Tonight's
performance had its ups and downs, everyone. I could see a lack of
concentration and focus during a lot of Act 1, in both Party and Battle
Scenes.
I know that many of you are likely getting tired, with school and late
nights at the theater, so please do your very best to rest, and when you
get to the theater: it's time to think about what you're about to do
onstage. Every single performance
is equally important!
Party Scene:
1) Boys, you did the leap frog way too
fast. I know those parents were in your way, but if that happens, just
wait for them to move before you start. Don't just try to do it under
their feet!
2) Better job making the diagonal lines, Party Boys. Collin (and
other Fritzes), thank you for remembering to get closer to center, but
you shouldn't be ON center-- just closer to it than you were before.
3) Grandparents' Entrance: Girls, Grandkids, and Maries,
please make sure you keep yourselves far enough to stage left (this is
after you all join together and are greeting, etc). Otherwise, you are
blocking the audience's view of the Grandparents,
who are sitting in their chairs on center.
4) Most of you are remembering to RUN scared to your parents
after the clock strikes, but I saw a few of you just meander over there
tonight. STAY FOCUSED on what you are reacting to! Why would you jump
up and then stroll away?
5) Doll Dances: Some of you are spending too much time
mimicking (imitating) the dolls instead of actually watching them. Yes,
you can imitate their movements and arm positions, but not the entire
time. And remember, if you do hold your arms up
in the positions that the Harlequin and Columbine do, really hold them
up strongly and clearly! Sharper, cleaner movements please.
6) At the end of the soldier doll dance, please don't rush up so
close to the soldier doll-- yes, you get up and gather around him
quickly, but don't crush him!
7) Hobby Horse Tug of War: We need to keep this further
upstage (away from the audience). So when Drosslemeier gestures to you
to get into your two lines of boys on one side and girls on the other,
move upstage slightly.
8) And then, after Fritz grabs the Nutcracker from Marie, I need
all the other party children to STAY BACK. Again, you're crowding them
too much. When Fritz pushes the two boys out of the way, everyone
should take a step back. I don't want to see
any other party child getting close to the Nutcracker.
9) Grandfather's Dance: Again, too many distracted faces and
minds. I saw many of you on "auto-pilot", not really paying attention
to the others around you, being sloppy with your footwork, not holding
yourselves well. BOYS, you did not all kneel
on 8 in the diagonal! Why not? No excuses!
OVERALL: Way too much relaxing during Party Scene tonight! It was too
casual, not focused enough, and is getting sloppy. We have all worked
way too hard to get to this point and have your performances start to
slip. Every performance should be treated with
as much care and attention as the first one. The tickets to this
performance tonight cost the same as they do for every other night, so
you have to deliver the same (or better) level of dancing and
performing-- no excuses.
Battle Scene:
All Soldiers: The first "Crash" still needs to be sharper! The movement is in 1 count, not 2 or 2 and a half!
Also, make sure that if you're in line 1 or
2, when you get down to the floor during the charges, you keep your legs
super straight and glued together. There were some feet flying up in
the air behind you and legs splayed apart,
which makes it impossible (and dangerous) for the others who have to run
in between the lines.
Act 2:
Angels were excellent tonight!
