Hi all--

       Twain has no bearing on THE AMERICAN NUTCRACKER at all; he's merely a
party guest. The Hartford Ballet got a very generous sum from the
Mashantucket
Pequots to restage the Tchaikovsky piece with a Native American theme.
What's
particularly odd is that the music is still very much the same, despite the
changes in narrative and costume (it is quite stunning, nonetheless). It
would
have been nice if SLC's role had been more than a walk-on, but his presence
is, alas, nothing more than a device so audiences can poke each other in the
ribs and say "oooh, isn't that Mark Twain?"

Hope this helps!

Kathy O'Connell
Hartford Advocate