Amazon.com
This videotaped dance musical comes off as
Nutcracker Suite meets
Riverdance, with some costuming from
Cats thrown in. Wordless, except for occasional narration and the lyrics of a few ballads, the story of a toy maker and his adult son betrayed by an evil apprentice is told through the dance scored by Michael Demus. The masterpiece of the title is the ultimate toy soldier--a living doll. But the apprentice, wearing demonic KISS-style makeup, steals the plans and learns how to control all the toys, forcing the toy maker and son out of their world by "a barrier of pride and hate." Eventually, the son becomes a baby doll to regain entry into the toy world with the hope of growing up again and bringing back his father. The dance is energetic and special-effects laden (fire, steam, slow motion), but not plot driven. Many of the events seem unconnected and characters mysteriously disappear, only to reappear when convenient. Violent imagery, including the hanging of a toy pirate and the crucifixion-like death of the toy maker's son, make this inappropriate for young or impressionable children.
--Kimberly Heinrichs
From the back cover
Experience the award-winning stage production, The Masterpiece...A Toymaker's Dream. It is the moving allegory of a Toymaker and his son and the love, hope and dreams they have for the beloved toys they have created. The story comes to life as the Toymaker and his son unveil the design for their grandest dream, a toy they call The Masterpiece. Through disobedience a barrier is created that separates the Toymaker from his Masterpiece. The only solution is the Toymaker's son to become a toy himself and make a way through the barrier, back to the Toymaker. From the opening scene's fiery rebellion to the spectacular finale, this unforgettable production combines dance, theater, technical effects and an original musical score to recount the epic tale of good, evil and the fight for mankind. Experience the drama. Experience the triumph, Experience The Masterpiece.
