A NUTCRACKER PARTY IN LA
REVIEW: THE IMMERSIVE NUTCRACKER FÊTE
BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO
When we think of The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s ballet comes to mind as it’s the most famous adaptation of this E.T.A. Hoffmann story. However, for anyone who’s been on social media this holiday season, “The Immersive Nutcracker Fête” by Fever also comes to mind. Billed as “the most magical immersive event of the festive season” this experience includes three cocktails with light bites, and entry to an immersive Nutcracker party that features its own version of this German tale. When comes any immersive event there are four areas that these events often include, such as: atmosphere, performances, experience, and extras—so, let’s see how the “Nutcracker Fête” delivers in each of these categories.
ATMOSHPERE
An interior designer will tell you that space can enhance quality of life, and in this case quality of experience. The team at Fever have taken a storefront in Downtown LA and carved out two spaces for their Nutcracker event. First there’s the lobby with a faux fireplace, mantle, bookcase full of antique books and crimson walls that evoke a Victorian living room or den. Also in the in the lobby is a hidden entrance to the main space where all the action occurs. The main space is long room with high ceiling, chandeliers, crimson walls peppered with gold picture frames, wall sconces, ivy, a giant Christmas tree with presents, and various chairs that line room.
PERFORMANCE
There are four actors that play various roles in the retelling of the Nutcracker story. All the actors do a laudable job as both actors and hosts—yes, they are essentially putting on a play for you, but they are also friendly and approachable. The performance is essentially a live retelling of the Nutcracker story with a script that mixes contemporary comic tropes with classic Victorian storytelling and moments of participation for audience members. The script itself is a perfunctory roadmap to get us through the story at hand, but it’s the delivery and improvisations by the actors that sell the tale and make it hilarious and entertaining.
EXPERIENCE
So, what is the “The Immersive Nutcracker Fête”? Is it a party? Is it a play? This experience is more of a ‘immersive’ theater performance than a party. You enter a room, sit down and watch actors tell a story. The notion of ‘immersive’ here is very light at best. If you want to participate there are certainly some opportunities for individual and group participation. These range from saying a line on stage, singing a Christmas carol, or playing a kazoo. The evening is a brisk 90-minutes with no time to interact with the other guests as you might in a traditional “party” setting. This ‘Fête’ is more civilized—like watching a play in your living room with a bunch of strangers over cocktails.
EXTRAS
There are three notable extras that are included with this Nutcracker experience. The first is the three holiday inspired cocktails included made with vodka or whiskey that are distributed during the act breaks. These cocktails are creative and tasty. The three cocktails you’ll receive are a cranberry French 75, a Pomegranate Mule and an Apple Spiced Whiskey Sour. The second extra is some light snacks (popcorn and Christmas cookie) which are a nice addition to the evening giving audiences a little something to nibble on with their drink. The final extra is the Victorian era costume accessories that guests can choose and wear for the duration of the experience. These include hats, caps, and scarves. The costume pieces go a long way for getting everyone in the mood and creating more atmosphere.
So, there you have it, that’s what you can expect from “The Immersive Nutcracker Fête”—a fun evening of theater, play, atmosphere and three delicious cocktails. If you’re not a fan of ballet, there’s no better way to hear the story of the Nutcracker in LA this holiday season.
TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION
DATES: December 2019 through January 2020
LOCATION: 1039 S. Olive St. Los Angeles, CA 90015
WEBSITE: https://feverup.com/m/78949
TICKET PRICE: $65
