This "Nutcracker," while sweet and simple, is strictly no-nonsense. Unless someone decides to sneak in a bit of spark, as several cast members did. Goding's antic, charismatic godfather was one.

It is not totally clear whether the nutcracker is meant to be a Trump stand-in ventriloquizing the former president’s hyperbolic speech patterns. The wooden figure—with its shaggy white hair ...

For the first time, some local businesses will be showcasing wooden nutcracker sculptures as a part of Downtown Charlottetown Inc.'s most recent holiday beautification initiative.