" ... The New York City Ballet opened its monthlong run of ''The Nutcracker'' Thursday night in the New York State Theater ... Once again, the Stahlbaums held their Christmas Eve party, little Marie (Clara) received a magic nutcracker as a present, potbellied mice invaded the house, the Christmas tree just grew and grew, snowflakes turned into pretty dancers and, after many adventures, there was yet another party, this one with the Sugar Plum Fairy as the hostess ...

It was all so blessedly familiar. In fact, that very familiarity helps make ''Nutcracker'' endearing. The charm of George Balanchine's choreography and Tchaikovsky's music help a lot, too. It's comforting to live, if only for two hours or so in December, in a world of loving families and good friends in which magic lies everywhere and imagination can triumph. Thus the best that one can say about any revival of ''The Nutcracker'' is that it's just the same as it has always been.

Of course, in live theater no two performances are ever exactly the same. At this particular performance, Lily Nell Warren (Marie/Clara) gazed out upon the world with wonderment as Marie. Jonathan Pessolano, as her mischievous brother, looked like an angel and behaved like an imp. However, Max Blechman was gallantry itself as Drosselmeier's nephew, and he made his long mime scene in Act II exciting and touching ... "   --- Jack Anderson

"Visions of fairy-tale enchantment returned to the New York State Theater on Thursday night when the New York City Ballet presented what was this season's first performance of ''The Nutcracker'' and the company's 994th performance of the Tchaikovsky classic since 1954.

Conducted by Robert Irving, it was a nicely shaped and occasionally even eloquent performance in which the friendly warmth of holiday parties gave way to magic spells and George Balanchine's choreography demonstrated that beautiful dancing is one of the greatest of all forms of magic ...

As he has done for many a season in the role, Shaun O'Brien managed to be kindly, yet mysterious, as Drosselmeier, and in the process he demonstrated that he knows how to time every gesture for maximum effect. In children's roles, Max Blechman had perfect manners as Drosselmeier's Nephew, the tiny Anthony Pollner was a mischievous mite as Fritz and Lily Nell Warren was all wide-eyed wonderment as Marie (Clara). She also behaved like a seasoned trouper, for when the handkerchief placed as a bandage around the broken Nutcracker came loose, she unobtrusively tightened it without making a fuss and the show went on ... "   --- Jack Anderson

Actually, Drosselmeier dropped the Nutcracker splitting it's head off! Lily Nell quickly picked them both up and tied them together with a handkerchief!
Lily's aim was not so good when she took off her slipper and threw it at the mouse king - she missed and hit the conductor! --- Donald J. Warren