The Slutcracker
Encyclopedia
The Slutcracker is a burlesque
, satirical
version of The Nutcracker
that is the creation of Babes in Boinkland troupe director Vanessa White. It has been performed in cities such as Somerville
, Massachusetts
, and Montreal
, Canada
. The performance incorporates burlesque and tango dancers, drag kings, hoopers, ballerinas, acrobats, and belly dancers in a retelling of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
's ballet from the point of view of a young woman who experiences a sexual awakening during a holiday dream-like sequence.
when gifts are exchanged between an adult newlywed couple (Clara and Fritz) and a friend (Drosselmeyer). Unlike Tchaikovsky's original story where a godfather gives his niece a "nutcracker
doll
" as a gift, this friend chooses to give Clara a vibrator
to allow sexual self stimulation. After Clara is embarrassed by the new gift and Fritz feels threatened by it after unsuccessful intercourse, Fritz tries to damage the vibrator. The vibrator repairs itself and, through adamant and persistent action, is able to win Clara over. A battle then ensues in Clara's imagination between her staid, sexually-repressed friends and forces including such entities as batteries, bunnies, and hoopers whom are all led by the anthropomorphized vibrator, now known as the Slutcracker. After winning the battle, the Slutcracker transforms himself into a type of Prince
who takes Clara to a realm of sexual fantasy where repressed desires can be lived out. There she encounters people and things such as dancers who disrobe each other, a bondage dominatrix
, pole dancers
, a candy cane
penis
which shoots confetti
, topless fan dancers
, synchronized swimmers
who engage in a type of orgy
and a fairy
who performs a striptease.
Nutcracker counterpart: Clara
Protagonist. A twentysomething
or thirtysomething
female trapped in suburban doldrums, but oblivious to her entrapment until Drosselmeyer gives her a vibrator, which becomes the Slutcracker Prince, who shows Clara the sexual "light."
Fritz-
Nutcracker counterpart: Rat King
Antagonist. A twenty-something or thirty-something male also trapped in suburban doldrums, and also oblivious to this fact. Proposes marriage to Clara (which she accepts), but then breaks the engagement when the vibrator arrives on the scene. Fritz battles the Slutcracker Prince for her affection, and loses. Fritz returns later to try and win Clara back, but Clara refuses until Fritz comes to the "light."
Drosselmeyer-
Nutcracker counterpart: Drosselmeyer
Hero Assist. Drosselmeyer is the giver of the "slutcracker," represented as a pink vibrator. This initially embarrasses Clara, and humiliates/infuriates Fritz, who feels threatened by it. Drosselmeyer pursues and prevails in bestowing the gift, which ultimately grows up to be the Slutcracker Prince.
Slutcracker Prince-
Nutcracker counterpart: Nutcracker Prince
Hero. Anthropomorphized Vibrator. Battles suburban doldrums and wins. Has sex with Clara, giving her her first real orgasm, thereby showing her the "light." He then brings her to the land of Sexual Fantasy (ACT II)
Party Goers-
Nutcracker counterpart: Party Goers (Parents, Grandparents, children)
These are Clara and Fritz's friends, all presumably straight, vanilla, suburban couples who attend their Xmas party. Each couple will have its own idiosyncrasies and subplots which will play out beginning with the opening vignettes and continuing through the Battle Scene, when they don "bad" X-mas sweaters and assist Fritz in battling the Slutcracker Prince. NOTE: Not all party goers will participate in the Battle Scene, analogous to the battle between mice and gingerbread soldiers in the original Nutcracker.
Team Bad Xmas Sweater-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Mice/Rats
The Party Goers who participate in the Battle Scene
Batteries-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Tin Soldiers
The batteries quite literally power the Slutcracker Prince and help him to defeat Team Bad Xmas Sweaters.
Slutcracker Bunny-
Nutcracker counterpart: Bunny
The Slutcracker Bunny, much like the Energizer bunny, beats a drum and assists the Batteries.
Orgasm Hoopers-
Nutcracker counterpart: Snowflakes
Illuminated hoop dancers who represent Clara's orgasm (big, spinning, blinking, Os), which ends ACT I
Nutcracker Counterpart: Angels
There are TWO COMPONENTS to Bacchanalia, which are called CORPS and FLUFFERS. CORPS are the dancers on stage. FLUFFERS are the dancers flitting about in the audience. This distinction will be made in your role assignments.
The Bacchanalia Corps (lovingly called Baklava backstage) serves as the welcoming committee for Clara and Slutcracker. They welcome her to the land of sexual fantasy where she is invited to be sexy, free, indulged, and entertained. The fluffers will welcome the audience, flitting about, sprinkling rose petals, giving lapdances, high fives, fist bumps, kisses, etc.
Tango-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Spanish/Chocolate
These are an ambi-sexual tango partner dancers, wherein the dancers change partners frequently while disrobing one another.
Arabian-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Arabian/Coffee
A veiled, blindfolded, lesbian-bondage bellydancer.
Chinese-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Chinese/Tea
A Traditional Chinese fandancer, except topless.
Russian-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Russian/Trépak
An all black PVC clad dominatrix number en pointe, with bull whips.
Gimp-
Nutcracker Counterpart: None
A clever device used to set up the stripper pole. The sexiest stage hand around.
Dance of the Reed Pole-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Dance of the Reed Pipes
A solo pole dance privately entertaining Clara and Slutcracker
Polichinelle-
Nutcracker counterpart: Polichinelle
An orgy of sexually ambiguous clowns. They all have imaginable sex organs, plus long, phallic noses.
Waltz of the Flowers & Wet Spot Fairy-
Nutcracker counterpart: Waltz of the Flowers and Dew Drop Fairy
Six "Petals" encircle the centerpiece, the Wet Spot Fairy. This number is choreographed not unlike a 1960s synchronized swimming number. The costume is very intricate, as the Flower Petals' costumes all physically connect to the Wet Spot Fairy's costume, and all get plucked.
Sugar Dish Fairy-
Nutcracker counterpart: Sugar Plum Fairy
This character performs a solo striptease en pointe, in a tutu. She performs the closing number before the finalé.
in Greater Boston
. The popularity of the show exceeded initial expectations as it sold out its first four shows in the 900 seat theatre. Two more shows were subsequently added. . In the show's 2009 run, the number of performances were doubled from the previous year. Since the show's initial 2008 run, it has returned to the Somerville Theatre each December for successively longer runs and has expanded its tour to include post-holiday performances during January in Montreal's theatre district. The latest 2010 tour included 16 shows in Boston and 2 in Montreal.
, a Christian-Judeo group. Specifically the group expressed concern about the positive portrayal of homoeroticism
, BDSM
, promiscuity
, and strippers as well as the inclusion of props such as the confetti-shooting candy cane penis featured prominently throughout the performance to suggest male orgasm
.
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
, satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
version of The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
that is the creation of Babes in Boinkland troupe director Vanessa White. It has been performed in cities such as Somerville
Somerville
-Places:United States*Somerville, Alabama*Somerville, Indiana*Somerville, Maine*Somerville, Massachusetts*Somerville, New Jersey**Somerville Circle, a traffic circle near Somerville, New Jersey*Somerville, Ohio*Somerville, Tennessee*Somerville, Texas...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The performance incorporates burlesque and tango dancers, drag kings, hoopers, ballerinas, acrobats, and belly dancers in a retelling of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
's ballet from the point of view of a young woman who experiences a sexual awakening during a holiday dream-like sequence.
Plot
The story takes place on Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
when gifts are exchanged between an adult newlywed couple (Clara and Fritz) and a friend (Drosselmeyer). Unlike Tchaikovsky's original story where a godfather gives his niece a "nutcracker
Nutcracker
A nutcracker is a mechanical device for cracking nuts. Usually they work on the principle of moments as described in Archimedes' analysis of the lever...
doll
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
" as a gift, this friend chooses to give Clara a vibrator
Vibrator
Vibrator may refer to:* Vibrator —a device for massage or sexual pleasure.* Vibrator —a class of devices which create mechanical vibrations for uses such as signaling annunciators, doorbells, or industrial uses such as compacting gravel, transporting materials, cleaning, etc.* Vibrator —an...
to allow sexual self stimulation. After Clara is embarrassed by the new gift and Fritz feels threatened by it after unsuccessful intercourse, Fritz tries to damage the vibrator. The vibrator repairs itself and, through adamant and persistent action, is able to win Clara over. A battle then ensues in Clara's imagination between her staid, sexually-repressed friends and forces including such entities as batteries, bunnies, and hoopers whom are all led by the anthropomorphized vibrator, now known as the Slutcracker. After winning the battle, the Slutcracker transforms himself into a type of Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
who takes Clara to a realm of sexual fantasy where repressed desires can be lived out. There she encounters people and things such as dancers who disrobe each other, a bondage dominatrix
Dominatrix
Dominatrix or mistress is a woman or women who takes the dominant role in bondage, discipline and sadomasochism, or BDSM. A common form of address for a submissive to a dominatrix is "mistress", "ma'am", "domina" or "maîtresse"...
, pole dancers
Stripping
Stripping is a dying trade in which film negatives are arranged in a pattern, which will create a series of pages. There is an individual negative for each color to be printed on a printing press. Colors are arranged in order to fit together with the other colors to be printed...
, a candy cane
Candy cane
A candy cane is a hard cane-shaped candy stick. It is traditionally white with red stripes and flavored with peppermint or cinnamon; however, it is also made in a variety of other flavors and may be decorated with stripes of different colors and thicknesses...
penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
which shoots confetti
Confetti
Confetti is a multitude of pieces of paper, mylar or metallic material which is usually thrown at parades and celebrations, especially weddings . Confetti is made in a variety of colors, and commercially available confetti is available in imaginative shapes...
, topless fan dancers
Fan dance
A fan dance is a dance performed with one or more fans. This form has been adapted in various countries. The Korean fan dance, for example, evolved from Joseon Dynasty court dances and remains a popular form of traditional Korean dance. The Spanish or Portuguese flamenco makes dramatic use of fans...
, synchronized swimmers
Synchronized swimming
Synchronized swImming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
who engage in a type of orgy
Orgy
In modern usage, an orgy is a sex party where guests engage in promiscuous or multifarious sexual activity or group sex. An orgy is similar to debauchery, which refers to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures....
and a fairy
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
who performs a striptease.
Roles in relation to Nutcracker counterparts
The following is a list of roles for the performance:Act I
Clara-Nutcracker counterpart: Clara
Protagonist. A twentysomething
Twentysomething
Twenty something or twentysomething may refer to:*Twentysomething , a person in the age group of 20 to 29*Twentysomething , by Jamie Cullum*Twenty Something , a 1994 Hong Kong Film directed by Teddy Chan...
or thirtysomething
Thirtysomething
Thirtysomething is an American television drama about a group of baby boomers in their late thirties. It was created by Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick for MGM/UA Television Group and The Bedford Falls Company, and aired on ABC. It premiered in the U.S. on September 29, 1987...
female trapped in suburban doldrums, but oblivious to her entrapment until Drosselmeyer gives her a vibrator, which becomes the Slutcracker Prince, who shows Clara the sexual "light."
Fritz-
Nutcracker counterpart: Rat King
Antagonist. A twenty-something or thirty-something male also trapped in suburban doldrums, and also oblivious to this fact. Proposes marriage to Clara (which she accepts), but then breaks the engagement when the vibrator arrives on the scene. Fritz battles the Slutcracker Prince for her affection, and loses. Fritz returns later to try and win Clara back, but Clara refuses until Fritz comes to the "light."
Drosselmeyer-
Nutcracker counterpart: Drosselmeyer
Hero Assist. Drosselmeyer is the giver of the "slutcracker," represented as a pink vibrator. This initially embarrasses Clara, and humiliates/infuriates Fritz, who feels threatened by it. Drosselmeyer pursues and prevails in bestowing the gift, which ultimately grows up to be the Slutcracker Prince.
Slutcracker Prince-
Nutcracker counterpart: Nutcracker Prince
Hero. Anthropomorphized Vibrator. Battles suburban doldrums and wins. Has sex with Clara, giving her her first real orgasm, thereby showing her the "light." He then brings her to the land of Sexual Fantasy (ACT II)
Party Goers-
Nutcracker counterpart: Party Goers (Parents, Grandparents, children)
These are Clara and Fritz's friends, all presumably straight, vanilla, suburban couples who attend their Xmas party. Each couple will have its own idiosyncrasies and subplots which will play out beginning with the opening vignettes and continuing through the Battle Scene, when they don "bad" X-mas sweaters and assist Fritz in battling the Slutcracker Prince. NOTE: Not all party goers will participate in the Battle Scene, analogous to the battle between mice and gingerbread soldiers in the original Nutcracker.
Team Bad Xmas Sweater-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Mice/Rats
The Party Goers who participate in the Battle Scene
Batteries-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Tin Soldiers
The batteries quite literally power the Slutcracker Prince and help him to defeat Team Bad Xmas Sweaters.
Slutcracker Bunny-
Nutcracker counterpart: Bunny
The Slutcracker Bunny, much like the Energizer bunny, beats a drum and assists the Batteries.
Orgasm Hoopers-
Nutcracker counterpart: Snowflakes
Illuminated hoop dancers who represent Clara's orgasm (big, spinning, blinking, Os), which ends ACT I
Act II
Bacchanalia-Nutcracker Counterpart: Angels
There are TWO COMPONENTS to Bacchanalia, which are called CORPS and FLUFFERS. CORPS are the dancers on stage. FLUFFERS are the dancers flitting about in the audience. This distinction will be made in your role assignments.
The Bacchanalia Corps (lovingly called Baklava backstage) serves as the welcoming committee for Clara and Slutcracker. They welcome her to the land of sexual fantasy where she is invited to be sexy, free, indulged, and entertained. The fluffers will welcome the audience, flitting about, sprinkling rose petals, giving lapdances, high fives, fist bumps, kisses, etc.
Tango-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Spanish/Chocolate
These are an ambi-sexual tango partner dancers, wherein the dancers change partners frequently while disrobing one another.
Arabian-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Arabian/Coffee
A veiled, blindfolded, lesbian-bondage bellydancer.
Chinese-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Chinese/Tea
A Traditional Chinese fandancer, except topless.
Russian-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Russian/Trépak
An all black PVC clad dominatrix number en pointe, with bull whips.
Gimp-
Nutcracker Counterpart: None
A clever device used to set up the stripper pole. The sexiest stage hand around.
Dance of the Reed Pole-
Nutcracker Counterpart: Dance of the Reed Pipes
A solo pole dance privately entertaining Clara and Slutcracker
Polichinelle-
Nutcracker counterpart: Polichinelle
An orgy of sexually ambiguous clowns. They all have imaginable sex organs, plus long, phallic noses.
Waltz of the Flowers & Wet Spot Fairy-
Nutcracker counterpart: Waltz of the Flowers and Dew Drop Fairy
Six "Petals" encircle the centerpiece, the Wet Spot Fairy. This number is choreographed not unlike a 1960s synchronized swimming number. The costume is very intricate, as the Flower Petals' costumes all physically connect to the Wet Spot Fairy's costume, and all get plucked.
Sugar Dish Fairy-
Nutcracker counterpart: Sugar Plum Fairy
This character performs a solo striptease en pointe, in a tutu. She performs the closing number before the finalé.
Critical Reception
The show began its initial holiday run in December 2008 at the prestigious Somerville TheatreSomerville Theatre
The Somerville Theater is a movie theater and concert venue in Davis Square, located just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, in the city of Somerville in the United States of America. It is currently the only operating movie theater in Somerville since the closing of the theater complex at Assembly...
in Greater Boston
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
. The popularity of the show exceeded initial expectations as it sold out its first four shows in the 900 seat theatre. Two more shows were subsequently added. . In the show's 2009 run, the number of performances were doubled from the previous year. Since the show's initial 2008 run, it has returned to the Somerville Theatre each December for successively longer runs and has expanded its tour to include post-holiday performances during January in Montreal's theatre district. The latest 2010 tour included 16 shows in Boston and 2 in Montreal.
Controversy
The Slutcracker's overt portayal of sexual themes created some antagonistic responses from groups such as MassResistanceMassResistance
MassResistance is a Massachusetts anti-gay group that promotes socially conservative positions primarily on issues surrounding homosexuality, the transgender community and same-sex marriage. It was formed in 2006 as a consolidation of the Parents' Rights Coalition and the Article 8 Alliance...
, a Christian-Judeo group. Specifically the group expressed concern about the positive portrayal of homoeroticism
Homoeroticism
Homoeroticism refers to the erotic attraction between members of the same sex, either male–male or female–female , most especially as it is depicted or manifested in the visual arts and literature. It can also be found in performative forms; from theatre to the theatricality of uniformed movements...
, BDSM
BDSM
BDSM is an erotic preference and a form of sexual expression involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power role-play. The compound acronym BDSM is derived from the terms bondage and discipline , dominance and submission , and sadism and masochism...
, promiscuity
Promiscuity
In humans, promiscuity refers to less discriminating casual sex with many sexual partners. The term carries a moral or religious judgement and is viewed in the context of the mainstream social ideal for sexual activity to take place within exclusive committed relationships...
, and strippers as well as the inclusion of props such as the confetti-shooting candy cane penis featured prominently throughout the performance to suggest male orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
.