The Klezmer Nutcracker in NYC

Like all truly surprising pieces of theater, Vital Theatre's The Klezmer Nutcracker has a great story both on and off stage.

On stage The Klezmer Nutcracker is a play for young audiences that uses music, dance and puppetry to tell the story of Sara, an awkward Jewish pre-teen who hates her family's annual Hanukkah party until she receives the gift of a magical golden dreydl from her mysterious aunt. The dreydl allows her to go on an adventure that changes her attitude both about herself and the holiday.

Meanwhile, off stage, The Klezmer Nutcracker is just the latest incarnation of writer, performer and radio host EllenKushner's The Golden Dreydl. The story was first created by Kushner in collaboration with the Boston klezmer band Shirim as a stage show. From these beginnings The Golden Dreydl went on to become a radio special, a CD and a book for young readers from Charlesbridge Publishing. When the director of Vital Theatre, Linda Ames, Key read the book the process of turning the multifaceted piece into a stage play for kids and their families began. And Kushner didn't just write the clever script, she also wound up being cast as the mysterious aunt who sets the story in motion with the gift of the golden dreydl.

On stage, The Klezmer Nutcracker is a vibrant show, and though it's targeted at young kids with its lessons about family, perseverance and learning, there's plenty in it for grownups to enjoy too, including remarkable sets, a few jokes meant to go over kids' heads, some great choreography and at least one achingly sweet moment of song.

For kids there's a surprising amount of plot that definitely won't insult their intelligence, a few obligatory moments of gross-out humor and plenty of magic. The young characters, while all played by adults, are remarkably believable and imperfect in the way kids are, and they're a pleasure to watch. Moments of teasing are clearly uncomfortable for the characters without being cruel, and while Sara is awkward and lonely, she also shines with hope, meaning that you can't help but root for her instead of just cringing.

Once Sara is off on her magical adventure (after breaking her family's television in a tussle with the other kids and being pulled through the resultant crack in the screen by the dreydl that has come to life) she meets a cast of characters that includes royalty, demons, a fool, and a talking peacock. The talking peacock, which features multiple actors to articulate the bird's tail is probably the play's most visually stunning sequence and most likely to appeal to older kids and adults.

While children's theater isn't known for its subtle performances, special notice must go to Danielle Strauss as Sara and Dan J. Gordon as The Fool. Both disappear into their roles and its hard to watch their performances without wishing you'd had friends like them as a kid. When they lead the audience in a traditional song, Tumbalalaika, the everyone in the small theater was rapt -- which is a pretty impressive accomplishment when half the seats are filled by those under six.

Sensitive children may be overwhelmed by parts of the show. Even though everything works out just fine in the end, there are scary demons who kidnap a young girl, and the masks they wear seemed to frighten some of the smallest audience members. Advance knowledge of Jewish traditions isn't necessary to understanding or enjoying the show and the play has relevant messages for all kids regardless of their family's faith traditions. The play runs an hour without intermission and kids can meet the actors and author for autographs after the show.

The Klezmer Nutcracker seems likely to become a holiday tradition.

The show runs through January 3rd with performances in the morning, afternoon and evening. Visit http://vitaltheatre.org/2008Klezmer.php for a full schedule.