Text and photos by Ariel Soto
As a grownup, there are few things to look forward to when it comes to the holiday season, but one event is always worth breaking out the ho-ho-hos for: The Hard Nut. Since 1991, the Mark Morris Dance Group has been keeping this holiday tradition alive and festive to well-received shows season after season. The Hard Nut, a quirky 1960s twist on the traditional Nutcracker, is full of surprises at every pirouette, with cocktail-guzzling dudes in disco outfits and male sugar plum fairies in spectacular tutus. The performance also shows the more grotesque parts of the holidays, like adults with excessive drinking habits and the totally unappreciative children who are never satisfied with their gifts. This makes for a rare fairytale that shows not only the loveliness of the holiday season, but also the realistic — and funnier — side of all our annual holiday traditions.
The Hard Nut
Mark Morris Dance Group
Fri/11 – Sun/20
various times and prices
Zellerbach Hall
UC Berkeley Campus
www.calperformances.org
