"POSITIVELY
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A Great
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"POSITIVELY
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CLOSE-UPS
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HILARIOUS FROM START TO FINISH... SAY YES TO `YES MAN.'"
Jim Ferguson, ABC-TV
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EMILE HIRSCH JOSH BROLIN
DIEGO LUNA AND JAMES FRANCO
WRITTEN BY DUSTIN LANCE BLACK
AND DIRECTED BY GUS VAN SANT
SEAN PENN
"THE YEAR'S BEST PICTURE!
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Join us as we celebrate the holidays at the Chutney Grill, where great food and great
company add to the wonder of the season. Our special brunch is offered Thursday,
December 25 , 2008 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's just $25.95 for adults, $19.95 for senior
citizens, $12.95 for children 4 years and older and children under 4 years
are free.
~This is a wonderful place to come for a majestic meal
on a special occasion. � The Habits~
Celebrate Holiday Brunch at the Chutney Grill.
Offer valid Thursday, December 25, 2008 only. Prices exclude
taxes and gratuities. �2008 Hilton Hospitality, Inc.
835 Airport Blvd., Burlingame, CA 940l0
For reservations, please call 650-373-2208.
th
118056
TH E E X A M I N ER | A Z
21MON DAY, DECEM BER 22 , 2008
Smuin's effervescent `Christmas Ballet'
Varied holiday program
a lighthearted Bay Area
holiday performance
By Leslie Katz
Examiner Staff Writer
Judging from the bright smiles and
all-around cheery demeanor of the
crowd over the weekend at "The
Christmas Ballet," Michael Smuin's
legacy lives happily on.
The show, onstage at Yerba Cen-
ter for the Arts through Sunday, is
delightfully frothy holiday enter-
tainment; it provides the perfect
antidote to the stress and hustle and
bustle of the season experienced by
many.
As the company celebrates its
15th season, the show retains its
lighthearted appeal. Members of
the troupe, now dancing under Celia
Fushille (who took the reins after
Smuin died in 2007), get to show
off their vigor and versatility.
As always,
the show is
divided into
two parts. The
more success-
ful Act 1, with
mostly tradi-
tional ballet and
musical accom-
paniment, is
called "The
Classical Christ-
mas." Act 2,
featuring a
more Broadway
-- or, these days, "Dancing With the
Stars" style -- and pop music, is
"The Cool Christmas."
With some 30 pieces in the pro-
gram, none are long; there's no time
to get bored.
Classical highlights in the first
half include "Veni, Veni Emmanuel,"
in which the lithe women of the com-
pany waft into a series of gorgeous
group formations.
In "Licht Bensh'n" ("Candle
Blessing"), a nod to Hanukkah, Jean
Michelle Sayeg begins on her toes,
but bounces into lively folk dances
when joined by the men, wearing
yamulkes.
Three couples in "Oiche Chuin"
-- the music is "Silent Night" sung
in Gaelic by Enya -- look marvel-
ous: Susan Roemer and Aaron
Thayer; Brooke Reynolds and
Shannon Hurlburt; and Erin
Yarbrough-Stewart and Ryan
Camou. Choreography is by Victor
Kabaniaev.
Other appealing numbers not
choreographed by Smuin include
Amy Seiwart's "Troika," and in
Act 2, "I Pray on Christmas," sung
by Harry Connick Jr.
Val Caniparoli's jumpin' "Jingle
Bell Mambo" is the penultimate
number. The show closes with Bing
Crosby singing "White Christmas,"
during which snow falls, but not just
on the dancers.
Much of "The Christmas Ballet's"
charm comes from the delightful
costumes by Sandra Woodall, light-
ing by Michael Oesch, media design
by Paul Swensen and set design by
Douglas Schmidt.
Although the production doesn't
have the big, lavish formality of San
Francisco Ballet's "Nutcracker,"
it's packed with visual pleasures,
from the huge boa Robin Cornwell
tosses around in "Santa Baby" to
the sweetly funny "Droopy Little
Christmas Tree" outfits, worn by
the tap dancing Thayer, Noe Ser-
rano and Ted Keener.
As the themes cross the globe
-- from America's "Blue Christ-
mas" (sung by Elvis Presley, danced
by Matthew Linzer), to the giddy
Irish spirit of the "Bells of Dub-
lin," performed by show-stopper
Hurlburt and "Bells of Ville Reel"
-- the "Christmas Ballet" offers
up international brightness. If it's not
already, the show is well on its way to
being a modern Bay Area classic.
lkatz@sfexaminer.com
DANCE REVIEW
The Christmas
Ballet
Presented by: Smuin Ballet
Where: Yerba Buena Center
for the Arts, 700 Howard St.,
San Francisco
When: 2 and 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Friday and
Saturday; 2 p.m. Wednesday
and Sunday
Tickets: $18 to $55
Contact: (415) 978-2787
or www.ybca.org
Light on his feet:
Shannon Hurlburt
stands out in a
"Lord of the Dance"-
inspired number
in Smuin Ballet's
"Christmas Ballet."
COURTESY PHOTO

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