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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2009 > December > 16
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Review: Tapestry’s ‘Of Mice & Music: A Jazz Nutcracker’
Usually the most noticeable percussive sound in Nutcracker issues from the toy of the same name.
Tapestry Dance Company shifts the sounds of the holiday classic from toys and Tchaikovsky to taps in its new production “Of Mice and Music,” which premiered Monday at Salvage Vanguard Theatre.
Running just under an hour, the new show looks to become an annual Austin dance fete. The slightly cramped audience in SVT’s theatre eagerly peered around one another’s shoulders to glimpse the large cast, which included adult, teen, and children students from Tapestry’s academy, as well as the professional company. The tiniest mice and the quickest feet made the lean-in worthwhile.
The company has significantly revised the Christmas story, making dance more than a decorative feature in the story. Clara (Meghan Davis) receives a pair of tap shoes as her magical Christmas gift, thus entering a world where characters create and prove themselves through dance.
One of the best moments unfolds as the Rat King (Tony Merriwether) and Nutcracker (Jeffrey Olson) battle each other in a tap competition.
Several dances made full use of the interaction with live band Blue J, who developed the jazzy score from Tchaikovsky’s score. In the Russian and Marzipan segments, Matt Shields and Katelyn Thompson respectively, tapped out the well-known music in spaces the band left open for them. Tapestry always does an excellent job of reminding audiences that tap is both music and dance.
Artistic director Acia Gray hovered over the evening as magical guide, Ms. Bon Marche, transforming the ballet’s eccentric uncle character into a diva Drosselmeyer..
As the story ends, Clara stands under the Christmas tree wearing the diva’s gifts: a fur boa and tap shoes. Merry Christmas.
‘Of Mice & Music: A Jazz Nutcracker’ continues at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Salvage Vanguard Theater, 2803 Manor Road. $15. www.tapestry.org
Clare Croft is an American-Statesman freelance arts critic.
