The Nutcracker

Speaking Parts
Clara
Nutcracker
Sugarplum Fairy
Mouse King
Herr Drosselmeyer
Mum
Dad
Fritz
Narrator
Non Speaking parts
Toy Soldiers
Mice
Flowers
Arabian Coffee
Chinese Tea
Spanish Chocolate
Music Required
Traditional Carols:
Deck the halls
O Christmas Tree
Silent night
The terrible mouse king (God rest ye merry gentlemen)
We wish you a merry Christmas
Nutcracker Ballet Suite (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra):
Dance 1 ~ Nutcracker scene ii march
Dance 2 ~ Nutcracker scene xii dance of the mirlitons
Dance 3 ~ Nutcracker scene iii gallop
Dance 4 ~ Nutcracker scene xiv tarentella
Dance 5 ~ Nutcracker scene xii Chinese dance
Dance 6 ~ Nutcracker scene xii trepak
Dance 7 ~ Nutcracker scene xiv dance of the Sugarplum Fairy variation ii
Overture/Encore ~ Nutcracker scene xiii waltz of the flowers

Scene 1 The Stahlbaum Living Room

Narrator:

It was Christmas evening. Outside, the world was cold and

covered in sparkling frost, but inside the home of the
Stahlbaum family everything was warm and bright as they
prepared for Christmas day.

(Enter Stahlbaum family decorating the room for Christmas)

Song 1 ~ Deck the halls
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
Sing the ancient yuletide carol
Fa la la la la, la la la la
See the blazing yule before us
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Follow me in merry measure
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
While I tell of yuletide treasure
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Sing the ancient yuletide carol
Fa la la la la, la la, la, la
Sing the ancient yuletide carol
Fa la la la la, la la, la, la
Mum:

Well done everyone, the house looks wonderful!

Dad:

Now all we need is for your Godfather to join the party.

Narrator:

Just at that moment, there was a knock on the door.

(knock)

Narrator:

The children ran up to see who it could be and sure enough,

there was the cheerful smile of Herr Drosselmeyer, the
childrens Godfather.

(Drosselmeyer appears on stage with a sack full of presents.

Clara and Fritz run to greet him.)
Drosselmeyer:
Dear me children, let me in or we shall all freeze on
the doorstep!
Clara:

Oh Godfather Im so happy to see you!

Fritz:

Have you brought us some presents?!

Mum:

Now Fritz dont be rude. Besides, you will need to wait for
the morning before you open any presents.

Drosselmeyer:
Of course I have something for you Fritz, and for you
Clara. Come, we had better put all of the presents
underneath the Christmas tree.
(During the song the family put presents beneath the tree)
Song 2 ~ O Christmas Tree
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are your branches
Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are your branches
Your boughs are green in summers glow
And do not fade in winters snow
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are your branches
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are your branches
Oh Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are your branches
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Your boughs are green in summers glow

And do not fade in winters snow
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
How lovely are your branches
Narrator:

Before long, all of the presents were stacked in a colourful

heap beneath the Christmas tree and the family were
getting ready for bed.

Dad:

Come along now, its time for bed. The sooner we go to sleep,
the sooner it will be Christmas morning.

(Exit Clara, Fritz, Mum, Dad and Drosselmeyer. Lights fade to blue)
Narrator:

But Clara found that she could not sleep, she was too excited
about the present that Herr Drosselmeyer had brought for
her. She crept into the living room for another look.

(Clara creeps across the living room to the tree and opens her present,
taking out a nutcracker doll.)
Clara:

What a sweet little nutcracker doll! Hes dressed so

smartly! Oh, I love him!

Narrator:

Clara hugged the nutcracker tightly and then curled up under

the Christmas tree and fell asleep to the music of carol
singers in the street.

(During the first verse Clara wanders, rocking the nutcracker doll, then
curls up under the tree, back to the audience and the nutcracker hidden)
Song 3 ~ Silent night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glory streams from heaven afar
4

Heavenly hosts sing alleluia

Christ the saviour is born, Christ the saviour is born
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace
Narrator:

Suddenly, the clock struck twelve and Clara woke to find her
nutcracker had turned into a prince!

(Chimes? The Nutcracker kneels next to Clara and gently wakes her)
Nutcracker: Thank you Clara, your kindness has freed me from the Mouse
Kings evil spell. He will be angry, but dont worry, my
soldiers will protect you.
(Enter the toy soldiers. Stand in formation on one side of the stage)
Narrator:

Just then, they heard the sound of many shuffling feet. The
armies of the Mouse King were on their way!

(During the song the mice enter from the back of the stage and creep
through the audience making faces. By the end of the song they stand
facing the toy soldiers on the opposite side of the stage)

Song 4 ~ the Terrible Mouse King

(tune - God rest you merry gentlemen)

Make way, make way you little men, yes, make way as we sing
Hes coming from beneath the ground, here comes our great Mouse King
No one can stand between him and the one he comes to bring
Our vengeful and terrible Mouse King, terrible King
Our vengeful and terrible Mouse King
His eyes, they flash like diamonds and his yellow teeth they gnash
His coat is dark and greasy and his feet they swiftly dash
His claws are cruel and cunning and his mighty tail will lash
Our vengeful and terrible Mouse King, terrible King
5

Our vengeful and terrible Mouse King

Make way, make way you little men, yes, make way as we sing
Hes coming from beneath the ground, here comes our great Mouse King
No one can stand between him and the one he comes to bring
Our vengeful and terrible Mouse King, terrible King
Our vengeful and terrible Mouse King
Make way for our terrible Mouse King
Narrator:

The army of mice stood and faced the army of toy soldiers.
Then, the terrible Mouse King pushed his way to the front
with an angry cry.
(The Mouse King pushes his way through the mice)

Mouse King: This girl has broken my spell and robbed me of my revenge!
Now as punishment I shall kill this Nutcracker Prince and
take this little meddler back to our lair.
(The Nutcracker stands in front of Clara and draws his sword)
Nutcracker: While there is breath in my body you shall not touch her!
Mouse King: We will see about that!
(The Mouse King draws his sword and as the music begins they circle and
begin to fight)

Dance 1 ~ Nutcracker music scene ii march

(The soldiers and the mice leap, shake fists, and throw cheese at each
other while the Mouse King and the nutcracker fight. When it looks like
the Mouse King has the advantage, Clara stuns him with her slipper and
the mice scatter, taking the King with them. When the music ends the
soldiers exit and the Nutcracker goes over to Clara)
IIII----IIII----II--II--\\IIII----IIII----

\\\\\\\\IIII----IIII----II--II\\
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IIII----IIII*

Nutcracker: Thank you Clara, you have saved me again.

Clara:

Oh, my dear Nutcracker, I couldnt let him hurt you!

Nutcracker: I dont know how I can ever repay you perhaps you would
like to visit my kingdom for a little while?
Clara:

Oh, yes please!

Narrator:

The Nutcracker Price took Claras hand and they went out
into the night, through the falling snow

Dance 2 ~ Nutcracker Music scene xii dance of the mirlitons

(The lighting changes to blue and as Clara and the Nutcracker walk off
stage snowflakes enter and begin to dance)
II//--//II//--//^^--__//II //--//II//--//

________---------\\II//////IIII////*

Scene 2 ~ The Kingdom of Sweets

(Enter Clara and Nutcracker. Sugarplum fairy ready to run onstage)
Narrator:

When they arrived in the Kingdom of Sweets, Clara couldnt

believe her eyes. There were lollipop trees and marshmallow
flowers, sweetly glazed mountains topped with whipped
cream, and buttercream frosting everywhere. As the
Nutcracker Prince led Clara towards a huge marzipan castle,
a beautiful lady ran to meet them.

Sugarplum Fairy: Oh! My prince! I thought I would never see you again!
How did you ever escape? And who is this?

Narrator:

The Prince explained everything that had happened since he

had been turned into a Nutcracker by the terrible Mouse
King.

Sugarplum Fairy: How extraordinary! Please forgive my manners, I

havent introduced myself. I am the Sugarplum fairy. I am
so grateful to you Clara for returning my Prince to me.
Come, we must have a celebration!
(The Sugarplum fairy leads Clara and the Nutcracker to one side and then
beckons dancers on stage)
Narrator:

The Sugarplum fairy called together people from all over the
Kingdom to come and celebrate the return of the Prince.

Sugarplum fairy: Come and sit here, Clara. The citizens of our Kingdom
of Sweets will perform their dances for you, to show our
gratitude. First, the Dance of the Flowers.
Dance 3 ~ Nutcracker music scene iii gallop
Dance of the Flowers
..IIIIIIII////////--------IIIIIIII*
Sugarplum fairy:

The Dance of the Arabian Coffee.

Dance 4 ~ Nutcracker music scene xiv tarentella

Dance of the Arabian coffee
.::::::::IIIITTTTI--------*
Sugarplum fairy:

The Dance of the Chinese Tea

Dance 5 ~ Nutcracker music scene xii Chinese dance

Dance of the Chinese tea
..II--II--II--II--TT::TT::!!!!!!*
Sugarplum fairy:

The Dance of the Spanish Chocolate.

Dance 6 ~ Nutcracker music scene xii trepak

Dance of the Spanish chocolate
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II--II--II--II--________YYYYII--II--oooooo*

Narrator:

The swirling colours and beautiful music lulled Clara until she
could hardly keep her eyes open. As her Nutcracker Prince
took to the floor with the Sugarplum Fairy she finally fell
into a peaceful slumber.

Dance 7 ~ Nutcracker music scene xiv dance of the Sugarplum

Fairy variation ii
(The Nutcracker Prince and the Sugarplum Fairy dance with the
narrators. Clara falls asleep in the corner and as the lights and music
fade the scene reverts to the Stahlbaum living room. Clara is now under
the Christmas tree)
IIIIllllIIIIllll*\--*\--*\*\*\
oooooIIIIllllIIII////_____
Scene 3 ~ The Stahlbaum living room
Narrator:

When Clara woke that morning she was underneath the

Christmas tree once more.
(Clara wakes up and stretches then looks around her)

Clara:

What a strange dream but where has my nutcracker gone?

Narrator:

Try as she might, Clara couldnt find the nutcracker doll

anywhere.

(Clara walks around the stage looking for her nutcracker doll. Enter
Drosselmeyer who watches her search unobserved)
Clara:

Oh, of course, he was with the Sugarplum fairy in the

kingdom of sweets. Perhaps it wasnt a dream after all.

Drosselmeyer:
Clara:

Good morning Clara. Looking for something?

Oh, Godfather Im sorry, I

Drosselmeyer:
I know. You wont find him now. Hes back where he
belongs. Are you sad that you wont have a present to open
today?
Clara:

No, Im glad I could help him. Id rather know that he is

alright than have a whole mountain of presents.
(enter Fritz, Mum and Dad)

Mum:

Oh, I see youre up already.

Fritz:

Merry Christmas everyone!

Song 5 ~ We wish you a merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin,
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
(dance)
We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin,
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
(dance)

Everyone on stage for an encore

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