Playwright: Phillip C. Klapperich and Jake Minton. At: The House Theatre of Chicago at Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. Phone: 312-355-1650; $29. Runs through: Dec. 29
Perhaps it's the cadre of classical musicians cramped together on stage right. Or maybe the increased number of tiny tots in the audience. Or maybe it comes from playing the prestigious Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre.
Whatever it is, there's an enforced respectability that saps the usual dynamism and energy out of The House Theatre of Chicago's new adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker. Compared to previous House Theatre works, there's more buttoned-up restraint to the much-heralded theatricality of the youthful theater company also known for its kick-ass production of The Sparrow.
Like all House Theatre adaptations of classics, The Nutcracker is shaded in darker tones as original plot threads get twisted and beloved characters get tragically killed off in Phillip C. Klapperich and Jake Minton's new adaptation.
All seems cheery in the opening pantomime that shows the Stahlbaum household preparing for and greeting guests for a holiday party welcoming home older brother Fritz. That atmosphere is shattered when a messenger announces that Fritz, here as an American marine, has been killed in combat.
Younger sister Clara is traumatized and now paranoid about imagined rats in the house. Turning away from her increasingly concerned parents, Clara enters into her own little world conversing with her toys.
As the following Christmas approaches, Uncle Eric Drosselmeyer gives Clara a nutcracker that looks just like Fritz. To Clara's delight, Fritz comes to life and rallies her motley band of toys to do battle with the Rat King.
The problem with Klapperich's adaptation is there's a lot of repetitive vamping before we get to that climactic and metaphorically cloudy Rat King battle ( perhaps a symbol of impossible-to-stamp-out forces of terrorism? ) . Much time is spent with Fritz and Clara struggling to get her toys into shape as a viable military troop, raiding the refrigerator and finding weaponry.
One wishes that each of the toys could have been utilized better to highlight their own strengths in battle. And no doubt the little ones will be confused by the ambiguous Rat King ending while grown ones may question Clara's abrupt ability to cope at the end.
If the script doesn't fully satisfy, the staging ideas of director Tommy Rapley and costume designer Debbie Baer do hold some delights—particularly the Act II arrivals of a lively 'GOT' ( wonderfully played by Jake Minton ) and that scary multi-headed Rat King.
The whole acting company throws themselves into their roles, particularly Laura Grey as a quite believable kid Clara. Shout-outs also go out to Ericka Ratcliff's loud soldier Jo and Seth Bockley as quizzical robot Hugo.
Though much of the usual House flair is there, I didn't feel the House cracked its Nutcracker to be as emotional as previous productions. Perhaps with a more adaptable space and a lesser air of 'importance' will help if the Nutcracker gets another go round.
