By Karen Meister

What a fantastic way to start the holiday season! The Algonquin Theatre in Manasquan, along with Robert Friedman, presented a phenomenal rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” performed by the professional Moscow Classical Ballet this past Saturday.

The theatre was filled with children and adults who became mesmerized with the story of “The Nutcracker” and delighted with the superb performance of the ballet dancers, who told the tale through the art of dance.

For many, it was not their first experience with this ballet, but it continued to hold the audience captive. It is a performance that parents often introduce their young children to at the holiday season, with fond memories of their first Nutcracker experience, and so the tradition is started and firmly cemented for many.

The story lends itself to this time of year, opening with a Christmas gathering in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum and their three children, Louisa, Masha [Clara] and Fritz. The children’s godfather, Herr Dosselmeyer, appears with a heavy armload of gifts. After a while, Mr. Dosselmeyer surprises the children with his most spectacular present — a Nutcracker doll that is carefully placed under the tree by Masha, to keep it out of harm’s way from her younger brother.

All things come to life in a dream Masha has that same evening. The dolls, new and old, become real and are threatened by a menacing hoard of mice, lead by the Mouse Prince.

Fighting ensues, however, the Nutcracker and his soldiers quickly come to the rescue by killing the ferocious mouse. When Masha touches the Nutcracker, a certain magic begins, turning him into a handsome prince. The dream continues until Masha awakens to realize that her dream is over and will always remain just a childhood memory.

While the story is enchanting, the music is some of Tchaikovshy’s finest.

“The Waltz of the Flowers,” “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies,” and “The Russian Dance” are among his most memorable pieces, adding a transformational quality to this extraordinary ballet.

The costumes are exquisite, each representing the time period or character in Masha’s dream, and the sets were creatively designed to accommodate and enhance the numerous scenes and acts.

The dance was incredible, with each performer revealing their superior talent and poise. The various movements were just outstanding and completed with such precision that only a professional can achieve.

This particular troupe has the distinction of being one of the only three state-supported Russian ballet companies. Their home base is the Kremlin Palace of Congresses Theater. However, the troupe has performed in more than 30 countries and performed “The Nutcracker” in the U.S. for the past 17 years.

There was some local talent who played the roles of the party guests and mice. They ranged in age from 6 to 11 years old, and they did a great job integrating with the professional dancers. Congratulations go to Emily Abrecht, Carly Belasco, Grace Doherty, Gianna Hickey, Marigold and Evelyn Gallagher, Cassandra Passantino and Daphne Schroeder.

I am hoping to start “The Nutcracker” tradition with my granddaughter, Olivia, 5, who sat in fascination during the entire performance. How wonderful to see something so delightful through the eyes of a child. I hope she will always have fond memories of this special holiday event, and we can continue the tradition of “The Nutcracker” for many years to come.

There are several holiday shows scheduled at the Algonquin to put you right in the spirit of the season.

Allegro! Christmas Joy will be featured on Dec. 20. Lyric baritonist James Alexander [performing for the Algonquin Morning Music Series] will take the stage on Dec. 16.

Also on Dec. 20, the play “A Christmas Carol” will be appearing. And on New Year’s Eve, a Beatles Tribute will spark up this year’s evening festivities.

For more information or to order tickets for any of these upcoming events, contact the Algonquin Arts Box Office at 732-528-9211 or e-mail box office@algonquinarts.org. The theatre is located at 173 Main St., in Manasquan.

Between the beautifully decorated town, many great eateries and such entertaining performances at the theatre, you can have yourself a “Merry Little Christmas” in Manasquan.