SUGAR & SPICE & EVERYTHING DELICIOUSLY NAUGHTY // A THEATRE REVIEW OF "THE NUTCRACKER ROUGE"
And you thought the holidays were over? Not if Company XIV has anything to say about it. Following up their last decadent spectacle Rococo Rouge (see my review HERE), the naughty but definitely nice company has a return and retooled engagement of their holiday hit THE NUTCRACKER ROUGE, originally seen at The Minetta Lane theatre in 2013. Conceived, Directed, and Choreographed by Austin McCormick, this Nutcracker’s aim is to turn the classic tale on its head…and possible on its side, and maybe if you ask real nice it’ll gear up and…
…Whew, is it hot in here or is it just me thinking of Nutcracker Rouge?
Laura Careless takes the lead once again as Marie-Claire, a mix of Marie and Claire as well as sprinklings of Marie Antoinette thrown in as well. She’s given a Nutcracker and taken under the guidance of Madame Drosselmeyer (a delightful Shelly Watson) and Monsieur Drosselmeyer (Brett Umlauf) and sing her a sweet Russian Lullaby. She is whisked away to the land of Sweets and before you know it, secrets are shared, glorious dances are had, and clothes…well, they come off. Flirty, sexy, and vivacious, this is definitely not your mother’s Nutcracker. Though if you have an open mind and a salacious mind then this is going to slide ride up your…alley.
Performer after performer dazzle and impress; From Courtney Giannone spinning inside her giant hoop and somehow making it look both easy and sexy to Shelly Watson bringing sauciness, laughs, and some Madonna to the table with “Material Girl.” The gorgeous and always stunning Katrina Cunningham appears often throughout, both sweeping you away with her remarkable dancing and burns the room down to the ground with her rendition of Lana Del Ray’s “Yayo, “while Aerialists swing above her in delight (my friend accompanying me simply looked at me after this number and said, “She is…just…I mean…wow.” Exactly). Near the end of the evening, the ridiculously muscular, limber, and G-Stringed Prince (Todd Hanebrink) swept away the hearts of both Marie-Claire and many more in the audience. If the table behind me was any indication, he may have caused a few heart attacks as well. As for Marie herself, Laura Careless once again delighted throughout with her wide eyed wonder and when it comes time, flawlessly takes the floor. She gamely takes on both Duke Ellington’s “Sugar Rum Fairy” and, along with Hanebrink and very few articles of clothing, Tchaikovsky’s “Sugar Plum Pas de Deux.” She’s a wonder to behold.
What makes THE NUTCRACKER ROUGE work is the delight it clearly gives everyone performing immediately transfers onto you, the audience. With no fourth wall, you are invited to be part of the seduction, part of the sexual madness, and in their dimly lit space, it’s a titillating and audacious recipe for a cold winters night. Do yourself a favor, and do someone you really, really like a favor, and take him or her to this Nutcracker. If you saw it in its previous incarnation, see it again. It’s slicker, sleeker, and sexier. Even now, after the holidays (it’s extended through Jan 31st), there won’t be a Scrooge in sight as you and a few of your newest closest friends get intimate and wowed by this original and daring company.
Photos by Joshua Flannigan
MATEO’S GRADE: A
Conceived, Directed, & Choreographed By: Austin McCormick Starring: Laura Careless, Brett Umlauf, Shelly Watson, Katrina Cunningham, Courtney Giannone, Todd Hanebrink, Lea Helle, Davon Rainey, Steven Trumon Gray, Allison Ulrich and Jonathan Royse Windham. Costume & Set Design: Zane Pihlstrom Content Advisory: It’s an R-rated evening, folks. Leave the kiddies at home. Playing at: XIV, 428 Lafayette Street (located across the street from The Public Theater). The Bar @ XIV will open at 5pm Tuesdays – Sundays for cocktails before, during and after the show. For Tickets: http://companyxiv.com/get-your-tiks-for-nutcracker-rouge/
FINAL THOUGHTS: You definitely want to be on the naughty list this year.
MATEO MORENO is an actor, playwright, and director in New York City. He owns and runs TheArtsWireWeekly.com and has had four of his plays produced, including BOHEMIAN VALENTINE, HAPPILY AFTER TONIGHT, WITHIN OUR WALLS, & LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK. He is currently working with Boomerang Theatre on a short play piece, workshopping a new musical, and spends his days working on Broadway hits like MATILDA and IT'S ONLY A PLAY.