This will be a bit of an abbreviated version of my usual novella, since like you guys, I’m also enjoying my day off.
Since it’s the day after Thanksgiving, that means it’s officially Nutcracker season. Jump (or jeté, if you will) on it. I know that was terrible, no need to tell me. The Texas Ballet Theater’s production starts at the Winspear tonight and runs through next weekend. It’ll get a long run at Bass Hall after that.
Families that have remained in town rather than traveling over the river and through the woods can also take advantage of the time off from school and work with the Dallas Arboretum’s annual holiday extravaganza. This year’s display of Christmas cheer centers around George Dvorsky’s extensive collection of nativity scenes that range from the traditional to the rather exotic. Along with the picturesque DeGolyer Estate, where the scenes are housed, signs of the season are evident in everything from Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph roaming the grounds to photo ops with Santa. Also: real live reindeer. Probably none with a light bulb strapped to his or her nose, though.
If thinking about Christmas still kind of makes you want to barf in someone’s eggnog, there’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane at Kitchen Dog Theater. It’s dark and disturbing enough to drive the thought of Christmas elves right out of your head, and you can read my review over on FrontRow for extra convincing.
Over at the Dallas Museum of Art, it’s closing weekend for the exhibit Legacy of the Plumed Serpent, a plethora of rare objects that lend insight into the ancient Mesoamerican kingdoms and its most venerated deity, the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl. Be on the lookout for the Codex Zouche-Nuttall, a pre-Hispanic colorful recounting of Mixtec (peoples from the region of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Puebla) history, on loan from the British Museum. It’s one of few documents that still survive. Peter reviewed the exhibit on FrontRow, so check that out, too.
None of this striking your fancy? Go here.
