Which One? The Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol??

[toystory1130]

I only have enough right now to purchase tickets for one of these shows. I have a DD7 and DS11. I cann't decide as I've never seen either but I do know the story of The Christmas Carol. Would the Nutcracker be to "girly" for my DH & DS? If you had to pick, which would it be?

 

[Tazicket]

I would go with the Nutcracker, personally. I like them both, but the Nutcracker just involves me more. FWIW, DH likes the Nutcracker, too and does not consider it too girly. And the Arabian dance is AMAZING!

 

[Disney Doll]

Christmas Carol. I hate the Nutcracker ...always have.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

I love both equally. Do the kids know the story of the Nutcracker? Without talking, they may not "get it." When I was a kid, I watched it on PBS every year, but I didn't really get the story until I was about 8 or 9. I just watched it for the music and the dancing.

 

[Reflection]

My vote is for Christmas Carol, although I also like the Nutcracker. My daughter and I have a tradition of seeing the Christmas Eve matinee performance of Christmas Carol.

 

[rie'smom]

A Christmas Carol because it really deals with the meaning of Christmas. When my son was in second grade,we brought the class to see the Nutcracker. Afterward,I asked my son what he thought. He said,"About all they did was dance."

 

[Frantasmic]

Is your son one who can appreciate and artistic dance? If so, the Nutcracker is the better story, etc.

If not, A Christmas Carol is.

Unless you live in a big city, you may not get a yearly, holiday performance of the Christmas Carol. You can see the Nutcracker just about anywhere during the holiday season. So, I suggest the Christmas Carol this year and then you and DD to Nutcracker next year.

 

[disneydiva06]

I love both...but I think if it came down to it, I'd choose The Nutcracker. It was a tradition for YEARS in my family to watch the Barishnikov (does anyone else think Barishna-inacoff after seeing American Wedding? ) on Christmas Eve.

 

[barkley]

depends-is the nutcracker strictly the ballet? or is it a more 'play' like version with spoken lines and singing (i did one like this a few years back)? if it's the strictly dance production you have to consider if even dd is into watching upwards of 2 hours of nothing but dance (my dd is 12 and this would bore her to tears).

i love christmas carol (did it many years ago)-and i think it's an engaging story. there are muscial and non musical versions-but both stick to the basic story line which is easy for a young kid to follow. i suggest if you do attend and the kids love it-get a copy of the dvd of patrick stewart (jon luc picard on star trek tng) in the production he did (hallmark i think). it is realy well done and offers allot more about the story than most plays present. we have both the dvd as well as a one person reading of it (again by patrick stewart) and the kids love to pull it out around the holidays (ds likes all the 'cool' creepy stuff with the ghosts and time travel-dd likes all the 'touchy feely' stuff and always cries when tiny tim's crutch is preserved by the fireplace).

 

[Tazicket]

i suggest if you do attend and the kids love it-get a copy of the dvd of patrick stewart (jon luc picard on star trek tng) in the production he did (hallmark i think). it is realy well done and offers allot more about the story than most plays present.

ITA! The version with Patrick Stewart is probably the best version of A Christmas Carol that I have ever seen. It's even better than the Muppets version, and that's saying something!

 

[Golf4food]

Being a classical musician for many years and enjoying orchestral music, I vote Nutcracker. But more than just the music - a well done production is also very visually stunning and exciting. The production here last year was fantastic. Great sets, great costumes, great dancing. If your DH and DS enjoy athletic things, then ballet certainly fits the bill - there are dances that the most athletic pro-sports players would not be able to perform. It takes great strength and balance and agility. I am always very impressed by the strength and athleticism of professional ballet dancers.

For the record, I'm a heterosexual male. (Just for the record... it isn't only gay men who enjoy the finer arts...)

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

the Nutcracker is totally ballet. there's not any talking really, just a lot of dancing. i think it's a great show, but for kids i think maybe A Christmas Carol would be better.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I went to see the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center in NYC every year as a child with my grandparents. I loved it and think it's a great thing to do with kids!!

 

[paigevz]

Hmmm, I started to say The Nutcracker, until you mentioned DS's age...........he would like The Christmas Carol, but it might be too spooky for DD................gee, I didn't help at all.

I go with The Nutcracker.

 

[Reflection]

...... i suggest if you do attend and the kids love it-get a copy of the dvd of patrick stewart (jon luc picard on star trek tng) in the production he did (hallmark i think). it is realy well done and offers allot more about the story than most plays present. we have both the dvd as well as a one person reading of it (again by patrick stewart) and the kids love to pull it out around the holidays (ds likes all the 'cool' creepy stuff with the ghosts and time travel-dd likes all the 'touchy feely' stuff and always cries when tiny tim's crutch is preserved by the fireplace).

Sorry but the *best* film version of Christmas Carol is the 1951 version with Alastair Sims playing Scrooge. I'm also quite partial to the film musical with Albert Finney playing Scrooge:

'Thank you very much
Thank you very much
That's the nicest thing that's anyone's ever done for me.'

 

[ransom]

I've always loved 'A Christmas Carol' - especially on stage. When I lived in the SF Bay Area, I went to see it every year. Great fun!

As for the Nutcracker, I can take it or leave it. I mostly leave it.