The
Nutcracker

The Strange Man and Clara 
We travel more than a hundred years back in time. It is winter in the city, it’s Christmas, and in his workshop sits the strange Drosselmeyer, making Christmas gifts. 

Outside in the street, children are singing Christmas carols, and in the window of one of the houses stands Clara. Her parents are hosting a Christmas party, and Clara is watching for the guests who are arriving from all corners of the world. 

The Soldier 
Her grandparents are walking toward the house, but her grandfather slips on the ice and falls. Luckily, a young soldier sees what happens and helps the grandfather to his feet. Clara runs out to meet them, and the soldier gives her a handkerchief to brush off her grandfather’s clothes. Afterwards, the soldier greets Clara before walking away. 

The Christmas Party 
Inside the house, Clara’s parents welcome the guests, who bring lovely gifts from foreign lands. Then, children and adults eat, play, and dance together. 

The last to arrive at the party is Drosselmeyer. He has surprises for everyone: First, he hands out Christmas presents to the children. Then he begins to read from a large book, while a shadow play is shown behind him. They see a princess and a prince, and the princess is holding a large, golden nut. Suddenly, they see a scary Rat King who tries to eat both the nut and the princess. At this point, Drosselmeyer stops reading and instead presents three large wind-up dolls: They resemble the princess, the prince, and the Rat King, and Drosselmeyer makes the dolls dance. 

The Nutcracker Doll 
The guests move into the next room, where the Christmas tree stands. But Clara stays behind, and now Drosselmeyer shows a blue-colored soldier doll to Clara and her brother Fritz. The doll is made so that it can crack nuts between its teeth, and the children are surprised when Drosselmeyer gives the doll to Clara. She thinks the doll is a bit childish and odd, but Fritz becomes jealous. He grabs the doll and breaks it. Drosselmeyer is saddened, and Clara wants to comfort him. Then she remembers the handkerchief she got from the young soldier, and with it, she helps Drosselmeyer bind the doll back together. 

Drosselmeyer promises to repair the Nutcracker, and when the guests return to continue the party, he brings the doll into the Christmas tree room. Soon after, Clara follows to see what happens … 

Clara Falls Asleep 
The Christmas tree room is dark, but the tree is decorated with lights and flags. She doesn’t see Drosselmeyer anywhere, but she finds his large storybook along with the Nutcracker doll. Clara plays with the doll and begins to read, but soon she falls asleep in front of the warm fireplace. 

Suddenly, Drosselmeyer appears. Now he seems different, and moves like the wind-up dolls he creates. Then, staring eyes appear in the darkness, and Clara wakes up … 

Battle Against Rats and Mice 
Is she dreaming? The room begins to grow and transforms into a giant book – and suddenly, the Rat King himself bursts in, with a horde of rats and mice streaming into the room. They want to take the Nutcracker doll! 

But the Nutcracker comes to life and becomes as tall as a grown man! He climbs onto a large box and blows a trumpet, and out of the box marches a troop of toy soldiers to fight the rats and mice. Still, the rats gain the upper hand, and the mice swarm over the Nutcracker, starting to bite. Then Clara runs forward. She throws a large nut at the Rat King, and the rats and mice disappear – but the Nutcracker lies motionless … 

The Nutcracker Becomes a Prince 
Then Drosselmeyer steps forward and sprinkles magical nut dust over the Nutcracker. Slowly, the Nutcracker rises, and now Clara sees that he has transformed: He has become a prince, and he looks just like the young soldier she met in the street! 

Suddenly, a flurry of dancing snowflakes blows in through the window, and the wind pulls Clara and the Nutcracker into its dance. Then a large, shining Christmas ornament descends. Clara and the Nutcracker step inside it, and the ornament rises, lifting them high into the Christmas tree. They do not see that the Rat King and his helpers are following close behind … 

The Land of Enchantment 
Clara and the Nutcracker land in an ice-covered fairytale land. There, they find Drosselmeyer by a giant fireplace that looks like a theater stage opening! 
 

Suddenly, they are surprised by the Rat King and his helpers. 

The Nutcracker must face the Rat King in battle once again, but this time, he manages to give the Rat King a deadly wound with his sharp saber. The Rat King retreats to die, and all the mice flee. 

The Dance Celebration 
Now the Nutcracker has finally won, and Drosselmeyer arranges a celebration. Clara and the Nutcracker sit on a throne made of ice crystal, and the theater curtain rises. They see all the gifts Clara’s parents received at the Christmas party: a Spanish fan, a Russian nesting doll, a Chinese porcelain plate with a dragon on it, figures from an Arabian storybook, and a French music box. The gifts have come to life and begin to dance! 

Then a parade of cakes and sweets bursts out from the stage and dances with joy, and since the winter ice has melted, all the snowflakes have transformed into beautiful, dancing spring flowers. Then Clara steps forward and dances with her prince. 

At last, everyone gathers in a circle around Clara, and the dancing continues as the magical enchantment slowly fades away … 

Clara Wakes Up 
Clara opens her eyes. She is back in the Christmas tree room, and everything is just as it was. She feels relieved when she sees she still has the Nutcracker doll, so she gives it a kiss and places it in the middle of the floor. Then she runs back to her family and the grand Christmas celebration …