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A special performance of Ballet West's "The Nutcracker" is getting some angry reaction. It was a spoof that included a "Where's Waldo" character, a rubber chicken and an elf, and when Clara's mother got a diamond necklace she said, "He went to Jared!"
Jon Hennington with the Salt Lake County Mayor's Office says they got an angry call from a man who was at the show. "The gentleman was a little upset about the performance he saw on Christmas Eve. I don't think he realized that the event was a special performance for the children that day and not a deviation of the traditional ballet," he said.
Hennington says the man asked for county funding to be taken away from Ballet West. But he says others have called in this morning saying they loved the performance.
Ballet West did warn people that the show would be different on Christmas Eve. In a show description on its Web site, the company says, "And for those who choose to attend the Christmas Eve performance, Dec. 24 at noon, come ready for some subtle Christmas Eve-only surprises that are sure to sweeten this holiday treat."
Ballet West says it may warn people more clearly about a "nutty" Nutcracker performance in the future.
Other cities have had great success with their nutty Nutcracker performances, including one done on the Starship Enterprise.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
