put on a great show. For two hours the dancers bounced and glided across the stage in precise, nimble movement. Their fluidity and strength were mesmerizing, and they were able to express a wide breadth of emotion through body alone. The costume and set design were so cool. I loved the bear, the mice, the dresses, the opening of the Christmas tree, the floating cloud, and the Rat King.
I learned after the fact that my friend Grace was also at the show. She used to play brass and has far more familiarity with music than I do, but I thought the orchestra was great with my limited knowledge of what being great sounds like.
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