The Nutcracker

Act 1

An ancient German town at the beginning of the 19th century. It’s Christmas Eve. The streets are crowded with people who enjoy festive time. Dr Stahlbaum’s giving a party. The Christmas tree is shining. The guests are arriving. One of them is Drosselmeyer, an elderly magician and toy master. He brings the gifts and the party begins. The children are dancing and playing blind man’s buff. Drosselmeyer turns the dolls into human beings and tells the children a fairy-tale about the evil Mouse King, the naughty princess and the brave Nutcracker. As if by magic the clockwork dolls are dancing for the children — the Doll, the Clown and the Arab. Masha, the young mistress of the party, is, however, enchanted by the Nutcracker. Drosselmeyer gives the Nutcracker to the girl. Her brother Fritz, a naughty boy, is trying to take the toy away and accidentally pulls the Nutcracker’s head. Masha is desperate, but Drosselmeyer quickly fixes the toy. The happy girl is dancing with her favourite toy.
The clock chimes, the party is finishing with a dance. The guests are leaving, the children are happy with their gifts. Thó lights on the tree go out; the nanny takes Masha to bed.

Act 2

Mary takes the Nutcracker to bed and falls asleep. The candles are extinguished; the sitting-room is lit with moonlight. The Christmas tree is shining. The clock strikes twelve. The girl hears some rustle and wakes up to see a whole army of mice in the room. All of a sudden, out of the blue, the Mouse King appears. Suddenly the Christmas tree starts growing, the toys come to life. The Nutcracker heads the army and starts fighting the mouse army. But the forces are unequal. At the crucial moment, Masha overcomes her fear and throws her shoe to the Mouse King. the shoe hits the Mouse King and the Nutcracker is saved. The mice are defeated, together with their king they disappear. Drosselmeyer with his magic wand turns the Nutcracker to a handsome prince. The snowstorm sweeps away Masha and the prince. The trip to the magic land begins.

Act 3

Masha and the Nutcracker are flying on the magic swan. Suddenly they’re attacked by the bats, but the prince defeats them easily: the way to the magic island is free. They are welcomed by the friends, the merry feast begins. Masha and the Nutcracker are dancing with the guests. Suddenly the lights go out...

Epilogue

It’s almost morning. The magic dream is over. She’s a little girl again. And she’s holding a toy — the Nutcracker.