More than 30 children from Lindsay, Strathmore and Porterville perform in Children’s Nutcracker at Lindsay Community Theater
LINDSAY – Visions of sugar plum fairies will dance in your head this month as the Children’s Nutcracker returns to the Lindsay Community Theater stage.
Lindsay’s version of this classic fantasy is performed by children from the first grade through the 10th. There are performers from Lindsay, Strathmore, and Porterville in the troupe. This production is directed by Jeff and Angele Black. There are more than 30 students in this production. Many older kids in the cast also help the younger ones learn and practice the many dances.
The story of the Nutcracker is about a young girl, Clara played by Evelyn Aguilar who receives a nutcracker doll from her father’s friend, Frauline Drosselmeyer played by LilyAnn Keeton at her family’s Christmas party. Clara loves her doll, but becomes upset when her brother, Fritz played by Alex Sanchez makes fun of it. Her mother played by Daniela Urena suggests that she rest for a little while, and when she is alone, she falls fast asleep. Then she has the most incredible dream.
In her dream she sees dancing dolls and mice fighting with toy soldiers. The fight between the Mouse King played by Jayden Esquivel and the Nutcracker played by Caiman Bernard frightens Clara, who throws her shoe at the Mouse King, scaring him and the rest of the mice away. Her actions break an ancient spell, and the Nutcracker is transformed into his true self, The Prince of the Sweets.
As a reward for saving him, the Prince takes her to his enchanted kingdom where she meets many fascinating individuals, like the gnomes and frogs and the Forest Fairy played by Liliann Holt and the Snowflakes. Finally, the Prince introduces her to the Sugar Plum Fairy played by Madi Holt, who rewards her for saving the Prince with sweets and entertainment. The Sugar Plum Fairy summons dancers who dance in many different costumes and styles. There are the Spanish dancers, the Arabian dancers, the Chinese dancers, the Russian dancers, Mother Marshmallow and her treats, the pirates, and lastly the waltz of the flowers.
When the final dance is over, the Prince leads Clara back to the entrance to his kingdom and bids her farewell, telling her that he will always visit her in her dreams. Clara is then awakened from her dream by Fritz, who informs her that she has slept right through the party. At first, she is sure that it wasn’t a dream, but real events. Finally, she must admit that it was a dream, but the dream was so wonderful that it was the best Christmas present of all.
Tickets are now on sale for the second annual Children’s Nutcracker at the Lindsay Community Theater. The Lindsay Children’s Nutcracker has for four performances on Dec. 12, 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $9.99 for adults and $5 for students. Get tickets at lindsaycommunitytheater.com or at the theater box office, 190 N. Elmwood Ave. in Lindsay.
