A magician onstage, a guardian of mind backstage

Onstage, he darts here, then there, casting spells that captivate wide-eyed children and adults alike. He is Drosselmeyer, Clara’s godfather and the enigmatic magician who gives her a Nutcracker and, with it, the key to a magical land. In “The Nutcracker,” Drosselmeyer is more than a supporting character. He is the hinge between reality and fantasy, the figure who ushers Clara and the audience out of the living room and into the Kingdom of Sweets. “He’s the one who invites Clara to dream,” said