Principal dancers Inna Dorofeyeva and Vadim Pisarev are the soul in the Donetsk Ballet's curious production of "The Nutcracker." On opening night, the couple danced with an accomplishment rarely seen, and their Grand Pas Deux was definitely worth the wait.
But this production, with choreography by Evgenia Khasianova and libretto by Yuri Grigorovich, feels very much like a Reader's Digest version of the ballet. The first act is choppy and there isn't a generous flow from the party scene into the mice scene. Everything looks abbreviated, and the blackouts between scenes are confusing.
As in other Russian productions, Herr Drosselmeyer (Alexander Muntagirov) plays a pivotal role in the action. He dances with young Marie and her Nutcracker prince, and pops up waving a magic wand at the young couple. His role enlarged, the choreography demands strong leaps and jumps, and Mr. Muntagirov readily complies.
The set design for the snow scene is opulent but the choreography was boring. The only company that brings both serenity and panache to this section is the Joffrey Ballet.
The strong points of this production are, obviously, the dancing and music. Also, local children from various schools are included and give above-average performances. And the various short dances were well danced by Donetsk dancers; the Waltz of the Flowers demonstrated that this is a strong Corps de Ballet, with near-perfect unison.
But it was the duet for Mr. Pisarev and Ms. Dorofeyeva that drew bravos from the house. Ms. Dorofeyeva has amazing control and a flair for the dramatic. Her footwork and balances are masterful and she can stand poised seemly forever in the most precarious positions.
Mr. Pisarev has both strength and delicacy. His leaps and jumps have a great height and his turns are precise. The couple turned in a performance that was as cool and smooth as ice.
DONETSK BALLET
What: "The Nutcracker"
Where: Lyric Opera House, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave.
When: Through Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $19 to $32
Call: (410) 685-5086