We had as absolutely a good time with the Balanchine version as we are now having with John's version. The McFall Nutcracker is more theatrical, says Cronin, who also each year portrays Herr Drosselmeyer, the mysterious uncle-magician who works his magic in whichever version is being performed. For instance, instead of little, fat, fatuous mice we now have huge, skinny mean rats that are quite menacing in the first-act fight scene. Still, many endearing elements remain. The Christmas tree grows to gigantic proportions.
Snowflakes swirl in graceful patterns.
Variations take us around the world, from Russia and China to Spain and the English countryside. And all's well after waking from a scary nightmare. Such is the stuff that a young child's Nutcracker dreams are made on. Helen C. Smith is contributing arts editor for Atlanta Style magazine, dance editor for Atlanta Theatre Weekly , and a frequent contributor to Stagebill . Copyright by Atlanta Ballet.