Magic -- and mermaids, too

You know it's Christmas when "The Nutcracker" is on the local stage. And you know the locale is Key West when the story's Christmas reception is a palm-sheltered garden party, the scary villain is the Rooster King, and Clara sails with the prince to the coral reef, to descend in a diving bell and be entertained by the Sea Fan Fairy and her court.

We went Saturday night, and it was nothing short of magic.

Joyce Stahl, a retired ballerina who lives on Eaton Street now, brought her whim of iron to bear several years ago to adapt the story to Key West, and she did an astonishing job. It's wonderful to see the dozens of children in the performance scurrying around as the little chicks you really do see around town, or swimming as anemones, angelfish, reef fish or shrimps.

And it's fun to see friends onstage in various supporting roles.

But then the amazement: When the Snowy Egret Queen dances across the Salt Ponds, just try to catch your breath.

Try to keep from laughing when you realize the sunken treasure ship, with its dancing jewels, isn't Mel Fisher's Atocha, but "A Toe Shu."

And when the Sea Star Fairy and her cavalier do their final grande pas -- well, you appreciate just how well Stahl mixed huge local talents (e.g., our electrician's wife, who runs her own dance studio and is gorgeous) with some imports from, say, the Russian State Ballet.

Bravo!