“The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque”

[rating=3]Christmas is here! At least as far as the theater scene. Titles like “A Christmas Carol”, “Elf -The Musical” “A Christmas Story: The Musical”, “The Steadfast Soldier”. ” Who’s Holiday”, “The Nutcracker” and now, “The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque” has been added to the mix. Yes, try to imagine the infamous “Nutcracker” taking the classic holiday ballet to become a “burlesque Show”.

There has always been a misunderstanding when it comes to “burlesque”. It was always a variety show, like vaudeville, where each scene was either a skit or an individual act ( singer, comic, trio etc), BUT what  takes place at The Greenhouse Theater Center on Lincoln Avenue is truly geared as a play, albeit, a short one that takes the famous ballet  to a story where gender doesn’t matter highlighting the body itself. I must tell you there is some true burlesque strip-tease going on and in a few places, more than a tease.

This edition of the “Nutcracker” promotes diversity from start to finish. There are performers in this show that are close to genderless, and it doesn’t matter. There are also bodies that one might not expect in a show where the performers come close to nudity, but they don’t care, so why would the audience. The opening night audience was hooting and hollering more than I might have expected. It was opening night so several of the audience members were family and friends as well as people involved with making this production take place. Of course they loved it!

I must say that the performers in the show were top notch. They did stunts and dances that I would not have thought possible and despite a few tech problems (which they overcame with ease) the show was flawless.

This is the 6th incarnation of this now seasonal classic and over the years they have had to make adjustments to how the audience arrives. Since burlesque is known to be acts/scenes, they come late and  the production team has changed the format to allow the audience to come early, enjoy drinks and items for sale as well as some special treats while you get settled in your seats. It might be called a show within a show for about 45 minutes and then the actual story begins. For one hour you will be caught in the story of Clara (Elana Avila) and the Buttcracker ( Olivia Lindsay) on Christmas Eve. Drosselmeyer (Claire Francescon) brings Clara the gift of the Tin Soldier and the magic begins.

In the supporting roles, we have Autumn Christiansen (Sugar Bum Fairy) , Hannah Silverman, Mandyn Mueller, Eilish Morse-O’Rourke and Yasmyne Williams as the ensemble members playing several roles. the other roles are features that will change weekly so if you come more than once you will see some different acts.

Tonight we saw one act where a stripper laid on a bed of nails and another where we watched an amazing bit of gymnastics (and nudity).

There are many special events upcoming. In particular New Years Eve- wow- looks very special.

Directed by Miguel Long with choreography by Dylan Kerr, this piece moves swiftly and holds the attention of the audience from start to finish. While I am probably the wrong demographic for this entertainment, I found myself enjoying the cleverness of the whole production and how they intertwined the actual story with the burlesque show we saw. This is described as alternative theater and it is, but it is nothing that will be hard to enjoy, no matter how prudish you may be. By the way: on Sundays they have a brunch format with the “Butt Brunch”. It’s show as usual with food sponsored by Uprising Bakery and cafe. followed by a reading of the story (a saucy version) accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite”.

“The Buttcracker” will continue at The Greenhouse Theater Center located at 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue thru December 31st (with a special New Year’s Party)

Performances are as follows:

Thursdays  8 p.m.

Fridays  8 p.m.

Saturdays  8 p.m.

Sundays  3 p.m.      NO PERFORMANCE December 24th and 25th

Tickets are as low as $40 and there is some standing room for a lot less. Remember, the actual show is one hour.

The times indicated are when the doors open and the party begins. It is one hour later the PLAY begins. Total run time with both about two hours (give or take).

For tickets www.greenhousetheatre.org or www.TheButtcrackerBurlesque.com

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque”.

There is a cabaret section where you sit at tables, up close and very personal. You pay a little more, but you feel like you are in the show.