The Nutcracker

Well, it's been almost two weeks since I said I was going to work at getting caught up. I wish I had a good excuse for not getting there. I don't. But, let's see how much I can get done before the end of the month.

A couple of days before Christmas, Kristina and I went to see The Nutcracker performed by The Washington Ballet. This wasn't your ordinary Nutcracker. This version takes place in historic Washington, DC. It is sprinkled throughout with bits of American culture and iconography. For example, the Nutcracker is George Washington and the rat king is King George III. The rat soldiers are redcoats and battle it out with the Continental Army. At the end, instead of the Waltz of the Flowers, it was the Waltz of the Cherry Blossoms. Making appearances in one form or another are Frederick Douglass (prominent DC resident of the time), John Paul  Jones, Betsy Ross, Ben Franklin, Miss Liberty, Anacostia Indians and Frontiersmen. The costumes and sets were so wonderful. At the end of Act I, Clara and her escort travel on a riverboat on the Potomac. At the end of Act II, Clara leaves her dream world in a hot air balloon.

I could have seen it several more times as I'm sure I missed a lot of references. Too bad it's not available on DVD.