Land of the Sweets – The Burlesque Nutcracker (the Triple Door)

It is official. The holiday season in Seattle has begun and that can mean only one thing, the return of Lily Verlaine and Jasper McCann’s annual installment of “Land of the Sweets – the Burlesque Nutcracker” at the renowned venue, The Triple Door. “Land of the Sweets” puts a unique twist on the traditional Nutcracker Suite, incorporating various styles of professionally choreographed dance routines, aerial acrobatics, vaudevillian comedy and of course, burlesque. Verlaine and McCann are joined by local stars Waxie Moon, Kitten LaRue, Miss Indigo Blue, Babette La Fave, Inga Ingénue and others on the 2013 show which runs for 21 performances from December 11 – 27.

Verlaine and McCann continue to refine the show which took Seattle by storm 6 years ago, keeping it fresh and new with innovative routines and costumes in this year’s performance not included in prior year shows. McCann continues his masterful role as ringmaster to this exotic collection of performers and successfully kicks off the show by working the audience and getting them into the festive mood of the show.

“Land of the Sweets” is an intelligent, well-paced, assortment of entertaining impish vignettes catering to audience enjoyment. Chock full of talented performers, kudos to Verlaine and McCann on casting as the performers executed together like a well-oiled machine, seemingly amused and enjoying the experience of working together. Especially memorable was the overall cast playfulness, facial expressiveness and tongue-in-cheek humor exhibited in many of the scenes, but embodied in the performance of the naïvely playful Snowflakes, played by Inga Ingénue, Polly Wood and Holly Pop.

Other standouts include The Volga Boy (Waxie Moon) and Gal (Tory Tiara) dance scene, Miss Indigo Blue as the Snow Queen, Verlaine as the Prima Florearina and Countess of Coffee scenes, the Tea Twins scene, the innovative light dancer performance, aerial ribbon dancer and of course, reprising his role as the Rat King, Waxie Moon ignited the audience with his unorthodox portrayal complete with rat tail.

If you have ever yawned during a performance of “The Nutcracker Suite”, you will be delighted by this quirky gem of a show, which tastefully delights the audience on many levels. There is so much yuletide talent packaged into this one show, it is the perfect holiday gift experience to give yourself or someone you know. The show runs through the 27th at the Triple Door, so there is still time to make “Land of the Sweets” your new holiday tradition. You will not be disappointed. For the hearing impaired, the show even came complete with a hand signer, so everyone can enjoy the show. Tickets for the remaining shows can be purchased at The Triple Door.