PicksInSix Review: Midsummer Night's Dream - The Joffrey Ballet

WHAT A WEIRD AND REMARKABLE DREAM
PicksInSix® Review | Guest Contributor | Kaitlyn Linsner

Sometimes, a once clear line between dream and reality will blur. A fantastic and boundless dreamscape may blend into everyday surroundings causing tired eyes confusion as they awake and search for clarity in the recognizable. This uncertainty might conjure up an unease followed by an urge to ascribe meaning to the dream and the desire to still be in it. How chaotic and beautiful. Then, an alarm goes off. Time to start another day.

This is perhaps the best way to describe the immersive experience of The Joffrey Ballet’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” staged at the Lyric Opera House through May 5, 2024. The Joffrey Ballet first premiered “Midsummer Night’s Dream” by internationally renowned Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman in 2018. Now, the talented company closes its 2023-2024 season with its masterful return and by daring Chicago audiences to get real weird with it.

The first of two acts begins with a Dreamer (Dylan Gutierrez) in his bed seemingly dreaming before he awakens and joins a Hostess (Victoria Jaiani) for the Midsummer festivities. The curtains open to a visually stunning piece where the company dances amidst hay tossing up pieces in joyous synchronicity. The first act continues to weave through the summer solstice with rhythmic choreography around the maypole and a striking piece at a long communal dining table. The original lighting design by Linus Fellbom and recreated by Chris Maravich enchantingly transitions scenes from day to night before helping the audience later sink into the surreal in act two.

Ekman’s choreography blends classical and contemporary ballet. There’s freedom, fluidity and sheer fun that fills the stage throughout the production. The company connects seamlessly with each other, the set (Ekman) and the audience despite the massive size of the stage. They reflect dream-like scenarios through slow and precise movements and sprawl throughout the theater as both actual persons and shadowy figures on the walls. It is truly a vision.

The second act starts much like the first but quickly spirals into the large-scale absurdity of a wild dream. With widened eyes, audience members watch fleeting scenes of Headless men (Edson Barbosa and Davide Oldano) contorting on stage, floating tables, fish and bodies. The frenzy is magical to witness. Yet, one of the most impressive pieces in “Midsummer Night’s Dream” springs from a rare moment of tranquility amidst the dreamscape chaos. Adorned in sleepwear button downs, the women command an intoxicating beat and traverse the stage with stirring power and grace toward the end of the second act.

From start to finish, “Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a vivid celebration of love, dance, theatrics and wit. It blurs the lines between dream and reality and in doing so showcases the brilliance of leaning into imagination and sheer creativity. A must see.  

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR | KAITLYN LINSNER is a Chicago-based attorney practicing construction and surety law.

PHOTO|Cheryl Mann

The Joffrey Ballet
presents
Midsummer Night’s Dream
Lyric Opera House
through May 5, 2024

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PicksInSix Review: The Nutcracker-Joffrey Ballet

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Joffrey Classic Shines Bright at Lyric  
Guest Contributor | Kaitlyn Linsner

Joffrey Ballet’s reimagined “The Nutcracker” delights from start to finish in its new home, the historically stunning Lyric Opera House, where a certain magic fills the air before dancers even hit the stage. Originally choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon and debuted in 2016, this Chicago-set Nutcracker transports the audience to the World’s Fair of 1893 while still featuring Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable compositions.   

The first Act sets a warm and joyous tone by introducing us to the talented cast at a Christmas Eve celebration. The immigrant workers constructing the World’s Columbian Exposition gather for the holiday at the home of young Marie (Yumi Kanazawa), her brother Franz (Oliver Reeve Libke) and their mother (Jeraldine Mendoza). The creator of the World’s Fair, the Great Impresario (Dylan Gutierrez), joins the festivities and gives Marie her beloved nutcracker.

From there, we begin a whimsical journey through Marie’s dreamscape. A once modest Christmas tree magically transforms into a large-than-life holiday backdrop for the classic battle between the Rat King (Temur Suluashvili) and Nutcracker (José Pablo Castro Cuevas), who later turns into Marie’s regal crush, Prince Peter (Hyuma Kiyosawa). Marie and Peter both shine in their talent and grace on stage with power and poise throughout.  

The first act closes with the beautiful Snow Scene. An image of the World’s Fair idly rests in the backdrop amidst swirling, winter blue hues surrounding Lake Michigan. Snow falls from the sky while dancers resembling sparkling snowflakes execute remarkable choreography requiring full mastery of the space. A gondola then takes Marie, Prince Peter and the Great Impresario into the night where we later visit Marie’s dream-version of the World’s Fair.

The second act features increasingly stellar performances from the Joffrey’s dancers. The Act begins at the World’s Fair where we meet the Queen of the Fair (Jeraldine Mendoza) as this version’s Sugar Plum Fairy along with performers from around the world including the crowd favorite “Arabian Dancers” (Victoria Jaiani and Temur Suluashvili). We even meet Buffalo Bill (Edson Barbosa) from the Wild West whose entertaining performance truly charms. Worth noting is also the adorable number featuring literal dancing nuts. Both of these portions stand out as refreshing comedic moments different from the contents of the original Nutcracker.  This is an example of the breath of fresh air weaving throughout the production that creates a new variety of holiday spectacle and tradition for fans of both new and old alike. While Marie does eventually wake from her dream, the enchantment lingers and permeates through the audience thus illustrating the power of imagination.  

The brilliance of the Joffrey’s “Nutcracker” truly lies in its talented dancers—most notably Kiyosawa, Kanazawa, Mendoza and Jaiani—who captivate with their every move. The impressive set and cinematic projection design by Julian Crouch and 59 Productions also elevates this production by filling the Lyric’s stage with grand and ornate scenes. The Joffrey’s “Nutcracker” celebrates a holiday classic while excelling at embracing originality in each aspect of the production which makes this a special show likely to inspire for years to come.  

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR | KAITLYN LINSNER graduated from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2020 and currently practices as an attorney in Chicago.

PHOTO|Todd Rosenberg

JOFFREY BALLET
presents
The Nutcracker
Lyric Opera House
20 North Wacker Drive
through December 26
(312) 386-8905

WEBSITE

For more reviews, visit: Theatre In Chicago

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PicksInSix® is a registered trademark of Roxbury Road Creative, LLC