There is so much information about Nutcracker that it is difficult to even know where to start.
So, let's start with the basic story line.
It's Christmas eve in the 1800s
(the original story was written in the early 1800s,
but the ballet is usually set in the late 1800s)
in Europe (usually Germany).
A family is preparing for a Christmas eve party.
The brother and sister are very excited and constantly have little sibling quarrels.
The party begins.
The children separate into their girl and boy groups and the parents exchange pleasantries.
All of a sudden there is a dramatic arrival of the toymaker who is also the godfather or uncle (depending on the version of the story).
The toymaker presents a magic show and brings large animated dolls to dance as part of the entertainment.
Then he gives gifts to the children (sometimes to just the brother and sister).
The brother usually receives a trumpet (or, in a few versions, a stuffed toy mouse).
The sister receives a Nutcracker that looks like a soldier.
After explaining the function of the Nutcracker, the sister shares the nuts with everyone.
The brother's jealousy grows and he tries to take the Nutcracker from his sister, damaging it in the process.
The toymaker consoles the sister by bandaging the Nutcracker with a handkerchief.
The children return to their play groups and the parents dance.
As the party ends and the guest are leaving, the sister asks if she can take the Nutcracker to her room.
She is told "no" and the Nutcracker is placed with the other gifts.
Just before midnight the mice began to scurry around the party room.
The sister comes back looking for her Nutcracker and is frightened by the mice.
As the clock strikes midnight, the mice steal all of the Christmas treats and gifts and the toymaker returns.
The toymaker brings a life-size, live Nutcracker who leads a life-size toy soldier army against the human-size mice and their leader (a king or queen, sometimes with seven heads).
During the battle, the Nutcracker is about to be struck by the mouse leader, when the girl intervenes (by either throwing a shoe or pulling the tail).
The Nutcracker takes advantage and kills the mouse leader.
The spell that made him a Nutcracker is broken and he becomes a prince.
The prince takes the girl on a magical journey: first, through the land of snow where snowflakes come alive to dance; and then, on to a Land of Sweets.
The Land of Sweets is ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy who, after hearing of their adventures, invites the two to watch her and her subjects dance .
The subjects include:
Arabian (coffee)
Chinese (tea)
French (marzipan)
Russian (candy canes)
Spanish (chocolate)
Mother Ginger (gingerbread)
and
Flowers.
The prince and girl leave the Land of Sweets.
And, depending on what version of the story, the girl may awaken from a dream and find that the Nutcracker prince is really someone from the party (or the toymaker's nephew).
So, let's start with the basic story line.
It's Christmas eve in the 1800s
(the original story was written in the early 1800s,
but the ballet is usually set in the late 1800s)
in Europe (usually Germany).
A family is preparing for a Christmas eve party.
The brother and sister are very excited and constantly have little sibling quarrels.
The party begins.
The children separate into their girl and boy groups and the parents exchange pleasantries.
All of a sudden there is a dramatic arrival of the toymaker who is also the godfather or uncle (depending on the version of the story).
The toymaker presents a magic show and brings large animated dolls to dance as part of the entertainment.
Then he gives gifts to the children (sometimes to just the brother and sister).
The brother usually receives a trumpet (or, in a few versions, a stuffed toy mouse).
The sister receives a Nutcracker that looks like a soldier.
After explaining the function of the Nutcracker, the sister shares the nuts with everyone.
The brother's jealousy grows and he tries to take the Nutcracker from his sister, damaging it in the process.
The toymaker consoles the sister by bandaging the Nutcracker with a handkerchief.
The children return to their play groups and the parents dance.
As the party ends and the guest are leaving, the sister asks if she can take the Nutcracker to her room.
She is told "no" and the Nutcracker is placed with the other gifts.
Just before midnight the mice began to scurry around the party room.
The sister comes back looking for her Nutcracker and is frightened by the mice.
As the clock strikes midnight, the mice steal all of the Christmas treats and gifts and the toymaker returns.
The toymaker brings a life-size, live Nutcracker who leads a life-size toy soldier army against the human-size mice and their leader (a king or queen, sometimes with seven heads).
During the battle, the Nutcracker is about to be struck by the mouse leader, when the girl intervenes (by either throwing a shoe or pulling the tail).
The Nutcracker takes advantage and kills the mouse leader.
The spell that made him a Nutcracker is broken and he becomes a prince.
The prince takes the girl on a magical journey: first, through the land of snow where snowflakes come alive to dance; and then, on to a Land of Sweets.
The Land of Sweets is ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy who, after hearing of their adventures, invites the two to watch her and her subjects dance .
The subjects include:
Arabian (coffee)
Chinese (tea)
French (marzipan)
Russian (candy canes)
Spanish (chocolate)
Mother Ginger (gingerbread)
and
Flowers.
The prince and girl leave the Land of Sweets.
And, depending on what version of the story, the girl may awaken from a dream and find that the Nutcracker prince is really someone from the party (or the toymaker's nephew).
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