A sweet, stylish Nutcracker

Like filigree lace, or icing sugar shaken through a doiley, The Nutcracker is a pretty ballet of a fantasy Christmas from a long-ago imaginary past. There are happy families and well-chosen presents, magic and good will, and the young Clara who sees a tangible image of life's sweet things.

The Royal's Ballet's traditional production of Nutcracker plays things super-straight. There are narrative creaks and groans, but that is true of any Nutcracker, and in Peter Wright's deft staging everything looks so fine and true you overlook the incongruities.

The production itself occasionally feels its age, but, again, we are soon beguiled by the gorgeous dancing and Tchaikovsky's sumptuous melodies. At last night's opening, Miyako Yoshida was a sparkling Sugar Plum Fairy, all grace and lightness and ease.

She's one of few ballerinas who seem blissful being a ballerina. Federico Bonelli was tip-top as her Prince, while Gary Avis's Drosselmeyer was a kind magician who didn't scare the children. Iohna Loots made slightly less impression as Clara, although Ricardo Cervera was a boyishly appealing Hans-Peter/Nutcracker.

The mice, snowflakes and magically growing Christmas tree are all for the children. For the grown-ups, the falling melodic line in Act II's Grand pas de deux hints at our longing for what the ballet portrays and our knowing that it has escaped us.

In rep until 5 January. Information: 020 7304 4000.

The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker