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Hansel
and GretelA Synopsis of the
Plot
ACT I
Scene 1:
In the house of a broom-maker at the edge of a forest, Hansel and
Gretel have been left by their parents, who are off in town. Gretel puts
down the stocking she is knitting to recite a nursery rhyme, which Hansel
interrupts with complaints of hunger. Gretel runs after her playful
brother, teasing him for complaining. She shows him a pitcher of milk
hidden away, but will not let him drink it. To keep him happy, she begins
to teach him how to dance.
Scene 2:
Their play is interrupted by the arrival of
Gertrude, their mother, who comes in and angrily reproves them for their
horseplay. When Hansel laughs at Gretel's punishment, his mother chases
him around the hut; in a flash the milk pitcher falls to the floor and
smashes. Furious, Gertrude chases both children out of the house and sends
them into the wood to find wild strawberries. Exhaustedly, she puts her
head down on the table just as the happy voice of her husband Peter is
heard in the distance. He has returned, slightly tipsy, and triumphant. He
shows Gertrude all the food he has bought and tells her that he sold his
brooms to a wedding party for the best price he has ever received. They
celebrate their good fortune with a toast to all broom-makers and he then
asks where the children are. When Gertrude tells him that they have gone
to the wood, he is horrified. He tells her about the Witch who lives there
and who bakes children into bread. The two rush off to find Hansel and
Gretel.
ACT II:
In a forest glade, Gretel weaves a crown of wild flowers as Hansel
picks the last of the wild strawberries. Hansel is picking
strawberries. He offers his basket to Gretel, who eats one; as they
start to leave, a cuckoo calls, and the children parrot the bird's call,
eating strawberries all the while but eating more than they are
collecting. As it grows darker, they become more and more frightened. They
realize they cannot refill the basket, and worse, that they are lost. They
hear strange noises and believe they see shadows in the dark. Their
fears multiply as they imagine threatening things behind every tree. A
mysterious figure enters and calms them, and they kneel to sing their
familiar evening prayer, then lie down to sleep. Fourteen angels surround
the sleeping children to protect them.
ACT III
At sunrise, a splendid candy house becomes visible in the background. The
Dewfairy awakens Gretel, who rouses Hansel and the children become tempted
by the many sweets, to which they promptly help themselves. A gracious but
sinister woman appears and invites them to follow her. When they
refuse, she uses magic to paralyze and trap them. She imprisons Hansel and
instructs Gretel to set the table in her house. Exulting in her
victory, she heats up her stove and tests Hansel to see if he is plump
enough to eat. Gretel overhears her plan to cook and eat her and
ingeniously frees her brother from imprisonment. She then asks the woman
to show her how to use the oven, and when she opens the oven door, Hansel
and Gretel shove her in. Hansel completes the reversal of the woman’s
spell, releasing many other children from bondage. Just then, Peter and
Gertrude arrive and are reunited with Hansel and Gretel. Led by Peter, all
assembled reflect upon God’s kindness to those in need.
Home
Biography of the composer, Engelbert
Humperdinck
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