The Nutcracker debate

Writing a review of the Nutcracker must be torture for a critic. There's really no way not to come off as either a grinch or a pushover. In a recent spate of articles, the Times "debated" the Nutcracker as either
a)the salvation of dance company budgets or
b)the doom of quality ballet in America.

We're definitely Pro-Nuts, taking the kids to see it for the 4th time. Being little New Yorkers, they now compare the performances from year to year. (Last year's Dewdrop was ethereal - a weightless wonder. This year's Candy Cane was the best yet. Tea is always the favorite.)

When we first took my son I feared it was going to be torturous for his then-8 year old soul. He came out beaming with delight. Eager to have justified the ticket price, we said, really? You liked it?
He said “Dancing candy! What’s not to love?”

And that friends, is the last word on the debate.