Revision cards for those studying Matthew Bournes Nutcracker

Matthew Bourne

August 1992

Ballet and Contemporary

Also uses mimetic and realistic gestures to explain the story.

This version of the Nutcracker is a coming of age christmas story of a young orphan girl.

or

First Love, Growing up and Dreams

TCHAIKOVSKY

Style - Classical Orchestral Ballet

• Lots of Melodies and Harmonies that help to tell the story
• Full orchestra with lots of varied instruments
• Waltz music and music inspired from other cultures including spain and russia
• Lots of direct correlation with dancers action
• toy instruments used

• Full orchestra builds tension and climax and makes the dance dramatic
• Use of toy instruments adds reality to a childrens xmas party
• Music inspired by different countries helps to set the scene and character development.

• Direct Correlation is used throughout.
• In act 1 the music builds into a crescendo, at the same time an orphan accidently runs into Dr Dross. The music helps to make the action more dramatic.
• Clara performs little runs and jumps with windmill arms and repeats this each time the same melody is played- direct correlation.
• In the party the music has a military march, Friz and the boys salute as if they are in the army. The music inspires the action performed.

• In act 1 the orphans are given toys for xmas. The music uses toy instruments to make the scene childlike and realistic
• When fritz plays with his toy gun sound effects are added to make a bigger sound and to have more effect
• When the Nutcracker is revealed to be a man the music is very strong and powerful and the dynamics and actions of the men become very strong and masculine

HOWARD HARRISON

Lighting is very theatrical to create atmosphere

Contrast in colour used helps to show the different worlds

• dark, stark, white lighting in the orphanage creates a cold and uninviting scene that supports theme. A spotlight that comes on when matron claps highlights her character and shows her authority.
• blue soft lighting gives the impression that they are skating on a frozen lake.
• In contrast to the orphanage scene ,bright multi colours are used for sweetieland depicting a childs fantasy land.

ANTONY WARD

• Lots of varied costumes to show characters.
• Orphans- Victorian,Grey cotton smocks, Grey cotton short trousers
• Sugar- Victorian, velvet, black party dress, big hair ribbon, white tights, black shiny shoes
• Matron- striped high collar shirt with long heavy skirt, high stiff hat
• Cupids- blue striped pjs, blonde wavy wig, glasses
• Liquorich allsort -Colourful and over the top spanish style dress with sweet pattern

• Varied costumes help to show character, gender, age and status
• Orphans, Friz and Sugars costumes are victorian which sets era but Friz and Sugar have black velvet instead of grey cotton showing their rich status.
• Matrons stiff and formal which complements the dynamics of her movements and her character. The over the top high hat represents her power.
• Sweetie land dressed in the colours of the sweet they are representing, eg bouncer is a HUMBUG sweet so his costume is black and white stripes.

There are 2 acts with 9 sections

There are 24 dancers

ANTHONY WARD- Proscenium Arch

2 different worlds:

Orphanage World-

large grey cold room, tiled floor, oversize beds-clock-window,cracked wall. Only colour comes from party hats

Fantasy and dreams World

Frozen lake-  all white, oversize white feather and satin pillow

Sweetie land- Big glittery pink mouth that acts as entrance to sweetie land. Over the top stage filling wedding cake

• Oversize props make dancers look small to support that they are children
• props used such as party hats and tree support the theme of xmas
• cracks in wall and large mouth act as exits /entrances for dancers
• Big pillow and feather in fozen lake scene suggest that this is all a dream
• Sets change in use of colours and props as the storyline develops- shows different worlds.

PROSCENIUM ARCH

• Lots of linear pathways and space used. Friz and Sugar always dance in the middle infront of the orphans to show  elevated status
• Matron. Dr Dross always enter and exit from same side indicating that there is a door. Makes scene more realistic.
• Matron dances in the middle and the centre whilst Orphans dance around her. Supports elevated status.

Dynamics and actions differ with each character:

• Friz- Facial expression is very over top and humourous. He performs jumps, kicks and leaps in a childlike and carefree manner. His dynamics are sharp and energetic like a little boy
• Gobstoppers- perform big bold sharp hip thrusts, press ups, jumps and leaps to the floor to show off thier masculinity

• Lots of mimetic gestures to help tell the story. orphan pretending to be a doctor sewing up nutcracker, patting forehead, pretending to put mask on

• Nutcracker- When nutcracker comes to life he performs stiff jointed walks and reaches showing that he is wooden doll