A Disappointing Nutcracker Experience: Was it a New Year's Wonder or a Mess?

Hello, fellow theater enthusiasts!

We all want to believe in magic, especially during the holiday season. What can create a truly enchanting atmosphere like the famous 'Nutcracker'? I think the most genuine symbol of Christmas and wonder is the hero of Ernst Hoffmann's tale.

In this review, I'll share my impressions of a trip to the Nutcracker Dance Immersive Show: A Story You Never Knew.

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Boom! Boom! Boom!

What is an immersive show

Put simply, an immersive show is an event where the audience member becomes the main participant. An immersive show is a form of modern interactive theater where the audience is 'immersed' in the unfolding action.

So, a dance immersive show is a performance in the form of a dance narrative, where the audience can be in close proximity to the main action, see the dancers' emotions and efforts up close, and become a character in the production themselves.

Key characteristics of all immersive shows include:

Realistic and immersive set designs:No typical theater seats, foyer, or curtain – the entire space becomes part of the story

Free movement of the audience around the spaceViewers can change their perspective and observe only what interests them

What I love about this immersive experience is how they weave together multiple storylines in parallel.It's not uncommon for different storylines to unfold in different locations, so you get to choose which one to follow.

I also appreciate how the boundaries between the actor and the audience are blurred.In many shows, you can even interact with the actor, share touches, or pass notes.

Of course, there are times when this interaction can lead to some minor deviations from the planned storyline. But at its core, it's still an immersive experience.

As far as I can tell, this new genre of entertainment is pretty progressive. But let's see how it unfolds.

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Here's the lowdown on the Nutcracker show

Genre: Dance-based immersive showBased on: E.T.A. Hoffmann's The NutcrackerMusic: Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker ballet, with an original score by Otti RougeAge restrictions: 12+ years oldAccording to the show's website, here's how they describe it:

In a historic mansion in the heart of Moscow, the beloved fairy tale by E.T. Hoffmann comes to life. But only for those brave enough to join the heroes on their journey and discover new facets of a familiar story.

Each floor offers a unique kingdom, filled with sparkling lights, vibrant colors, and secrets waiting to be uncovered. The three worlds of The Nutcracker unfold under the music of P.I. Tchaikovsky, reimagined by composer Otti Rouge.

It's a pricey ticket, but trust me, it's worth every ruble. The show starts in December, right in the middle of the holiday season, and wraps up around New Year's Eve. This year, the final performances are on January 12th.I was shocked to see the price tag: an adult ticket in 2025 will set you back 8900 rubles, while a kid's ticket will cost 6900 rubles.

Adult ticket: 8900 rublesChild ticket: 6900 rubles

It's a splurge, but I promise you, it's worth it!

The Venue

The show takes place in a stunning 19th-century mansion located on Dashkov Pereulok, house number 5.

This is where the esteemed stat's counselor, Andrei Vasilyevich Dashkov, used to live. The street in Khamovniki is even named after him.

The mansion itself is a two-story, yellow-colored fliegel with a mansard roof. It's situated right in the heart of the city. If you're taking the metro, the nearest station is Park Kultury (exit 1 or 2), and it's just an 8-minute walk (at a moderate pace):

When you exit the metro, just turn left and walk straight until you hit the next major intersection. The Museum of Moscow on Zubovsky Boulevard will be on your left, and the Krymsky Bridge and Gorky Park will be on your right.It's a picturesque location, and the venue is easy to navigate.

I walked into the mansion, and it was divided into three main platforms for the show.

First floor – the world of mice. I felt like I was immersed in their reality.Second floor – the world of humans. No comments needed.Third floor – the world of toys. It was like I was transported back in time to the creation of old toys.So, all the audience members already choose their 'world' when they buy the ticket – the one they want to start their New Year's journey from.

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Boom!

My impression of the immersive dance show

Anyway, depending on the ticket you choose (mine was 'through the eyes of humans'), you'll be spending your time inside the mansion.

As I approached the mansion, I was greeted by a gate and a huge white theatrical mask:

At the entrance, I was already met by a costumed person in a coat, who checked the time of my visit and invited me to go inside the mansion.

Inside, the corridors were narrow, there was a dressing room, and the lighting was dimmed to resemble candlelight.

I'm in the hallAt the entrance, I was given a wristband with my wardrobe number and a mask (depending on my ticket). I had this burgundy mask:

Waiting with a mask After getting changed, you're led to a small waiting area with a bar. It's a nice, atmospheric space, but it's also pretty pricey.

In the waiting area, you'll be reminded of the rules of behavior twice before the show starts.

1. Don't remove your mask

2. Don't talk

3. Under no circumstances take out your phone or try to take any photos. They actually ask you to turn your phone off completely

4. Don't touch the actors (even though the actors are free to touch you)

For each infraction, you'll be booted from the performance 😀

Then, you'll be taken to a different floor depending on your ticket type. And that's when the real experience begins.

There, you'll be reminded of the rules of behavior one more time, this time in a recorded message. And you'll get to see some disjointed scenes from Cinderella, presented in a pretty cheesy way.

My first expectation was: since I chose to watch the show through the eyes of the people, I'd be moving through the mansion with a guide and taking in all the important stuff through the eyes of the people.But no, despite the ticket promising a show that would let me experience the opulence of the mansion, after 10 minutes of introductory chatter and awkwardness, the sound of Tchaikovsky's music kicks in and the whole place erupts into a chaotic mess of people running in all directions. My friend and I were left standing in the same spot where we'd just been listening to the intro, and before we knew it, kids in period costumes came running in, causing even more chaos by snatching each other's brooms, playing tag, hiding under the table and chairs, and just generally causing a ruckus.

My second expectation was: the show would feature big-name celebrities and even dancers from the Bolshoi Ballet.Yeah, I guess they do have some famous faces and dancers in the show, but we just didn't get to see them. Not a single familiar face among the dancers or celebrities.

My third expectation was the most important one: to see the breathtaking beauty and style of choreography and dance. To immerse myself in the world of big but accessible dance art.I have to admit, I wasn't blown away by any of the three levels, none of the rooms with the characters impressed me enough that I could say 'yes, it's worth it'! The sloppiness, the antics, the running, in the room with the toys, there was added running and playing with the snowballs and a hand-in-hand dance with the dancers. In short, talking about high and complex choreography is a stretch. Only in the room with the mice were there attempts to take the audience emotionally (very intimidating mice that were stomping their feet and raising their eyebrows)😂 And the final 'battle' (if you can call it that) between the mouse king and the nutcracker: there, the young guys at least showed a battle à la breakdance.

And that's it! The end of the kiddie show, the dance is over! 💃

Yes, all these dance parodies and antics in nice decorations of the mansion and costumes are happening right in front of your eyes, but:

Lack of structureThe chaos and running around the mansion and not knowing where to be next – it just creates an atmosphere of anarchy and a disjointed pictureImportant: there are quite steep and old stairs between the levels of the mansion, and it's really not comfortable to run back and forth in high heels and tight skirts. I'd recommend dressing comfortably for this show 😄 If you're not coordinated, you might even trip and fall.

Secondly, be aware that even quiet conversations aren't tolerated. My friend and I had a quick whisper about where to go next, and we got a stern warning from the organizers. There are people in coats watching everyone, and it seems like they're reporting any bad behavior. We were surrounded by these people, told to go down to the first floor, and then we got lectured about how if we were tired or bored, we should just sit there.

You know, getting yelled at for no reason after a 10-hour event was pretty frustrating, especially considering we didn't break any rules.

Thirdly, the masks are a thing. You get a plastic one that you can take home with you for 8900 rubles as a souvenir – what a lovely memento! Thankfully, the masks are personal, so you don't have to worry about them being sweaty or gross. Just bring some face wipes, don't wear heavy makeup, and no glasses, please. After two hours, I was dripping wet in my woolen dress and jacket, with new acne spots to boot.

I have to say, Dashkov's mansion is super hot and humid, and I was sweating buckets in my woolen dress and jacket. The stairs between floors are pretty steep, and I was climbing up and down like crazy.

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Verdict

After this immersive experience, you'll get to take some photos in a special area, but you'll have to wait in line for it.

After that, you grab your parka and make a quick exit from the mansion, plastic mask sweating on your face.

For 8900, I got:

No idea what the story was about (and I'm a smart cookie) Didn't see any of the 'beautiful' numbers Didn't enjoy any of the 'stunning' dances Got a nasty vibe from the organizers Got a new zit on my face Twice almost sprained my ankle running up steep stairs in the dark Yeah, there are some micro-pluses:

Decent set design Beautiful Tchaikovsky music A nice drink I bought myself at the entrance But they can't make up for the absolute pointlessness of the 'Nutcracker. The Story You Didn't Know' immersive dance show.

Answering the question, was it a New Year's wonder or a New Year's mess? I'm leaning towards the latter.

If you're bored and have a lot of money – why not? Give it a shot and find your own entertainment, dear readers.

I threw away the mask, taking one last photo with it. It was just too creepy.