This winter break, I decided to go to Boston Opera House to watch Nutcracker ballet by Boston Ballet to wisely spend my holiday time in Boston ;) . I was excited to watch ballet for the first time. And little nervous, since this was my first time attending a western theater. From my impression due to English movies, the theaters are grand, and people who go there are elite, at least look and act that way. I was imagining people with hats and elaborate dresses walking slowly through the theater like what I saw in Titanic.
And, as I entered the Opera House, I saw why I would think that. Located in the middle of downtown Boston, amidst tall greenish glass-walled modern buildings, the opera house had a narrow entrance. From outside, I could not imagine how big it might be. But as I entered, I was trying hard to shut my mouth! The opera house was grand! Every corner was decorated intricately, with beautiful carpets, intricate wooden carvings on wall, gorgeous chandeliers, and staircases. It gave me a glimpse of European architecture of 18th and 19th century. (Now, I looked up at Internet and it says, the Opera House opened in 1928.) Since it was end of the year, it was heavily crowded. There were people from all generations, from really old people to really small toddlers. All the little girls were dressed like ballerinas, and looked so cute! As I walked across the Opera House towards the theatre, I felt like I was walking in the movie set of Titanic. I could not help imagining Titanic here! People were posing for photographs, talking, meeting friends, there was laughter, conversation and happiness echoing from the walls of the theater. As I climbed through the staircases, I felt like some princess. And then when I entered the theater, it was WOW! It was even more gorgeous than the hallway! Every corner of the theater was touched with a craftsman or a painter's creative hand.
After a while, the play started. I was prepared to shoot the entire show, but then there was an announcement that we were supposed to switch off phones and cameras. I was a little disappointed initially. But later, I realized that it is better that phones were off. The play demanded full attention. And it was amazing! The way the different backgrounds of the story were emerging and closing according to the plot, the lights, and the artists, everything was so gorgeous! I remember, the dance in the ice princess's kingdom, it did feel as if in that corner of the world, there was snow and cloud in real.
Me and my sister spent a lot of time watching ballet dance in Disney Barbie movies. I wondered how does it look in real? Trust me, it looked more dream like in real, much more amazing. Those dance steps done in Disney animation were not animated, they were imitation of real dance steps!
When the show ended, my eyes were wide open with amazement, I wanted more. I returned to the little shops in the Opera House selling souvenirs of the show. I overheard people talking about how did they like the show and all. I was impressed how they loved and cherished a simple children's fairy-tale story so much. It seemed as if this play has a lot to do in shaping childhood memory of kids in West. It was amazing how longingly people relished their childhood memory of the play, how people went there with their kids, now with their grand-kids, how people attended the show at London, and how they love to watch it again, how little kids wanted the trinkets, and everybody was eager to buy them.
When I first read the pamphlet, the story seemed very simple to me. I was more excited about the ballet. But after watching people's reaction, I realized it is not just a play to these people. Its a part of celebrating holidays. I wonder how much power does a simple story have! How many kids will have vivid memories of the play even when they are old!
A little search in Wikipedia tells me, "The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (op. 71). The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written in 1816. It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on Sunday, December 18, 1892, on a double-bill with Tchaikovsky's opera Iolanta."
A synopsis of the Nutcracker play is given here. We were also given pamphlets to go through the plot-line. That helped me understand the details of the play. If you are curious, you can have a look at it :)
The play was a filler to my heart with good memories and feelings. I came out of the theater, wide-eyed, excited, dreamy and positive!
My suggestion, if you are in or around Boston, definitely give this place a chance. Just to see how gorgeous it is, even if you are not into ballets and stuff. There are coupons and offers to buy tickets at cheaper price. Do watch out for them, you won't regret it!
