Nutcracker

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Setting: Christmas 1913, in a large Canadian home. It’s a prosperous time in a prosperous city whose population has swollen with new arrivals. The First World War is still half a year away.

Overture: ‘Tis the night before Christmas and all through Clara’s house, people inside are getting ready for the big Christmas party. Outside, neighborhood boys play hockey on the street while friends and family start to arrive, carrying armloads of presents.

Act 1
SCENE I – CLARA’S BEDROOM
Twelve-year-old Clara is oblivious to all the noise and confusion. She’s dreaming in front of the mirror in her bedroom, practicing her ballet steps to impress her glamourous Aunt Josephine. Mama interrupts, worried about the party. Clara’s younger brother leaps out of a large armoire, brandishing a toy sword. Grandmother Marguerite finds her way to the bedroom and manages to calm everyone down. She shows the children some photographs of Christmas past while Mama rushes off to check on things downstairs.

SCENE II – THE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Guests begin to fill the room including Aunt Josephine, who makes a grand entrance with her fiancé, Edouard, dashing in his military uniform. At last, Drosselmeier carries in a tree! Clara feels shy when he introduces her to his grandnephew, Julien. In no time at all, the tree is decorated, and Clara has the honour of putting the star on the very top. Drosselmeier hands out his presents, with his masterpiece going to Clara – a beautifully hand-crafted Nutcracker. At dinner, Clara slips away to admire her Nutcracker and imagines that he comes alive to dance with her. The doorbell rings and a bear scurries in, who admires the tree and dances happily with the Christmas toys. The party breaks up in a flurry of dancing and silliness. 

SCENE III – BEDTIME
Clara falls asleep but is soon awakened by the terrifying Mouse King who is about to steal her beloved Nutcracker. The clock strikes midnight.

SCENE IV – THE LIVING ROOM
Moonlight shimmers through the window as Clara finds Drosselmeier, and before their eyes, the room and Christmas tree begin to grow. Clara is attacked by scurrying mice while trying to save her Nutcracker. The Nutcracker comes alive and chases the mice away. Dieter’s squadron of toy soldiers and Mounted Police are now a living regiment and battle fiercely against the menacing mice. The battle takes a turn for the worse when Fritz is wounded, and the Nutcracker is shot by the Mouse King while attempting to help Dieter.

SCENE V – A MAGICAL FOREST
Finally, Clara defeats the Mouse King and begs Drosselmeier to help her wounded Nutcracker. After Clara professes her love, the Nutcracker comes to life and is revealed to have been Julien all along. They walk hand in hand into a magical pine forest, dancing under a sky filled with stars and falling snow. They depart to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s kingdom.

Act II
SCENE I – THE KINGDOM
The Nutcracker Prince and Clara travel to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s kingdom, where little angels and Drosselmeier prepare for their arrival. The Sugar Plum Fairy gives Clara and Prince Julien a very warm welcome and an elaborate ceremony. They dance together in a beautiful pas de deux. In a grand farewell gesture, everyone gathers to bid Clara a happy journey home.

SCENE II – EARLY MORNING
When Clara wakes up, she is happy to be in her own bedroom. The Nutcracker stands proudly next to her. Remembering her dream, she’s relieved to see her big brother Fritz striding into the room, alive and well. They bundle up, go outside and watch the snow fluttering down. It was the best Christmas ever!