Critical Analysis Project: The Nutcracker
Genre
The Nutcracker is a musical involving a two acts classical ballet. It involves classic plot patterns with backstage musical with the main characters being singers and dancers who perform for an audience in the story. The characters also dance and sing ordinarily not aiming to bringing out a show in the story.
Overall theme
The overall theme of the Act is about coming -of –age, which includes overpowering fear and darkness so that one enjoys sweetness of love and light. Coming of age happens at a prosperous moment in the typical family which can be seen in the opening scenes of the ballet. The home is adorned with a beautiful lit Christmas tree, and the extend family is celebrating with many gifts that symbolizes abundance (Zajączkowski, 1987). There is enough for everyone and the fussiness of the gifts illustrates a prosperous time and confidence in the flourishing future.
Storyline
The Stahlbaums are embroiled in the preparation for the Christmas Eve party and awaits the arrival of their guests. The guests arrive to a decorated house with the Christmas tree at the center, and have come bearing many gifts for the children including Fritz and Clara. Clara is presented a special, a nutcracker, while Fritz is offered a beautiful drum. Out of jealousy, Fritz snatches the nutcracker and it breaks while he is playing with other boys. Drosselmeyer fixes the toy for the now upset Clara using a handkerchief. The guests leave after the party and as the family is going to bed, Clara ends up falling asleep with the nutcracker in her arms, under the Christmas tree. At midnight, Clara wakes and notices everything is growing bigger, and large mice begun circling the room and the tree and toys come to life. The Nutcracker also comes to life and with other toys he engages in a fight with the muse army. The King Mouse attacks the Nutcracker but the king is defeated with Clara’s help. Later the Nutcracker becomes a human prince who drives Clara through a snowy forest and the snowflakes become dancing maidens.
In the scene, Clara and the boy grow friendship in a fateful encounter presented by their younger versions, while their older versions perform behind them a parallel dance. The adult gestures indicate concise romantic significance, with most moving seen in principal dancers’ elegance, a contrast to the movements of children that show unaffected innocence. In the dance the major characters including Clara, Fritz, Drosselmeyer, Nutcracker and King Mouse are well portrayed (Zajączkowski, 1987). The dancers’ hands are seen circling each other and rolling as arms move from the front to overhead. Clara’s arms start shaking and wakes up to find lit Christmas tree. The perils and joys are mostly seen at the snow scene, where snowflakes are seen as silvery costumes.
Musical Background, Costuming, set lighting techniques and color
The choice of background music involves fantastic everyday worlds relating to tonics keys separated by a tri-tone. Such music leads to Christmas part. The score is organized by key to make to ensure the character’s importance is understandable to the audience. The keys of the music progress following a routine, with changing tonal voices. The scores involves using large orchestra , libretto response and a conveyance of atmosphere , a reflection of structural clarity , and application of associated themes (Wiley, 1984). There is synergy in the costumes, lighting and sets color palette.
References
Nutcracker Act 1. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpJtNkRLiGY
Wiley, R. J. (1984). The Symphonic Element in Nutcracker. The Musical Times, 125(1702), 693-695.
Zajączkowski, H. (1987). Tchaikovsky's musical style (No. 19). Umi Research Pr.
