Nutcracker 101- As a Ballet Play

Breaking the Nutcracker down into a play makes it even easier to understand.

First, the only difference between a play and a ballet is the lack of words being used in ballet.

The dancers are supposed to tell the story through facial expressions, pantomimes, and, of course, dance.

Second, if you know the basic storyline and the main characters, then the breakdown of the play into acts and scenes is really easy to understand.

So, here it is:

Act I: Scene 1

Christmas eve at a wealthy family's home
(usually the Stalhbaums' or the Mayor's home)

Act: Scene 1 Pre-Party

The children are excited over the decorations, presents, and the party that's about to begin.

There is usually a squabble or two between the girl
(usually called Clara, but sometimes Marie)
and her (usually younger) brother (Fritz).

Act I: Scene 1 Party

The family's friends and relatives, both young and old, greet each other.

A late and dramatic arrival of a toymaker-
Drosselmeir
(AKA: Herr Drosselmeir, Godfather/papa Drosselmeir, Uncle Drosselmeir)
entertains the guests with magic and life-size, animated toys made by the toymaker.

Drosselmeir gives Clara and Fritz a present.

Fritz is jealous over the soldier Nutcracker that his sister receives.

A fight ensues and the Nutcracker is damaged.

Drosselmeir bandages the Nutcracker and the children return to their respective friends.

The adults dance.

As everyone is saying goodnight, Clara is forced to leave her beloved Nutcracker behind as she goes to bed.

Act I: Scene 2

Midnight

Mice scurry around looking for treats.
(Apparently at this time in history (1800s), all homes- including the rich- had mice.)

Clara, in her nightgown, returns for her Nutcracker and is frightened by the mice.

Drosselmeir returns making everything magical.

The mice (who become life-size and stand upright) take away all of the Christmas decorations and gifts.

The Nutcracker (who also becomes life-size and alive) commands an army of animated, life-size soldiers to fight the mice and their very large leader.

As the Nutcracker lays on the ground about to be harmed by the Mouse (King or Queen), Clara comes to his rescue and distracts the Mouse (King or Queen) (by either throwing a shoe or pulling the tail).

This gives the Nutcracker an advantage and he kills the Mouse (King or Queen).

The Nutcracker is released from a magical spell and he becomes a prince.

Act I: Scene 3

Snow

The Nutcracker Prince takes Clara on a magical journey that begins in the land of snow where dancing snowflakes come alive, including a Snowflake Queen who is often escorted.

Act II: Scene 1

Angels

Angels, lead by the Dew Drop Fairy
(or sometimes by the Sugar Plum Fairy),
announce the arrival of Clara and the Prince to the Land of Sweets.

Act II: Scene 2

Clara and the Prince tell their magical story in the Land of Sweets
(and are often made honorary rulers)
as they watch dancers from the different countries
(Arabia, China, France, Spain, and Russia),
as well as,
Mother Ginger
(similar to "The Old Woman in the Shoe" and usually played in drag)
and,
dancing flowers.

After all the dancing is done, Clara and the Prince say good-bye to the Land of Sweets.

Act II: Scene 3

This is an optional addition to the ballet.

Often, Clara wakes and finds everything is a dream.

Sometimes, Clara finds that the Nutcracker Prince was a guest at her party or is the nephew of Drosselmeir.
.

Nutcracker 101- Storyline

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).