Nutcracker

Nutcracker
the script Tchaikovsky might have set to music, if only he'd known . . .
- adapted from the original story by ET Hoffmann

To order scripts ISBN 1-873855-19-2 – Cast List – Scenes – Extract – Notes

Introduction

A pantomime written in a traditional style, but at the same time refreshingly different, Nutcracker treats your cast to some well made characters and dialogue, and conspires to involve your audience to the maximum.

Based loosely on the original Christmas Eve story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King written by E.T.A. Hoffman in 1816, this script also incorporates the well-loved music of Tchaikovsky's ballet for dances and some of its fifteen songs.

As well as the named principals, there is plenty of scope for including an undefined number of senior and junior chorus members in the show.

Principals: Male 5, Female 4, Indeterminate 8

Cast List . . .

Clara, a young girl (principal girl)
Frederick, her brother
Dr Hans Stahlbaum, their father
Lisa Stahlbaum, their mother
Uncle Drosselmeyer, their uncle
Kurt, Drosselmeyer's assistant
Weil, Drosselmeyer's other assistant
Twitt, The Owl in the Clock
Prince Nikki, The Nutcracker (principal boy)
Gnawman, The Mouse King
Twitchnose, A Mouselier
Whiskers, A second Mouselier
Pip, A third Mouselier
Squeak, A fourth Mouselier
Sugar Plum, The Sugar Plum Fairy
Rock, Sergeant at the Fortress of Sweets
Fudge, Corporal at the Fortress of Sweets
Chorus of Guests, Mice, Soldiers, Fairies, Tree Elves - junior and senior chorus

List of Scenes . . .

Act I

The Prologue - Before the Party (Front of Tabs)
Scene 1 - In the Stahlbaum's house, Christmas Eve (Full Set)
Scene 2a - Behind the skirting board (Front of Tabs)
Scene 2b - Clara & Frederick's bedroom (Full Set)
Scene 3 - The Battle of the Bedroom (Full Set)
Scene 4a - Drosselmeyer's den (Front of Tabs)
Scene 4b - Behind the skirting board (Front of Tabs)
Scene 5 - At the Fortress of Sweets (Full Set)

**** INTERVAL ****

Act II
Scene 1 - At the Fortress of Sweets (Full Set)
Scene 2a - The Mice advance (Front of Tabs)
Scene 2b - The Sugar Plum plan (Front of Tabs)
Scene 3 - In the enchanted forest (Full Set)
Scene 4a - Drosselmeyer's den (Front of Tabs)
Scene 4b - Clara & Frederick's bedroom (Front of Tabs)
Scene 5 - In the Stahlbaum's house, Christmas morning (Full Set)

Extract from Act II Scene 2a

Enter downstage left Gnawman, Twitchnose, Whiskers, Pip & Squeak
Gnawman Is everybody ready?
Twitchnose Every able-bodied mouse is with us, Boss, just waiting for your order to move.
Whiskers There's not a mouse left in the house. We scoured the skirting-boards and brought out every rodent we could find.
Pip We've found every ferret.
Squeak Summoned every stoat.
Pip Waited for every weasel.
Squeak And rounded up every rat.
Gnawman Good, we shall need them. This is not an operation for the weak-willed or lily-livered.
Whiskers Oh, it's alright - we didn't bring any lizards.
Twitchnose No, 'cause lizards aren't rodents, are they - they're - (to Whiskers) what are they?
Whiskers Don't ask me - I failed in Biology.
Gnawman You'd fail in just about everything - I didn't say 'lizard', I said 'livered' - 'lily-livered'.
Twitchnose Right!
Whiskers Gotcha, Boss!
Twitchnose Lily-livered it is, Boss.
Pip No problem.
Squeak We'll have none of them.
Whiskers Won't even consider them.
Twitchnose There won't be a single lily-livered in the whole lot.
Pip Even if they come begging, we'll say "No".
Gnawman (Stopping them prattling on) Shut up, will you! I can't take much more of this. Go and tell the troops to be ready to march when I give the signal.
Twitchnose OK, Boss.
Whiskers Your word is our command. (They turn to go)
Twitchnose (Turning back) Er, Boss.
Gnawman What now?
Twitchnose What is the signal?
Gnawman What's the signal? We agreed what the signal was only five minutes ago.
Whiskers Still the same one then?
Gnawman Of course it's the same one - why would I want to change it so soon.
Whiskers No reason, Boss - just checking.
Twitchnose We'll listen out for it then.
Gnawman Please do.
Whiskers And then your army will scamper along at your side.
Squeak Over hill and through dale.
Pip Swords and teeth at the ready.
Twitchnose As soon as you give the word -
Squeak The word of command -
Pip And what was that word again?
Whiskers Chocolate!!
At this we hear the scampering of many tiny feet - some young Mice may rush across the stage if you wish - as Gnawman's mighty army moves off, without him!
Gnawman Stop! (To Whiskers) What did you go and say that for? I wasn't ready to move yet.
Whiskers Sorry, Boss, it just sort of slipped out.
Twitchnose Hadn't we better go after them?
Gnawman After them? We're supposed to be leading them! Quick, catch up with them before they all run amok.
They all exit downstage left in haste

Producer's Notes

This pantomime uses four different full set scenes, separated by front of curtain scenes to allow for backstage activity. Directions given are those used in the original production, but use your imagination according to the facilities available to you.
A list of songs used in the original production is included for your guidance. Where special words were written these are also included, but feel free to adapt or adopt your own as required. Naturally we were drawn towards using some of Tchaikovsky's tunes.

The concept of the Community Song is where the audience is invited to come up on the stage to help out, and some sort of raucous competition ensues between those brave enough to come up and those left sitting in the auditorium. ("Invited" is perhaps a little inaccurate on occasions, when members of the cast go down in search of friends and other victims!). The positioning of this event just before the final scene also gives people not involved plenty of time to change into their finery for the Walkdown.

So good luck with your show. Put in local variations as you wish, and if you think you can improve on the verse then do that too! Have fun - otherwise, why do it?

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