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The Nutcracker Suite The Nutcracker ACT 1 It was Christmas Eve and a grand party was
about to begin at the Stahlbaum house. Clara and her little brother Fritz could
hardly wait for the guests to arrive. When guests began to arrive all the
children rushed to the drawing room to see the magnificent tree and the presents
lying Soon it was announced that Clara’s Godfather Herr Drosselmeyer had come. He was rather strange but Clara still liked him very much. He had brought his nephew with him, as well as gifts. Large boxes revealed life size windup dolls; a clown that tumbled and somersaulted, a soldier saluting and outfitted in full uniform, and a ballerina who spun and twirled in great performance. The children all marveled at the spectacular. Although these presents were all far beyond wondrous, for Clara the best was yet to come. Godfather Drosselmeyer presented her with a small painted wooden soldier. Herr Drosselmeyer cracked a nut in the mouth of the soldier. The soldier was a nutcracker! He handed the nutmeat and the nutcracker to Clara. Fritz was very jealous of Clara, her having received the nutcracker. He pushed aside the children crowding around the nutcracker and raced to grab the nutcracker from his sister. The nutcracker fell to the floor and Clara began to cry. Uncle Drosselmeyer bandaged the broken nutcracker with his handkerchief and handed the nutcracker back to his Goddaughter who placed him lovingly into one of her doll’s beds. Later that night Clara crept downstairs back to the drawing room to visit her poor nutcracker. The house was dark and quiet. Suddenly the Christmas tree began to grow taller, and the giant grandfather clock chimed midnight and she though she saw Herr Drosselmeyer in the shadows. As she turned to run back to her room a she found a mouse, as large as her, blocking the way. Again she turned to find more giant mice coming toward her, slashing claws and whipping tails. She cried for help and Fritz’s tin soldiers sprung to life rushing to capture the mice and defend her. Then the nutcracker leapt to life to battle the evil Mouse King, a mouse twice as big as her with seven heads. The nutcracker fought hard, but was not winning the fight, in a desperate attempt to save him she hurled her slipper at the Mouse King, startling him and giving the nutcracker a chance. With one slash of his sword the king had been killed. The mice sauntered into the shadows dragging with them their late king behind them. The nutcracker hero disappeared too, and in his place appeared Drosselmeyer’s nephew, dressed as a prince. He placed the mouse king’s crown on Clara’s head, and as the house walls turned into a glistening array of snowflakes he led her to his kingdom. ACT 2
At invitation from the fairy they stayed to rest at the palace and watch some the kingdom’s sweets dance for them. Chocalate performed a quick-stepped Spanish dance, and Arabian coffee showed great flexibility bending and tumbling across the floor under long, colorful veils. Next a bright Chinese dragon followed Chinese tea onto the stage. After bowing again and again to the guests, tea left the stage, making room for the jumping and twirling dance of the Russian candy canes. After the leaping candy canes had left, the gentle performance of the marzipan shepherdesses began, calming the excitement of the vibrant show. Mother Ginger next made her way onto the stage. The small Bon-Bon children tumbled out of her skirt and carelessly danced about the floor. She gathered them up and they all left the stage. Following this show of playfulness was the colorful dance of the flowers. The show was not over yet, the Sugar Plum Fairy was escorted onto the floor by a handsome cavalier. They performed a pas de deux of such splendor they appeared to be floating. At the end of their duet the cavalier left the stage for the Sugar Plum Fairy’s solo. It was a dance of soul beauty. Such an elegant performance could not be described. After the dance was complete it was time for Clara to depart. She did not want to leave her new friend and he promised her they would surely meet again. Clara awoke on Christmas morning to the smell of breakfast being made. She remembered the past night’s adventures and hugged her dear nutcracker. She wondered if it had been a dream or if it was all part of Drosselmeyer’s magic. In her heart it was all real.
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beneath.
The snowstorm they had traveled through
suddenly thinned and disappeared, revealing a marvelous land of sweets. As they
walked to the SugarPlum Fairy’s palace they passed lollypop trees and gumdrop
bushes, the land was completely made of sweets. As they arrived at the palace
the lovely SugarPlum Fairy herself greeted them. They told her of their journey
and the fight against the evil mice.