Whatever his controversial politics, Mayor Rob Ford can be a real sport. In fact, it turns out he’s an absolute doll.

His Worship, unimpeded by a march protesting the disputed election in Congo that passed the Four Seasons Centre opera house shortly before curtain time, made a much anticipated debut with the National Ballet of Canada at Saturday afternoon’s opening of The Nutcracker. Ford’s appearance went off well — and to everyone’s apparent delight — in the good-humoured, spirit-of-the-season way intended.

The mayor, in company with rookie Ward 35 Councillor/Executive Committee member Michelle (“bike lanes to nowhere”) Berardinetti, played the honorary walk-on role of a Cannon Doll.

The pair, costumed in colourful Russian Petrouchka doll outfits — the National Ballet stocks a variety of sizes — escorted the cannon that initiates the battle scene.

A company performer dressed like a czar asks the Cannon Dolls whether he should fire the brightly painted gun. One responds with bellicose gestures. The other plays the pacifist. A grinning Ford chose the former, supporting his position with a convincing display of fist shaking.

The lively debate’s result was a foregone conclusion and, once paper streamers had been fired into a gleeful audience, the pair moved their energetic mime act to the side, exiting with the gun shortly after; about two-and-a-half minutes of glory in all.

Ford steps in the snow prints of a long line of VIPs, celebrities and politicians, among them former mayors Barbara Hall and David Miller, who’ve appeared in these cameo roles. Such walk-on opportunities pervade The Nutcracker world.

The stage can be an intoxicating place and Ford was clearly enjoying his brief moment in the ballet spotlight. Still, if he’s tempted to throw up City Hall for what seems a more glamorous life, he should probably think twice. The pay is not so great and with looming arts budget cuts it can only get worse.