REVIEW | The Nutcracker, Tuff Nutt Jazz Club
Amonik Melaco in the McOnie Company's NUTCRACKER. Credit: Mark SeniorWritten by Russell
Disclaimer: gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
Hidden behind the street food market in the basement of the Royal Festival Hall is the Tuff Nutt Jazz Club…London's jazziest new jazz club. It’s not quite Ronnie Scotts, but for its limited space, it runs in a pretty close second place and has the tiniest feel of Ronnie’s about it. We were here to witness The Nutcracker differently with Tchaikovsky’s iconic score being reimagined - now with the addition of an on-stage jazz band. Many companies throughout the world have presented this production, so will this one stand above the rest?
Director and choreographer Drew McOnie has created an unbelievably spectacular modern take of The Nutcracker on a dance space about half the size of a tennis court, they create a performance that’s so stunning that the audience was left thrilled with what they have just witnessed. First things first, the six dancers (Rachel Muldoon, Tim Hodges, Patricia Zhou, Amonik Melaco, Chanelle Anthony, and Mark Samaras) on display here are at the peak of their performance skills. They are all from top-level dance and ballet companies.
Physically and aesthetically outstanding, just to be up close and see the level of skill and athleticism is a life experience, if you get the chance, you should drag yourself along and witness with your own eyes because you might not believe what you are seeing. The combination of performance and imagination displayed here in this production of The Nutcracker is just incredible. No other word really comes close to describing their levels of skill. The audience is so close to the action, that the front row of tables are all grabbing their prosecco glasses in unison, as the feet of the dancers come within millimeters of their impossible feats of ballet in such a confined space.
And then there’s the band, the note-perfect band, Again the highest class of musicians, putting a very accessible jazzy twist onto Tchaikovsky’s classic score. And what a band they are. This ain't no ”difficult jazz." They create a sound so smooth and so easy, that you almost forget they are there because what's happening on the floor is so spellbinding. The band consisted of composer Cassie Kinoshi, Emily Tran and Emily Hsu on keyboards, Rio Kai as musical director (as well as double bass), Patrick Boyle on drums, and Parthenhope Wald-Harding on Sax and Flute.
The closeness and perfectly honed bodies of each and every one of them are an unexpected treat in The Nutcracker. It makes you stop and think; Imagine being that good at anything.
This take on the Nutcracker is set in a run-down bedsit. And a single Father trying to raise his son- Clive- who would rather play with the fairy from the top of the Christmas tree than his Action man. And when Clive drifts into ‘Dreamland’ and all the different characters come to life, this becomes a story about his voyage of discovery and his sexuality.
Ryan Dawson Laight’s costume design throughout is imaginative and as big a part of the show as the dancers and the band. Each new scene brings - eye-watering at times - stylish and sexy outfits.
Five stars across the board for this one - the amazing dancers, Pyotr Tchaikovsky (nice one Pete), and Cassie Kinoshi the composers. Five stars for the impeccable band, and five stars for the director and choreographer. More five starts to the costume designers - Oh and why not…five stars for the doormen, great work guys.
Nutcracker at the Tuff Nutt Jazz Club at the Southbank Centre until January 6, 2024.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
