It is Christmas Eve. Clara and Fritz, the children of Herr and Frau Stahlbaum, are full of anticipation. Guests begin to arrive for the Christmas party, including the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer who brings gifts for the children. He gives Clara a very special Nutcracker in the form of a toy soldier. Clara takes the little man in her arms, excited to have such a wonderful present. As the children play, Fritz makes fun of the Nutcracker and accidentally breaks it. Dr. Drosselmeyer consoles Clara and magically mends the Nutcracker.
By now the hour is late and the Christmas party is ending. The children must go to bed. Clara, however, is so excited about her Nutcracker that she creeps back down to find her new friend. As she enters the dark room, the grandfather clock strikes midnight and the Christmas tree miraculously grows up to the ceiling. The room rustles with unseen presences.
Mice squeeze through all the cracks in the walls and muster to the orders of the evil Mouse King. They challenge the toy soldiers who battle bravely but are forced to retreat. The Mouse King shouts, “Prepare to Meet Your Doom!” Clara’s heart beats like a tiny drum in her chest as she comes to the rescue of the Nutcracker. She throws her shoe at the Mouse King who is momentarily distracted as the brave Nutcracker deals him the death blow with his sword.
Clara is filled with wonder as the Nutcracker is magically transformed into a handsome Prince. He then turns to her and says, “Thanks to your courage I was saved from certain death. Please come with me on a magical journey so that I might repay your bravery.” First he leads her to the Land of Snow where the Snow King and Queen along with magical Snowflakes dance for her. Then they travel to the Kingdom of the Sweets where a banquet of sweetmeats and special dances awaits her. Chocolate is accompanied by a Spanish Dance, Marzipan by the twirling Murlitons, Coffee by an Arabian Dance, and Tea by a special Chinese Dance. The exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy dances and finally the Dewdrop Fairies lead the Flowers in a lovely waltz.
All parties, however, must come to a close. The Sugar Plum Fairy tells Clara it is time to go, and before she can protest she is back in the Stahlbaum parlor, sleeping peacefully as her new friends fade away into the night. It has all been a dream...or has it?
