The Nutcracker Reconceptualized

This is a modern virtual take on the classic story created by Maison Aequilaterus: Shoko Kambara, Alex Hawthorn, and Gregory Gale. Part 1: The Party. It is Christmas Eve in the near future. Family and friends have gathered for the festivities, decorate the tree, and open gifts. Clara’s is a Nutcracker. In creating the characters, I combined inspiration from modern fashion, 17th-century doublets, armor, and classic ballet looks. Part 2: The Battle, the toy breaks from its confines, explodes into life-size as the Christmas tree grows to dizzying heights. Suddenly mice spring forward, followed by an army of soldiers, and ultimately the 7-headed rat king. The nutcracker battles the forces and is victorious with Clara’s help. Part 3: Snow Forest. In this scene, the Nutcracker transforms into a handsome Prince. He leads Clara through the moonlit night as cloud carriers whisk them to the top of a mountain and snowflakes dance around them. The Snow Queen appears and beckons them to her kingdom. In designing this scene from the beloved ballet, I imagined that Clara’s dress would transform and become more magical as the ballet progresses. Her handkerchief hem ombre dress transfigures into a sheer beaded version. The nutcracker has escaped from the confines of a toy and metamorphosizes into a prince. His asymmetrical one collar vest and rolled sleeve shirt are echoes from his previous self. I designed the Snow Kingdom gender diverse looks by blending together traditionally masculine and feminine clothing pieces for the cloud carriers and two snowflake designs, then merged both types for the Snow Queen. Part 4 of The Nutcracker: An Enchanted Land. Clara and the Prince travel to an enchanted land and a celebration of sea creatures and land animals from around the world occurs: a flower hat jellyfish and goblin shark from Japan, mantis shrimp from Hawaii, Friesian horse form the Netherlands, black rhinoceros from eastern Africa, and Oryx from South Africa. The sun ushers in Clara and the Prince and he recounts how he was saved from the Mouse King by Clara and transformed back into himself. A final waltz is performed by the inhabitants, the prince bows to Clara, and they all wave goodbye.