One-Man Nutcracker

                                                                      Chris Davis

Chris Davis is appearing in the One-Man Nutcracker at Louis Bluver Theatre at The Drake, 302 Hicks Street,  through December 29, 2024. He performs to Tchaikovsky’s  well- known music narrated by Severin Blake.  As audience members enter the théâtre, each one is given a long-stemmed rose  and told that it will become part of the show. Once everyone is seated, Chris Davis appears in white ballet slippers and tights and a black jacket with tails. He demands applause from the audience and when it isn’t loud enough for his liking, he raises his arms to increase the volume until the sound is quite high. He abruptly cuts it off and turns to face the hanging sheet-like screen behind him and begins conducting the music. He performs on both sides of this sheet; when behind it, he produces a huge shadow.  He gives new meaning to dancing with two left feet. You must see the show for yourself to discover  the secret. The show is absolutely magical. Chris interacts with the audience throughout the program and the audience is always engaged. Asking the audience if they would like to see magic tricks, he has everyone chant, ” Magic, Magic, Magic” and he disappears behind the sheet to do a shadow trick. When the audience isn’t quite satisfied, he comes to speak to the audience again and tells them they know what to they must do. Again, the audience chants ,   "Magic, Magic, Magic.”   I must confess I was caught up in the moment and found myself chanting as well. Chris dons a tutu for the dance of the sugar plum fairies; he implements a swordfight between the mouse king  and the  toy soldiers and tells interesting tales behind some of the darker history of the original Nutcracker. For a finale he implores the audience to show their appreciation by throwing their roses on the stage. Amid much laughter, everyone in the audience does so.  This is 60 minutes of pure joy. Chris Davis has given us a true holiday gift. Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ .