The Nutcracker Story
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Act One The ballet opens with a scene in Drosselmeyer’s workshop, where he is getting ready for the Stahlbaum’s Christmas party. With the help of his assistant, he gets two life-size dolls in a sleigh, grabs a wrapped present, and then sets off. The next scene reveals the Stahlbaum’s house where the family is getting ready for a Christmas Eve party. Clara and her little brother, Fritz, and their mother and father are celebrating with friends and family. Everyone is having a good time when Clara’s godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, enters the party. Drosselmeyer is a joyous and fun character in Wozniak’s version, being the main entertainer during the party, as well as the rest of the show. With his puppets, he tells the story of a lowly maid who turns into a beautiful ballerina. The children are all delighted by his puppet story, as well as the other magic acts performed by him. Drosselmeyer presents Clara with two life-sized dolls, but Clara is scared of them and does not like their dances. While the other children try to play with the dolls, Clara hides in the corner and cries while the maid comforts her. Drosselmeyer is disappointed but is still eager to please Clara. He asks his assistant to take the dolls away, then he reveals his special present for her: A Nutcracker in the traditional shape of a soldier in full parade uniform. Clara is overjoyed with her new present. Everyone is having a good time until Fritz, who is jealous of Clara’s special gift, grabs the Nutcracker from her arms and breaks it. Clara is in tears, but Drosselmeyer’s assistant and the maid bind the Nutcracker with Drosselmeyer’s magical handkerchief. Everyone is having fun while the children dance with their new presents. All of the dolls that the girls receive are wearing traditional dresses from different parts of the world. The boys all receive toy horses and they play with them, interrupting the girls’ peaceful dance with their dolls. After all dance together, the guests go home and the Stahlbaum family goes to bed. Clara sneaks back into the living room just in time to witness a secret kiss between Drosselmeyer’s handsome assistant and her beloved maid. Clara finds herself alone with her Nutcracker in the living room. When the clock strikes midnight, she sees her godfather as a huge, scary figure in the shape of an ugly Mouse King. She hears the sound of mice and tries to run away, but the mice stop her. The Nutcracker comes to life along with Fritz’s army of soldiers as they try to defend Clara, while the Mouse King leads his mice into battle. The battle between soldiers and mice is fierce and the mice seem to have the upper hand over the brave soldiers. Then Clara steps in and helps the Nutcracker and his army. They finally defeat the army of mice, killing the Mouse King. Even though he is victorious, the Nutcracker is badly hurt and falls to the ground. Clara is in tears, realizing how much she really loves her Nutcracker. She kisses him and, at that moment, the Nutcracker wakes up and turns into a prince. Clara and her prince are both extremely happy as they dance together. When they stop and look outside, the Snow Queen greets them and offers them a ride in her magical sleigh pulled by angels. They ride in the sleigh into Clara’s garden, where gracious snowflakes dance and welcome them. |
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Act Two
Angels big and small dance for Clara and her prince. Drosselmeyer then introduces the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier to Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. Clara is astonished to see that they are none other than her beloved maid and Drosselmeyer’s assistant. After they all dance together, Drosselmeyer, who is now a fun magician, leads them back into the garden.
Winter has turned into Spring and Drosselmeyer, as Master of Ceremonies, introduces Flower Fairies from all over the world to welcome Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. These fairies come out with their Cavaliers and perform their native Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabian dances. As she watches them dance, Clara can’t help but notice that they look strikingly similar to the dolls her friends had received as Christmas presents.
Angels big and small dance for Clara and her prince. Drosselmeyer then introduces the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier to Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. Clara is astonished to see that they are none other than her beloved maid and Drosselmeyer’s assistant. After they all dance together, Drosselmeyer, who is now a fun magician, leads them back into the garden.
Winter has turned into Spring and Drosselmeyer, as Master of Ceremonies, introduces Flower Fairies from all over the world to welcome Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. These fairies come out with their Cavaliers and perform their native Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabian dances. As she watches them dance, Clara can’t help but notice that they look strikingly similar to the dolls her friends had received as Christmas presents.
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As soon as the last Flower Fairy leaves the dance floor, all the other flowers from the garden come out and introduce their beautiful Flower Queen. Two white roses lead Clara and the Prince to the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, who rule this enchanted garden where everyone is happy and everything is beautiful. They dance for Clara and her Prince, their solos and Pas de Deux being the highlights of the second act. After their performance, they invite everyone to join the flowers in the exultant celebration.
Clara wakes up in her own bed with the Nutcracker toy in her arms. Was it all a dream? She is still looking around for the mice, but realizes that her beloved Nutcracker is safe. She dances with it before the curtain falls.
