By Taylor Chartrand

Local performers hit the stage for Nutcracker play

Dec 2, 2018 | 2:06 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – With little to no snow on the ground leading into December, it didn’t feel much like Christmas.

Once the calendar flipped to the new month and the snow began to fall, things really started to feel more festive.

With that, the Esplanade hosted three performances of the Nutcracker over the weekend and the show didn’t disappoint. 

Local dancer and actress Olivia Avinou was able to take part in the performance and she said although it was a ton of work, it was well worth it in the end.

“Well, my part is the mini-sugar plum fairy,” Avinou explained. “It’s super fun because I get lifted up and I have to pretend like I’m a doll. I have to stand still and my feet have to be flexed out.  I find that fun and just learning all of the choreography is fun too.”

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If you haven’t been directly involved in theatre arts, it can be a daunting task memorizing lines and choreography. 

“I act like a doll and my solo is two-minutes and twenty seconds, which I’ve been practicing for about two-months. It’s definitely difficult but once you get the hang of it, it’s not that hard. You just have to work and put in the effort.”

Avinou said the feeling you get on stage is like no other.

“Great, it’s amazing. Just to be on stage on performing, I just really love it and it’s my dream.”

The local stage-performer said it was also really neat to work with the Jeunesse Classique Ballet who came down from Calgary to help out with the show.

“Well, it’s super fun collaborating with the Jeunesse Classique Ballet dancers from Calgary. It was just a really fun and amazing experience.”

Another local involved in the performance was Lani Bruins.

This weekends performance was the third time Bruins had been involved in the play.

“It was 2012 when I did the first one, so I was very little,” said Bruins. “At that time I was a seraphim, then the next one I was actually a Chinese boy and soldier. Now, I’ve developed into a mouse and sugar fairy.”

Bruins said after a few years of doing this, the work load has always been the same leading up to opening night.

“We’ve been putting in roughly twelve hour days leading up to the performance. It’s been really long, but totally worth it because the outcome is so positive.”

Bruins then added that it’s an amazing feeling to perform in front of a home crowd.

“It’s so cool because you get to see family and friends in the audience. It’s a great feeling for them to see it unfold.”

And if you ever have a chance to help out backstage during a performance, Bruins explained that it’s probably better than seeing it in the audience.

“It’s so cool. The behind the scenes is probably even better than getting to watch the real performance, just because you get to be a part of the whole environment.”

Bruins then echoed Avinou’s comments on working with the ballet dancers out of Calgary.

“I’m just really happy that I got to work with Jeunesse Classique Ballet, they’re really talented. It was awesome that they wanted to come down and work with us.”

If you missed the three shows in Medicine Hat over the weekend, you’ll have to travel to Calgary for the final four shows from December 7-9 at the University Theatre.