The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Whereas Marius Petipa took inspiration for his original version from Alexandre Dumas’ adaptation of the Nutcracker story, Van Schayk and Eagling based theirs on the much less sugary and sometimes even rather spine-chilling Nußknacker und Mausekönig (1816) by E.T.A. Hoffmann. But unlike Hoffman’s tale, which takes place on Christmas Eve in a German town, their production is set on the eve of St Nicholas in Amsterdam, around 1810. Eagling and Van Schayk (Van Schayk also designed the sets and costumes) show skaters whirling over the canals of Amsterdam and transform a grand living room in a canal house into a snowy forest. All of this means that their 1996 production of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is still a technical feat of stagecraft, which transports audiences into a magical fairy-tale world.

Inside Drosselmeyer’s magic lantern

The protagonist of the ballet is Clara Staalboom, who is preparing for the festivities on the eve of St Nicholas, along with her little brother Fritz and elder sister Louise. While people skate on the canal outside the house, the guests arrive, including the old, eccentric Mr Drosselmeyer and his nephew, a young, handsome naval officer. All the children at the party get presents from St Nicholas and his helper, Piet. Fritz is delighted with his soldier’s outfit and sword, and Clara is over the moon with her nutcracker doll. When she goes to bed, Clara dreams that the doll comes to life, in the guise of Drosselmeyer’s nephew, while she herself turns into a beautiful young woman. Together, they battle the Mouse King and his army of mice, following which they end up inside Drosselmeyer’s magic lantern, which transports them to many far-flung, colourful places.