The Nutcracker

Nutcracker
The famous kid's story of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King was originally written by E. T. A. Hoffmann (1816). Later Alexandre Dumas' adaptation of the story became as a musical by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It became as one of the most popular ballet performed around Christmas time. The story of Nutcracker has been published in so many books including colorful children's versions. The plot focuses on the heroine of the story a blonde German girl named Clara Stahlbaum.

The tale starts with a Christmas party in Clara's house. Whole family Clara, her little brother Fritz their parents all are celebrating Christmas with friends and relatives. Then the mysterious godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer enters the party. He brings gifts for all the children in a large bag. Kids are really happy to get the gifts. Every kid gets a gift but Clara is the only one who didn't receive a gift, she feels really sad.

Then the godfather Herr Drosselmeyer produces three life-sized dolls, each doll dance in turn. Everyone is entertained to see the dance of these life-size dolls, when the dances finishes. Clara goes to her godfather hoping to get a gift. Drosselmeyer's bag is empty and he has no gifts left. Clara races towards her mother in a fit of tears. Seeing Clara in tears, Drosselmeyer conjures up a special gift for Clara that is a Nutcracker. Clara is suddenly so happy but on seeing the Nutcracker her brother Fritz becomes so jealous that he tries to snatch it from her and as a result it breaks.

Clara gets really mad and upset but thanks to the godfather who fixes the toy before returning it to Clara. Finally the party ends all the kids are happy including Clara. All family members go to bed. But Clara is just concerned about her Nutcracker. Clara falls in love with the gift her godfather gave her she instead of sleeping comes out to the huge Christmas tree to see her gift. She is tired and falls asleep there holding Nutcracker in her arms and from here comes another turn in the story. The magic is going to be started now. As the clock strikes at midnight. Clara is transported in to a Christmas fancy magical land.

Here her Nutcracker grows to the size of a human. She hears a mice voice, tries to run but the mouse stops her. It's a big mouse, the Mouse King, he tries to attack Clara but the Nutcracker tries to defend young Clara heroically along with his band of soldiers. Mouse King orders his mice to battle with Nutcracker and his band. Nutcracker fights courageously but he is struck down a twist comes in the story when Clara throws her slipper helping Nutcracker who seeing the opportunity stabs the Mouse king and he dies.

The army of mice flees taking their dead leader along with them. But the sad part is that Nutcracker also dies. But amazingly Clara's tears bring her hero Nutcracker back to life again. Clara runs to Nutcracker and they kiss, the kiss transforms Nutcracker in to a human-a prince charming. They both dance and Prince takes Clara to Enchanted Forest. There they see snowflakes dancing for them. After this they travel to the Kingdom of the Sweets. They are greeted here in the Kingdom of sweets by the beautiful queen in this Enchanted Forest.

The couple is mesmerized by the beauty of the queen she asks them to stay with her for a while. Clara and Prince watch the alluring dance of the inhabitants of the kingdom before them. They are so excited and happy to see it. After the dance finishes Prince and Clara travel home in a beautiful magical sleigh that is made of ice and candy.

When Christmas morning rises, Clara is seen waking up under the Christmas tree still holding her new gift Nutcracker in her arms. The story is beautifully and very successfully staged with wonderful scenes, imagery and special effects that will not let you lose your grip on the magic of the show. Not even for a split second it seems like a show. Audience becomes a part of the journey feeling with the characters. .

The characters are really good at their work. The dance performances and the songs couldn't be better than this. The costumes especially the costumes of the enchanted forest queen, snowflakes and the inhabitants of the enchanted forest are out of this world. This show is definitely a treat for eyes as well as ears.