The Nutcracker

[mathmission]

So, over the holiday, for the first time ever, I watched The Nutcracker. I was very familiar with the music, so none of that came as a surprise to me. But I didn't know the story at all, and had never been to a ballet before.

I have to say, it wasn't all that bad. Of course, I sit through 4 hour operas, so really a ballet isn't really all that bad. One question I do have surrounds the role of the rat king?

What was the purpose of that? for those that have seen it.