The Nutcracker: The Royal Ballet Covent Garden (VHS)

Loc: (R1)

The Nutcracker: The Royal Ballet Covent Garden (VHS)

Music by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky. Original scenario by Marius Petipa. Production and revised scenario by Peter Wright.

• Rated: Not Rated
• Number of tapes: 1
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Format: Color
• Languages: English

The scene: Nuremberg in the early 19^th centrury.

The story: Herr Drosselmeyer, a maker of magical toys and clocks, once invented a trap that killed many mice. In revenge, the Queen of the Mice cast a spell turning his nephew into an ugly nutcracker doll. To break the spell, the Nutcracker must slay the Mouse King and – despite his awful appearance – win the love of a young girl.

Act I: Drosselmeyer (Michael Coleman), in his workshop, is invited to a Christmas party. Knowing that his young goddaughter Clara (Julie Rose) will be there, and also that the Mouse King and his minions will be stealing gingerbread, he takes the Nutcracker with him. As the guests leave the party, Drosselmeyer, in his imagination, transports Clara into a dreamworld where time is suspended. The Mouse King (Jonathan Cope) appears; and after a terrible battle, the Nutcracker (Guy Niblett) slays him – with Clara’s help. The spell is broken. Drosselmeyer sends the couple on a magical journey through the Land of Snow to the Kingdom of Sweets.

Act II: In the Kingdom of Sweets, they are greeted by the Prince (Anthony Dowell) and the Sugar Plum Fairy (Lesley Collier), who honor them with a magnificent entertainment. Then, the dream over, the couple returns to the end of the party. Drosselmeyer, back in his workshop, discovers that his nephew really has returned.

1985 The National Video Corp