Updated Feb. 11, 2008 – Quotations for two of the
girls Cheyenne Esposito and Gwyneth Zelmanowin this story were
apparently reversed. This version has been updated to reflect the
correct attribution.



By Amanda Estes

Staff Writer

It is a magical and familiar tale reminding young and old anything is possible on Christmas Eve.

Toy soldiers come to life and battle an army of mice. A Nutcracker
transforms into a prince and leads a young girl through a dream world
of sugar plum fairies and dancing sweets.

A peak behind the scenes of “The Nutcracker’s” fantastical landscape is
a special treat and one that was recently afforded to some local
elementary students.

Maine State Ballet’s (“Backstage at Nutcracker ” offers students a
chance to see a modified version of the play, currently on stage at the
Merrill Auditorium in Portland. The students see roughly half of a real
performance, without the orchestra. They are let in on a few production
secrets.

What makes the Christmas tree on stage grow to its massive height? What happens during intermission?

Third graders from South Portland’s Skillin Elementary School know all
of the answers after watching the performance from their balcony
perches on Tuesday morning. Altogether, more than 1,200 students
attended the two performances at the Merrill Auditorium from 16 schools
throughout the area.

Sylvia Green, the enrichment coordinator on the Skillin Parent Teacher
Association (PTA), said “Backstage at Nutcracker” is one of several
programs available for students to participate in as a supplemental
learning tool. Through fundraisers, the PTA provides enrichment in the
arts with programs such as “The Nutcracker” and through visiting
authors and artists. John Rimkunas, a South Portland vocal music
instructor says students will spend the next month learning about "The
Nutcracker" and related topics.

The roughly 90 Skillin students wiggled in their seats as they waited
for the performance to begin. A large, brown and mischievous mouse
appears from behind the curtain. He is loyal to the Nutcracker’s enemy,
the Mouse King (played by Nicholas Reynolds), but at the moment he
leads the students in a round of synchronized clapping.

“Does anyone have a really large mouse trap?” asks former MSB board of
director’s president Judith Kimball, appearing on the stage. “Or should
we send those mice to Broadway?”

Standing in a 1800s-era parlor, created by a 30-foot backdrop, Kimball
says Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet was first
performed in his native country in 1892.

As told by MSB, the story begins with a Christmas Eve party at the home
of the Stahlbaums. Kimball introduces Clara (Elizabeth Dragoni), her
younger brother Fritz, and Frau and Judge Stahlbaum. Outfitted in their
party clothes, the family mingles with their guests. As the children
dance to the “March” in the first scene, two Skillin students whip
their heads toward one another, each girl recognizing the familiar,
flighty tune.

When the mysterious Uncle Drosselmeyer arrives, he comes bearing gifts.
He brings life size dolls, whose jerky movements draw giggles from the
crowd. For Clara, there is a Nutcracker (Glenn Davis).

 After the party is over and everyone has gone to sleep, Clara
sneaks downstairs to check on the Nutcracker. The transition to the
dream world Clara is about to enter would not be the same without the
growing Christmas tree that reaches such great heights, it dwarfs the
dancers on the stage, making them look like toys. On Kimball’s cue, the
tree  – decorated with gold and pink ornaments – begins to grow
and grow and grow, until it is 25-feet tall. Kimball reveals a
stagehand is responsible for the tree’s growth spurt and an arm pops
out from the side of the tree to wave at the audience.

Then an army of mice emerges, pumping their fists in the air, with one
less enthusiastic mouse nibbling on an large hunk of cheese.

The battle between the mice army and the toy soldiers gives way to a
duel between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. There is a flash of
light with each clash of their swords. Both fall to the ground, but
Kimball reassures the crowd.

“Mouse King show them you’re not dead,” she says, and he rises to his furry feet.

The Nutcracker also rises and removes his mask, completing the transformation to a prince.

Clara and her prince travel through a Christmas Tree forest and into
the Palace of Sweets. While dancers clad in ethereal costumes and
sparkling tiaras float across the stage during the “Waltz of the
Snowflakes,” snow begins to fall to the stage.

Kimball says the 25 pounds of paper snow is released from large bags
suspended above the stage. The snow has to be made out of paper to
prevent the dancers from slipping on stage, she says.

From a winter wonderland to a palace, Clara and her prince meet an
eclectic assembly of characters including a sugar plum fairy and
Russian Cossack dancers. Reynolds’ leaps, kicks and spins during the
energetic folk dance impressed the audience and the students responded
with loud applause.

 Kimball says the students figured out ballet ettiquette.

 “You can clap anytime you see something good,” she says. In case
they want to give out extra praise, Kimball says the proper way to do
it would be to call out, “Bravo” or “Brava,” which they promptly
practice.

Back on their school bus, a group of Skillin girls – including Isabella
Pacillo, who says she sees the ballet every year – bob their heads up
and down when asked if they liked the performance. Cheyenne Esposito
says the dance of the sugar plum fairy was her favorite scene while Gwyneth Zelmanow says, “I liked everything.”

The girls say the play put them in the holiday spirit, but Alyssa Welch adds, “I’ve always been ready for [Christmas].”

For information about performances of Maine State Ballet’s “Nutcracker” visit www.mainestateballet.org.