Synposis

ACT I

It’s a snowy Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum home, and Mr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum and their children, Clara and Fritz, are welcoming their guests to a holiday party. There are games and gifts for the children, and dancing for everyone. Clara’s beloved uncle, Herr Drosselmeyer, gives the children a magic show and presents Clara a wonderful present: a handsome wooden Nutcracker.

After the party, Clara falls asleep on the sofa with her Nutcracker. Suddenly, giant mice scurry into the room, and the Christmas tree begins to grow, higher and higher, until it towers over her. Everything in the room disappears except for Fritz’s toy soldiers and the Nutcracker — all now as big as Clara. The Nutcracker leads the toy soldiers into battle with the mice, and Clara helps him by throwing her slipper at the fierce Mouse King, who the Nutcracker then slays. Now that the Mouse King is dead, the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. The Nutcracker Prince and Clara enter a beautiful forest, where the snowflakes dance a lovely waltz.

ACT II

Clara and the Prince arrive in the Land of Sweets and are led to a glittering throne where they can enjoy a performance from all the inhabitants from the Land of Sweets. Everyone dances for the two children: Cotton Candy, Hot Chocolate from Spain, Chinese Tea, Coffee from Arabia, the Candy Canes, the Marzipan Shepherdesses, and Mother Ginger, with her little polichinelles. Then comes the Waltz of the Flowers, and finally, the Sugarplum Fairy arrives to perform a majestic dance.

It’s time for Clara and the Prince to say goodbye. Everyone returns to bid them farewell, and Clara wakes up to find herself back in her home, but with the crown given to her by the Sugarplum Fairy as a small reminder.