The wind gets cold, the winter holidays draw near, and Pioneer Valley Ballet presents its annual performance of the Nutcracker ballet. The Nutcracker is the classic tail of a weirdo godfather bestowing gifts on wealthy kids at a party. One of the toys, a nutcracker, catches the eye of Clara who fixes up the soldier after her brother breaks it. That night, after the party, when Clara comes down to check on the nutcracker, some magic does down. The nutcracker comes to life and leads the gingerbread army against a bunch of mice, for some reason, who are ruled by the Rat King. At one point Rat King has Nutcracker on the ropes, but Clara chucks her slipper at the rat distracting the rodent long enough for the nutcracker to run him through with his sword. The nutcracker turns into a handsome prince and carries Clara away to the Land of the Sugar Plumb Ferries where thankful subjects dance for her entertainment.
The Nutcracker: Performed by the Pioneer Valley Ballet. Dec. 11, 4 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 12-13, 1 and 4:30 p.m. $15-$40. Academy of Music, 274 Main St., Northampton, (413) 584-9032.
