“Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker” - Gregory Maguire

 ❄️ We’ve had a lot of Maguire around here lately, so let’s continue the trend. He takes us to 1808 remotest Bavaria and a foundling named Dirk. His lonely, isolated childhood contributes to a lifetime of discomfort with social interactions. Who is young Dirk, you wonder? Why, he becomes the famously mysterious and aloof Uncle Drosselmeyer, of course.

❄️ My reference for “The Nutcracker” has always been the Tony Charmoli-directed 1977 production starring Mikhail Baryshnikov. When Uncle D ominously sweeps onstage with his cape swirling behind him, the entire mood shifts. I’d always wonder what his story was. Now, at last, I have answers.

❄️ I love the idea of telling the story of Klara’s godfather Drosselmeyer. He seems such an important part of the story to be left out. Maguire is fantastically inventive in designing the backstory here. 

❄️ There are a couple of places I wish Maguire had expanded his storytelling. The theme of the vanishing forest — wood nymph and Pan — repeats through out but to no real end. I also hoped Maguire would have done more with Uncle D’s background and how it connects with Klara and the nutcracker.

❄️ Nonetheless, what an idea to put Uncle D front and center! This is another well-known, yet totally unknown story that was begging to be told.