Saturday December 14, 2002
Magic is reserved in The Nutcracker
Providence Journal
Channing Gray

Festival Ballet's The Nutcracker arrived at the Providence Performing Arts Center last night, wrapped in lavish sets, mounds of falling snow and lots of oh-so-correct dancing.

But the magic was reserved for precious few moments, those being some free, bold solos from Gleb Lyamenkoff, as the dashing cavalier, and Jennifer Ricci's stunning take on Coffee, a study in control and long, fluid lines.

Not that there's anything wrong with Festival's concept of this holiday staple, which runs through tomorrow night. It's actually a handsome production, with some impeccable dancing from the likes of company new-comer Tatiana Berenova as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

But it's also one that often puts technique above theater.

The army of mice that scampers on stage as Clara is swept off in her dreams to the land of sweets looked great, long snouts and all. But where was the menace, the whiff of evil? Clara feigns concern, but the mice never seem very threatening. Piotr Ostaltsov's Drosselmeyer is suave and elegant, but not real mysterious or spooky, as he is sometimes cast.

Erin Gildea stepped from the junior company for last night's opening show to make a fresh, lithe Clara.

As always, the Ricci sisters, Jaclyn and Jennifer, stood out. Besides her exotic oriental number, Jennifer doubled as an elegant Snow Wueen, thanks to fine partnering from Pavel Homko, who made sure her lifts were seamless.

Jaclyn did the honors as a clean and confident Dew Drop Fairy.

Last night's star, Berenova, was impressive, to be sure. She's Moscow-trained and it showed in the tightness of her turns and the crispness of her pointe work.

She was flawless, but not long on personality. That came from her partner and Belorussia native, whose jumps were thrilling.

The second act opened with the stage flooded in smoke as bands of tiny, halo-crowned angels glided about. But it fell flat after that with less than inspiring renditions of Chocolate and Marzipan.

Things picked up though when Caitlin Novero and Chi-Kuang Chu did their perky oriental duet with twirling ribbons. The live orchestra, led by Rhode Island College conductor Edward Markward, di what it had to, supply the sonic backdrop. Although miked and filtered through speakers, it didn't sound a whole lot better than a tape.

Remaining performances of The Nutcracker take place at the Providence Performing Arts Center today at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm and tomorrow at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Tickets range from $15 to $50. Call 401.421.2787.