Hansel and Gretel
Spring 2010 Production
ACT ONE: in a small cottage in the German forest. Hansel and Gretel are at home alone, ostensibly working at their chores. However, more attention is going into songs and dances, which serve better to distract them from their hunger. Mother returns home, tired and worries about how she will feed her family. The sight of the unfinished chores angers the weary woman. When she chases after the children with a broom, a jug of milk is knocked off the table to smash upon the floor. Exasperated, Mother sends the children out to pick strawberries, then falls into an exhausted sleep. She is awakened by the rather tipsy voice of Father, returning in a good mood after having sold a large number of brooms. His jollity comes to a sudden end when he realizes that the children are out alone in the forest where the Witch awaits them. His description of this evil personage so frightens Mother that she dashes off in search of the children, with Father close behind.
ACT TWO: in the forest. To the sounds of cuckoo calls, the children have been picking strawberries. Absentmindedly, they begin to munch upon their harvest until all the berries are gone, and darkness has begun to fall. Hansel promises to protect his frightened sister, though ghostly apparitions test his bravery. Only the magical appearance of the Sandman can disperse the frightening visions. The Sandman sings until Hansel and Gretel can no longer stave off sleep. They kneel and pray for the protection of the angels. As they sleep, angels guard the children.
ACT THREE: in the forest and at the house of the Witch. Morning breaks. The Dew Fairy awakens Hansel and Gretel. The children marvel that they have both dreamt of angels guarding them. Suddenly, they glimpse a house made of sweets. As Hansel nibbles at the house, a voice from within the structure startles the children. Surely, they decide, it is only the wind. But in fact, it is the Witch, armed at first with friendly words. She casts a magic spell that freezes the children in their places, then locks Hansel in a cage, and orders Gretel to set the table for a demonic dinner. But as the Witch flies gleefully around her house, the children form a plan. They convince the Witch that Hansel is too thin to eat and must be fattened up first. Gretel quietly frees Hansel from the spell. Then, she must save her own life, for the Witch has decided to make the girl her first meal. When the Witch tries to get Gretel to look inside the oven to see if it’s hot enough, Gretel pretends that she does not know how to do so. The Witch demonstrates; Gretel shoves her into the oven and slams the door. With the Witch’s death, all spells are broken. As the children dance, Mother and Father appear in time to join in the celebration. As Father reminds them all, prayers will be answered.
To learn more about "Hansel and Gretel" or any of our other performances, please contact The Motor City Lyric Office at 248.647.7976 or email info@motorcityopera.org.