The Nutcracker

Act I

It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house and the Stahlbaum family is hosting their annual Christmas party, welcoming the arrival of their family and friends.  The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they greet their friends too.

     

The party grows festive with music and dance as the children’s godfather, “Uncle” Drosselmeyer arrives.  He is a skilled toymaker and always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone's attention as he presents three life-size dolls.  They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance.

The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his to Clara and Fritz.  Although his gift to Fritz is quite nice, he gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that becomes the hit of the party.  Fritz becomes jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it.  Clara is heartbroken, but Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker.

As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening.  Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms.

            

As the clock strikes midnight strange things begin to happen.  Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful Christmas tree grows high above her.  She is now only the size of the mice that scurry through the room and Fritz’s toy soldiers.  The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, led by the fierce Mouse Queen.  As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice.  The Mouse Queen corners the Nutcracker and battles him one-on-one.  Just when the Mouse Queen seems about to win the battle, Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse Queen, allowing the Nutcracker to defeat the queen.  The Mouse Queen drops to the floor and the mice run away, carrying off their leader's lifeless body.

The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.

 

Act II

The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy.  The Prince tells her about their daring battle with the army of mice and she rewards them with a celebration of dances.  As a finale, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas De Deux.

In the end, Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself back at home with her beloved Nutcracker.