Conejo Civic Ballet Company's
Nutcracker

Synopsis

ACT ONE

On Christmas Eve, a time when dreams may become reality, the Stahlbaum Family prepares for their holiday party. Clara and her brother, Fritz, can hardly wait for the party to begin. When the guests arrive, the children run to admire the beautiful Christmas tree and examine the shiny packages. Clara’s Godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, arrives and delights the guests with mechanical dolls he has invented.Drosselmeyer presents Clara with a special gift, a nutcracker doll. Clara is fascinated with her nutcracker and shows it to all her friends. She asks Drosselmeyer if he can work his magic and make the nutcracker come to life like the other dolls. Fritz is also fascinated by the nutcracker and tries to take it from her. During the struggle, the nutcracker breaks. Drosselmeyer repairs the broken nutcracker. The parents bid good night to their hosts and take their tired children home.

Under Drosselmeyer’s spell, Clara sleepwalks down the stairs and begins to dream. She notices ominous shadows on the walls and soon the living room is filled with darting mice. Clara tries to distract the mice. All of a sudden Fritz’s toy soldiers come to life and, led by the Nutcracker, they battle the mice and their evil Mouse King. During the battle the soldiers and the Nutcracker are wounded by the mice. Clara throws a shoe killing the Mouse King. The defeated mice slink away taking their fallen leader with them.

Clara grieves for her beloved Nutcracker. Suddenly she is surprised as the Nutcracker begins to move and reveals himself to be a handsome prince. Clara and her Nutcracker Prince venture into the snowy night, lead by the Snow Queen, to begin their magnificent adventure.

ACT TWO

Drosselmeyer takes Clara and the Nutcracker Prince to the magical Kingdom of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugarplum Fairy and members of her court. One by one the members of the court present Clara and the Nutcracker Prince a sweet treat that represents their nation. Then mysteriously, a strange atmosphere falls over the kingdom. The festivities begin to fade and everything in the court begins to disappear. Clara tries to hold on to her dream, but her dream world fades and she is left alone with only her Nutcracker Doll to remind her of this magical night.