The acrobats are all glamour and athleticism, the skaters all speed and daring. But in “’Twas the Night Before…,” Cirque du Soleil’s festive yet fumbling entry into the seasonal entertainment market, Santa’s silly reindeer hit the sweet spot. Because we know these characters by name from that verse — Dasher, Dancer and the gang — we are instantly glad to see them. Spectacle, not story, is of course the strength of Cirque du Soleil, and “’Twas” is a perfectly diverting show. “The Nutcracker,” for all its plot weirdness, is a comparative marvel of clarity and character development.

Source: New York Times December 19, 2019 21:10 UTC