I went to a tech rehearsal at Marshall Ellis Theatre
(1300 La Quinta Drive #3, Orlando, Florida 32809) for the world premiere of The Nuthouse. The ME Dance company has created a fun and inspired story with dance routines set to s music of the Nutcracker. The show promises to be a New Holiday Tradition for Orlando, Florida.
Several years ago on Christmas Eve, Doctor Ebenezer, a caring
and passionate inventor that dreams of revolutionizing the mental health
industry at Nuremberg Asylum, was making a great discovery in
supplemental medicines. The Doctor recognized that his patients served
as prisoners in there own illnesses and so, in the hopes of cracking nuts, he began to perform lab experiments in order to create the perfect chemistry of drugs that would cure his patients.
The Doctor continues to seek to provide a medical diagnosis of
individuals by an assessment of their symptoms and signs associated with
particular types of mental disorders. The Asylum is filled with various
patients that suffer from anxiety, bipolar, insomnia, schizophrenia,
attention deficit hyperactivity, and drug dependence disorders just to
name a few. It is no easy task for the staff at Nuremberg Asylum to
handle these challenges. However, it is Christmas Eve and the patients
have been anticipating the annual Christmas festivities and the arrival
of a new patient.
Upon the arrival of Claire, the newest
patient, Doctor Ebenezer assures her that she is safe for the general
population and he releases her into the recreational room in the asylum.
After the annual Christmas traditions have taken place it is back to
the usual treatments of recovery. Claire, lost, scared and hopeless,
finds herself in the Doctor’s lab. She decides to take action to set
herself free. While slipping off into a sleep state she thinks, “Is this
the real life?’ Locked
in the asylum, she is different but still the same. The patients, nurses
and Doctor continue to perform bizarre activities. The head nurse is suddenly dancing a hot romantic Flamenco with a male doctor.
Young dancers from Marshal’s dance class performed in the second act. They sat in front o me during the first act. This was their first opportunity to see the show from the audience. On stage a dancer was on the floor building a house of cards. When the house collapsed, she screamed. The young dancers reacted with surprise and delight. I loved watching a dancer that held a broom as her dance partner. Her dance was graceful and elegant as was her imagined partner.
The Nuthouse will
be performed at ME Theatre. Doors
open 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance. Each show lasts
an hour and 10 minutes, including an interactive 15-minute intermission.
Beer, wine, water, soda and light snacks are available for purchase.
Tickets are $20 per person. Select discounts at the door. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit DanceTheatreOfOrlando.com or call 407-816-7080. Show times are December 2 at 8:30 PM to December 11 at 10 PM. #NotyournormalNutcracker
