Nutcracker

a pantomime
 Nutcracker

Cast List

Clara ............................................ a young girl (principal girl) - Casey

Frederick ........................... her brother- Toby Bennett/William Beacon
Dr Hans Stahlbaum ...................................... their father- David Clarke
Lisa Stahlbaum ............................................ their mother- Trish Spicer
Uncle Drosselmeyer ....................................... their uncle- Trevor Page
Kurt .................................................. Drosselmeyer’s assistant- Elliott
Weil ......................... Drosselmeyer’s other assistant- Andrew Bumfrey
Twitt ...................................................... The Owl in the Clock- Alice?
Prince Nikki ............ The Nutcracker (principal boy)- Sarah McKinnon
Gnawman ........................................... The Mouse King- Steven Harris
Twitchnose .............................................. A Mouselier- Kristian Fraser
Whiskers .......................................... A second Mouselier- Harvey Hill
Pip ................................................. A third Mouselier- Evie Southeran
Squeak ........................................ A fourth Mouselier- Jessica McLean
Nanny Plum ................................ The Sugar Plum Fairy- Kevin Fraser
Rock ........................... Sergeant at the Fortress of Sweets- Josh Coates
Fudge ........................... Corporal at the Fortress of Sweets-Alan James
Smartie……………………Private at the Fortress of Sweets – Elliot
Sugar Plums Ballet Fairies- Hannah Alice, Alison Bethanie
Marzipan
Nutcracker

List of Scenes

The Prologue Before the Party (Front of Tabs)

Act I Scene 1 In the Stahlbaum’s house, Christmas Eve (Full Set)
2A Behind the skirting board (Front of Tabs)
2B Clara & Frederick’s bedroom (Full Set)
3 The Battle of the Bedroom (Full Set)
4A Drosselmeyer’s den (Front of Tabs)
4B Behind the skirting board (Front of Tabs)
5 At the Fortress of Sweets (Full Set)

**** INTERVAL ****

Act II Scene 1 At the Fortress of Sweets (Full Set)

2A The Mice advance (Front of Tabs)
2B The Sugar Plum plan (Front of Tabs)
3 In the enchanted forest (Full Set)
4A Drosselmeyer’s den (Front of Tabs)
4B Clara & Frederick’s bedroom (Front of Tabs)
5 In the Stahlbaum’s house, Christmas morning (Full Set)
SX1 Audience Music - Nutcracker overture
SX2 Curtain Up Drosselmeyers Entrance
Prologue Before the Party (Front of Tabs)
(Uncle Drosselmeyer enters DR)
Drosselmeyer (Talking to himself, and drawing pictures in the air) Now
let me see – we have the body so – with the legs so – and the arms like
so – and then by moving the sword in his hand we can … ya, that will
work I think. (Calling) Boys, I think we have it now.
(Enter DR Kurt and Weil)
Kurt The equipment’s all set up and ready. I just need to know how you
want me to put him together.
Weil And I need to know what he’s to wear. A uniform of some sort, I
assume.
Drosselmeyer Yes, he is to be a soldier – a handsome soldier. And he
will work to perfection – as Uncle Drosselmeyer’s creations always do.
Kurt With a little help from his assistants.
Weil Quite a lot of help from his assistants, actually.
Drosselmeyer Ya, ya, you are right. My ideas would come to nothing
without you. But now we have not much time – he must be ready for
the party tonight.
Kurt Well you’d better explain what you want then.
Weil We don’t want another mistake on our hands.
Drosselmeyer Another mistake? What mistake is this?
Weil The owl.
Drosselmeyer The owl? He was no mistake. What makes you say that?
Kurt We thought you wanted a model, just to sit on top of a clock and
call the hours.
Weil You know – (he mimics an owl) wo-won … to-woo …
Kurt But oh no, you wanted him to fly as well.

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 Nutcracker

Drosselmeyer Well it seemed such a shame to have him sitting there all
day long doing nothing else.
Kurt So suddenly our model owl had to be able to fly.
Weil But that wasn’t enough, oh no. He also had to be able to swoop
and catch mice.
Drosselmeyer Ya, well what owl would not catch mice?
Kurt A model owl made to sit on a clock wouldn’t.
Drosselmeyer You have no heart – these creations of mine, they have to
have lives of their own, you know.
Kurt Yes, we know.
Weil Boy, don’t we know!
Drosselmeyer So no complaints! Come, let us get on with our latest
invention, or the show will never start.
(They start to exit DR)
Kurt Can we have the plans in writing this time?
Drosselmeyer In writing? It will take me longer to write than you take
to make it.
Weil So we make it up as we go along again, yes?
Drosselmeyer Don’t worry it’s all up here (taps his head) – we will have
him made beautifully in no time. (They exit)

Act I Scene 1 In the Stahlbaum’s House, Christmas Eve (Full Set)

(The room is decorated for Christmas. There is a large Christmas tree
with presents DL [offstage if necessary]. The Owl-clock stands DR with
Twitt behind it, his head showing over the top. A chorus of adult party
guests is on stage.)
SX3 Song 1 Chorus SO HERE IT IS MERRY CHRISTMAS
(At the end, Hans and Lisa Stahlbaum come forward)
Hans Welcome to you all (He goes round shaking hands) Welcome.
Lisa Where are the children?

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(Enter UL Clara and Frederick with other children and NANNY PLUM)
Clara Here we are!
Frederick Ready for our presents! NANNY PLUMS introduction to
audience and welcome to the audience girls and boys
PLUM Now Frederick what have I told you about being pushy. Leave that
to the girls dear. Clara say hello to everyone and specially to Mumsy
and Daddy popsicles. Oh I say there seems to be an awful lot of kiddy
winks here for a Christmas Eve party I’m not sure I will have made
enough eats! Ooh I’ve made all sorts ( not licorice allsorts they come in
later!!)OOOh no, We’ve got a right royal feast prepared there’s Avocado
and fried plum salad, duck in a plum sauce, pork & plum pie and for the
veggies plum and nut loaf and for afters prune roulade topped with a
plum and prune juice That should get the grown ups going!!, Then
candied plums and white chocolate plum sauce all prepared by my own
sweet plummy hands it’ll be absolutely plumscrumtious! Now then
you’ll never guess what my name is…..( audience suggestions!) No its
Wendy! The boys used to call me Bendy Wendy but I hurt my back so I
gave that name up and just became plain Plummy. That’s because I talk
so posh as if my mouth was so full of plums. Well you see I had a
fantastic upbringing with Mumsy and dadsy in London. Where I was the
belle of all the balls (careful handsome they didn’t call me bendy Wendy
for nothing!). Then I fell in love with a handsome inventor and one
night after a bit of a sesh on the dance floor he said he would whisk me
off to Fairyland and make me his Queen. Well the next morning after a
few plum juices too many he was gone and I’ve never seen him since.
But you know during that session he sort of hypnotised me with his big
beautiful eyes and I’m sure he did whisk me off to an enchanted land
full of sweet delicious things I can just barely remember it all, Well
anyway he whisked something off but let’s not talk about that otherwise
all you Daddy’s will get excited and there might be a few more of you
little darlings here at the next panto!! Anyway boys and girls I think this
is going to be a wonderful Christmas Eve with lots of fun and just to
make it go with a bang I need your help so every time I come into see
you I want you to shout Hello Nanny How’s your Plums. Lets give it a
go!

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 Nutcracker

Hans I don’t know! All you children and Nanny seem to think about
these days is presents.
Lisa Come on Hans, it is Christmas.
Chorus 1 There’s a lot of presents under the tree.
Chorus 2 I wonder who they’re for?
Lisa Well let’s see shall we? (She goes to the tree)
Child 1 Me first!
Child 2 No me!
(There is a general hubbub among the children)
Lisa Now no pushing, or nobody will get anything. Look at all these
good children sitting quietly here (indicates the audience) – don’t you
think they should be first?
(Business as small gifts, sweets, etc, get distributed to the children in the
audience. While this is going on, the stage children also receive their
presents, except for Clara and Frederick)
Plum – Oh and me me me what about me ( pushing her way to the
front)
And this one is to Clara and Frederick, from Uncle Drosselmeyer.
Frederick From Uncle? What is it?
Clara He always sends us really good presents.
Lisa It feels very heavy. (She hands them a package)
Frederick Let me open it!
Clara You always open them – let me!
Hans Now then, you two – don’t squabble. You’ve got to share it,
whatever it is.
Lisa Don’t drop it on your toes.
Plum Oooh that Uncle Drosselmeyer he’s so cute I’m sure Ive met him
before. I wish he’d give me a present I’d be ever so grateful, I give him
a right slobbery kiss on the chops…erhhmm a nice little peck on his
cheeks

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 (The other children crowd round as Clara and Frederick open it)
Child 1 Let’s see!
Child 2 It’s not very big, is it.
Child 3 What is it?
Frederick It’s a … I don’t know what it is.
Clara It’s made out of wood.
Frederick It’s a soldier.
Clara Just a soldier?
(Uncle Drosselmeyer enters UL to hear this)
Drosselmeyer A very special soldier. You don’t think your Uncle
Drosselmeyer would give you a commonplace present, do you?
Frederick What does he do?
Clara Does he march?
Frederick Does he fight?
Drosselmeyer Nothing so ordinary – he is a nutcracker.
Clara A what?
Frederick A nutcracker?
Drosselmeyer Look, I will show you. Bring me a bowl of nuts.
(Clara goes to fetch one)
Frederick What’s special about a nutcracker?
Drosselmeyer This is the most perfect nutcracker ever made. Watch.
(Clara has returned with a bowl) Thank you, my dear. Now, which do
you think are the hardest nuts to crack? (Possible business with the
audience) How about this walnut?
Clara I always get bits of shell in with the nut when I crack it.
Drosselmeyer Not with Uncle Drosselmeyer’s nutcracker. It cracks
anything perfectly.
Plum Yes I have that problem too

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 Nutcracker

(He puts the nut in the soldier’s mouth, and pulls back the sword – the
soldier’s teeth move to crack the nut)
There – four perfect portions of nut, and not a sliver of shell in them.
(He hands them out to Clara, Frederick and two of the children)
Frederick Here, let me try. What about this big Brazil nut?
(He cracks it successfully in the same way. Then all the children want a
go, and cluster round Clara and Frederick DL)
Lisa (To Uncle Drosselmeyer) That seems to be a success.
Drosselmeyer Have you ever known my presents be unsuccessful?
Hans But just a nutcracker – usually it’s something far more exotic.
Drosselmeyer (Indicating) Like my Owl-clock you mean? Ya, but wait
and see – wait and see. This nutcracker will surprise you yet.
Clara (Coming over with the nutcracker in her arms) Frederick’s trying
to break him by putting silly things in his mouth.
Frederick Uncle said he’d crack anything – I was just trying, that’s all.
Clara He was trying to crack marbles.
Lisa Well, it’s time to eat now. Come into the dining room and put him
away until afterwards.
Child 1 Are there cakes?
Child 2 And jellies?
Child 3 And Marmite sandwiches?
Child 1 Marmite sandwiches?
Child 3 Well, I like them.
Lisa Yes, there’s all those things and more. This way. Come along.
(She leads everybody off UL, leaving Clara and Drosselmeyer)
Clara Is he hurt, Uncle?
Drosselmeyer (Inspecting the nutcracker) No, no. It would take more
than that to hurt one of Uncle Drosselmeyer’s inventions.

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Clara He’s got a lovely smile – look at him! I shall put him in my doll’s
bed to rest until after supper.
Drosselmeyer That is very kind of you, my dear Clara. I’m sure he will
be grateful for that.
Clara What’s his name?
Drosselmeyer His name? His name is Prince Nikita – Nikki for short.
Clara A prince?
Drosselmeyer Ah yes, only the best from Uncle Drosselmeyer.
Clara A real prince! I’m going to take good care of you, Prince Nikki,
you see if I don’t.
Drosselmeyer Ya, I think you will be very happy together – very happy.
Now come along, or all the food will be gone
SX4Song 2 Clara solo ‘HERO’
. SX5 Entrance of the mice and scene change
Act I Scene 2A Behind the Skirting Board (Front of Tabs)
(Enter DL Gnawman, the Mouse King)
Gnawman (To the audience) Enjoying the party, are you? (He laughs)
Well, we’ll soon change that! Where there’s parties there’s food – and
where there’s food there’s mice. And d’you think mice are nice?
(Business) Well some may be, but not me and my mouseliers. I’m
King Gnawman of the Skirting Board, and after dark, when all the
humans have gone to bed, we can do what we like.
Now where are my trusty henchmen? (Shouting) Twitchnose!
Whiskers! Where have you got to?
(Enter DR Twitchnose and Whiskers, arguing)
Twitchnose There’s no need to get personal. You may be too picky to
eat (local store’s) Cheddar, but some of us quite like it really.
Whiskers With a nose like yours I’m not surprised. It takes so long for
the smell to get up, you’ve eaten it before you know what it is.
Twitchnose Well you get right up my nose for a start.

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 Nutcracker

Gnawman That’s enough, you two – you’re at it from dusk to dawn –

it’s more than a mouse can stand.
Whiskers He starts it. It’s pick, pick, pick, all day long.
Twitchnose Some people just can’t take criticism.
Gnawman Enough, I said. We have to plan our night’s work.
Whiskers Which larders to raid.
Twitchnose Which bins to attack.
Whiskers Just a minute – which Pantomime is this?
Twitchnose It’s not Dick Whittington, is it?
Whiskers Or Puss in Boots?
Both Any cats in it?
Gnawman There’s no cats in this show.
Twitchnose Oh, that’s alright then.
Whiskers Just checking. Only a friend of mine got a part in Puss in
Boots once, and now he’s (sniff) …
Twitchnose … just a tailpiece (sniff).
Gnawman There is an owl, of course.
Whiskers An owl? They’re just as bad as cats.
Twitchnose They eat mice too.
Gnawman Then you’d better watch out for him, hadn’t you. Now, about
tonight …
Whiskers Is he a big owl?
Twitchnose Does he get hungry?
Gnawman Not as hungry as you’ll get if you don’t shut up and listen to
me. This is a special night.
Whiskers It’s Christmas Eve.
Gnawman Well done! And what does Christmas Eve mean?
Twitchnose Tomorrow’s Christmas Day.

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Gnawman Brilliant Twitchnose – we’ll make a mouse of you yet. And
Christmas Day means lots of chocolate lying around, and you know I
have a thing about chocolate.
Twitchnose Oh boy, does he have a thing about chocolate!
Whiskers (Looking around) I can’t see any.
Gnawman Neither can I – but I can smell it! It’s all over the house –
wrapped up ready to be given out as presents tomorrow.
Twitchnose Oh, that’s a nice thought.
Gnawman Nice for us. We shall find it, all of it, and bring it back here
to eat at our own Christmas party.
Whiskers Do mice eat chocolate?
Gnawman Do mice eat chocolate! This mouse would eat nothing else if
he could get it. Tonight we raid the rooms while the humans sleep.
SX6 Gnawman, Twitchnose, Whiskers ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
Backed by Chorus Dance Number
Gnawman Come –it’s time to sniff and snuffle,
for Coffee Cream and Savoy Truffle.
(The three mice move offstage as the curtain opens for Scene 2B)
SX7 Music to cover change
Act I Scene 2B Clara’s Bedroom (Full set)
(Enter NANNY PLUM, Frederick and Clara, who is carrying the
nutcracker)
PLUM Now come on children it’s time for beddy weddy. Nanny plum
needs her beauty sleep and you have to be up early in the morning to
help me bake Xmas Dinner whilst I open your presents. I mean the
presents you have given to me….not me opening the presents that you
have been given…you have remembered my present haven’t you. Ooh I
wonder what it could be is it a new dress. A nice deep plum colour
that’s what I want. What about a new set of earings oh oh or what about
a nice new ruby plum bracelet or a nice new plum hat with a very large
feather in it that’s in the window of the hat shop on the corner of
greengage street.

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 Nutcracker

Frederick Do we have to go to bed now – it’s too early.

Clara The sooner we’re asleep, the sooner it’s Christmas Day – you
know that.
Yes and the sooner we get our press wessys Well night night children.
I’ll sleep in here tonight
Drosselmeyer And as a treat, when you’re in bed Uncle Drosselmeyer
will tell you one of his special stories.
Frederick Will it be about soldiers and battles?
Clara Will it be about dear Prince Nikki? (To the nutcracker) There,
you can sleep in your box under my bed tonight. (She puts him there)
Plum oooh oooh will it be about Plums. What about your famous
Chocolate plums I can’t wait to get em round me gums
Drosselmeyer Perhaps it will be about all three – you will have to wait
and see.
(Clara and Frederick sit on the bed)
Frederick Clara always wants soppy stories about dolls and things.
Clara I like stories about people – nice people, not people who go
around firing guns and fighting all the time.
Drosselmeyer Well now, let me think. All good stories have to have a
few bad people in them, because that’s the way the world is I’m afraid.
But we can make sure the good people win in the end. So, are you
settled down?
Plum Hang on whilst I get ready after all I want to look nice on Xmas
day
(He sits with them, and begins to tell his tale – during the tale the lights
dim and a spotlight appears DSL where Madria and Nikki appear and act
out the drama – at the end Nikki disappears and Madria exits with a
cackling laugh)
Drosselmeyer Once upon a time, there was a handsome prince who lived
in a faraway kingdom, where rivers flowed with lemonade and houses
were made out of sweets and candy. Everyone was very happy there, as
you can imagine, but one day the wicked witch Madria appeared. She
was old and ugly, and was jealous of the handsome prince and his happy

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 people, so she put an evil spell on him and turned him into – a
nutcracker.
Clara Nikki!
Frederick (Sleepily) Keep quiet, I’m listening.
Drosselmeyer Worse was to follow, for she also brought with her an
army of enormous mice, who ate all the sweets and left the people with
nothing. The prince could see what was going on but, being now a
nutcracker, he couldn’t do anything about it. Then one day a magician
found him for sale in a shop. He could tell there was something unusual
about the nutcracker, so he bought it and took it home, where he tried all
sorts of magic to find out its secret. He wasn’t powerful enough to
break the witch’s curse completely, but he did have enough magic to let
the poor prince speak to him, even though he was still the size and shape
of a nutcracker.
(Drosselmeyer pauses to look at the children – who are almost asleep)
And when he had heard the prince’s story, he determined to do all he
could to get him back his kingdom, and defeat the witch and her army of
fierce mice. And so, one dark night, round about Christmas time as it
happens, the magician put his plan into operation But you are almost
asleep; more tomorrow, come Frederick it is time to let Clara sleep… –
goodnight my dear…
SX8 A Lullaby is played as HUSHABYE MOUNTAIN – BALLET NUMBER
Act I Scene 3 The Battle of the Bedroom (Full Set)
(A chorus of Mice enter UL and dance to the music)
SX9 Entrance of Gnawman and crew
(Gnawman enters from UL with Twitchnose and Whiskers and mouse
chorus including Pip and Squeak)
Gnawman Well, my beauties – are you ready for action?
Twitchnose Oo! Am I a beauty then?
Whiskers He said beauties – he must mean me as well.
Gnawman You two? You can’t be serious! I was talking to this lot
here. (He indicates the chorus)

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 Nutcracker

Twitchnose Huh! Nothing particularly beautiful about them.

Whiskers Perfectly common or garden mice, they are.
Pip I’m not a garden mouse, I’m a house mouse.
Whiskers Alright, so you’re all hice mice then.
Twitchnose That still makes you common.
Pip What are you then, Twitchnose?
Squeak He’s not common – he’s just odd!
(The Mouse chorus dissolve into squeaks of laughter)
Gnawman Enough! Let’s have some sort of order here.
Whiskers Oh thank you – I’ll have a light ale.
Gnawman You’ll have no tail at all when I’ve finished with you. We
are here for a purpose.
Twitchnose Is that like a dolphin?
Gnawman A purpose, not a porpoise you idiot! Can anyone remember
what we’re here for?
(Whiskers and Twitchnose look at each other, shrug, and decide to ask
the audience – business with the audience)
Gnawman We’re here to steal all the chocolate in the house.
Twitchnose Hang on! (He sniffs the air) I think I can smell something.
Whiskers He knows, you know!
Twitchnose (Following the scent to Clara’s bed) Aha, yes!
(Twitchnose pulls a box of chocolates from under the bed and scuttles
back with them)
Gnawman Let me see.
Twitchnose (Hanging on to them) Finders keepers!
Gnawman (Grabbing them away from him) Losers weepers – there’s
enough for all of us.
Whiskers Can I have a soft centre?

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Gnawman Don’t tempt me! You can have what you’re given. Now
then, let’s see what’s in here. (He looks in the box, and reels back in
horror) Eek!
Twitchnose What’s the matter, boss?
Gnawman Chocolate coated mice!
Whiskers Not nice!
Gnawman The poor things must have fallen into a machine in the sweet
factory.
Twitchnose What a way to go!
Gnawman (Handing them to one of the mouse chorus) Here, go and
give them a decent burial.
Whiskers Perhaps there’s something better under the bed.
(Whiskers sneaks towards Clara’s bed, and finds the Nutcracker)
Aha! what’s this?
(The noise wakes Clara, who looks at the Mice and screams)
Clara Ugh! Who are you? Help! Frederick! (She leaps out of bed and
calls to Frederick) Mice – nasty big mice – all round me help!
Frederick (entering Sleepily USR) Wha’?
Clara (Shaking him) Mice!
Frederick Mice? Trust a girl to be afraid of mice! They won’t hurt you
– (Suddenly he sees how big they are) Much!
(Clara and Frederick cling to each other DL while the Mice assemble SR)
Clara Who are you – what do you want?
Twitchnose Give us some chocolate –
Whiskers (Holding the Nutcracker) – or we keep your friend here.
Clara He’s got Nikki – give him back to me, you brute!
Gnawman No chocolate, no Nikki.
Frederick We haven’t got any more chocolate – give him back to us!

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 Nutcracker

(The Mice start to chant, softly at first but getting louder, and more
menacing, as they form into a group and steadily approach Clara and
Frederick DL)
Mice Milk chocolate, plain chocolate,
Nut ’n’ raisin fruity chocolate,
Bar chocolate, slab chocolate,
Just a hint of minty chocolate …
Clara No!
Frederick Go away!
(The children standing on beds surrounded by Mice)
Clara Help! Uncle Drosselmeyer, help!
(At this, there is a flash from SLC and Prince Nikki appears. The Mice
retreat squealing to SL, as Nikki strides to centre stage)
Nikki That’s enough, you miserable mice – you’ve met your match at
last.
Gnawman (Advancing) And just who d’you think you are?
Nikki I am Prince Nikita of Candyland.
Clara Nikki! You’ve come to life!
Nikki I’ll soon put a stop to you and your mousy tricks.
Gnawman You and who else?
Twitchnose (Coming forward) Yeah, we’re not afraid of an overgrown
nutcracker.
Whiskers (Also coming forward) You are crackers if you think we’re
going to stop for you.
Nikki We’ll see about that. (Shouting to SR) Bring out the cannon!
(Two toy soldiers roll in a cannon from the cupboard SR. The Mice
retreat to SL again)
Gnawman (Stepping forward) So, it’s a battle is it? Well, my
mouseliers will soon sort out your tin soldiers. (To the Mice) Draw
your swords, my brave mice!
Twitchnose Hang on – I’ll just go and get some paper and pencils.

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Whiskers Ooh, I dunno Boss – I’m not very good at drawing.
Gnawman Fools! I mean draw your swords like this. (He goes to draw
his sword, but it’s stuck in its scabbard. There is business as Twitch-
nose and Whiskers try to help him. Eventually he draws and flourishes
it) On guard!
(The other Mice all draw their swords with a flourish, and start to
advance on Nikki and the soldiers)
Nikki Fire the cannon!
(The cannon fires a gaily coloured powder puff at the Mice)
Gnawman Ha! You’re using the wrong sort of powder. It’ll take more
than that to hold us back.
(The cannon fires several more powder puffs as the Mice steadily
advance, chanting as before)
Nikki We’re not finished yet. Bring in the infantry!
SX10 – Sound of Trumpets
(Several soldiers come out of the cupboard with swords at the ready)
Form a line men. Prepare to attack!
SX11 – Sound of battle with music
(A fight ensues, which can be choreographed as desired. In the end the
Soldiers are no match for the Mice, and are chased back into the
cupboard. Nikki is left facing Gnawman in single combat)
Gnawman So, Nutcracker, you dare to challenge the Mouse King to a
duel. I will show you no mercy.
Nikki I expect none from you, you rotten rodent.
Clara Be careful Nikki!
Frederick Give him one from me.
(The pair fight. Eventually, Nikki loses his sword and falls to the
ground (CS). Gnawman is gloating)
Gnawman So, you thought you could beat me. Well, you’ve cracked
your last walnut, Prince Nikita.

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 Nutcracker

Clara No! No!

(Clara finds a slipper and throws it at Gnawman in desperation. It hits
him on the back, and he turns to see what it is. Nikki takes the
opportunity to grab Gnawman’s sword and turn it against him)
Nikki Now it’s my turn to crack the jokes. (To the audience) What shall
I do with him? Feed him to the cat? (Replies from the audience) No,
mine only eats Kit-e-kat. Send him to Disneyland? (Replies from the
audience) No, they’d only take the Mickey. Let him go free?
Gnawman Yes, yes – that’s the one I’d go for.
Nikki Why should I show you any mercy? You would have killed me.
Gnawman Ah yes, but I’m the baddy you see, and you’re the goody.
Nikki I’ll let you go on one condition.
Gnawman Conditions, conditions – always conditions.
Nikki You and your mean Mice leave this house tonight and never
return.
Gnawman You’d throw us out?
Nikki Yes!
Gnawman Into the snow and ice?
Nikki Yes!
Gnawman At Christmas time? The season of good will?
Nikki Good will to all men – that doesn’t include Mice. Off you go!
Gnawman But …
Nikki No buts – go!
(Gnawman slouches offstage through auditorium, a defeated mouse,
followed by the other Mice )
Clara (Rushing up to Nikki and hugging him) Nikki! You’re safe.
Nikki Thanks to you throwing your slipper at the right time.
Frederick You said you were the Prince of Candyland – where’s that? I
bet you made it up.

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Nikki No, I am the Prince of Candyland.
Frederick Show me on a map.
Nikki Oh it’s not a place that’s on any of your maps.
Frederick There, I said you were making it up.
Clara Don’t be mean, Frederick – Nikki’s just fought a battle for us, and
all you can do is start arguing with him.
Frederick I’m not arguing – I just bet he can’t show us this Candyland
of his – that’s all.
Clara (To Nikki) Can you show us?
Nikki Only if you help me.
Clara Of course we’ll help you. What do you want us to do?
Nikki Believe.
Clara Believe what?
Nikki Believe that Candyland exists – and it will. Come with me, and
we’ll be in Candyland before you know it.
SX12 – Amarillo Nikki,Clara and Fred
(The curtain closes on them)
Act I Scene 4A In Drosselmeyer’s Toy Shop (Front of Tabs)
(Enter DR Drosselmeyer with a sheet of paper, and Kurt and Weil)
Drosselmeyer Now, you know what you have to do, don’t you?
Kurt Ya, you want us to make another of your inventions.
Weil What is it this time? A cage to catch moonbeams?
Drosselmeyer No, that is impracticable.
Kurt A working model of the British Economy?
Drosselmeyer No, that is impossible.
Weil Well, what then?
Drosselmeyer I want you to make me the perfect mousetrap.
Kurt Agatha Christie’s already done it.

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 Nutcracker

Drosselmeyer Nein, I mean for real mice. They will cause trouble again
in Candyland now that Prince Nikita is free – if we do not stop them
Gnawman will spur them on.
Weil Difficult things to catch, mice.
Kurt Do you want them dead or alive?
Drosselmeyer Alive of course – this is a family show – there may be
people out there who like mice.
Weil Perhaps they’d like these ones.
Drosselmeyer I doubt it.
Kurt Well we’ll have to go and think about it.
Weil It won’t be easy.
Drosselmeyer Easy? Nothing worth doing is ever easy. Now,I’ll see you
later so you had better start working. (They start to go) Oh by the way
– one thing you should know – they like chocolate.
Kurt A trap for chocolate-loving mice.
Weil Leave it to us. (Kurt and Weil exit DR)
Drosselmeyer Now where’s that owl? I sent him on ahead to spy out the
land. Has anyone seen him? Twitt! Twitt!
Twitt (Entering DL) Twoo!
Drosselmeyer There you are! Where have you been?
Twitt I’ve been on the wing – riding the air waves – soaring up, up and
away.
Drosselmeyer Not too far away I hope – I asked you to tell me how
Prince Nikki and the children were doing.
Twitt I flew in the sky, and from way up on high, I saw they were getting
along bye and bye.
Drosselmeyer Very poetic, Twitt. Any sign of those mice?
Twitt Not just at the moment; all over the house, no one is stirring, not
even a mouse.

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Drosselmeyer Well, that’s just as well – but I don’t trust them. We
haven’t seen the last of those mice, you mark my words. Come – we
must move on – there is much to be done. (They exit DR)
SX13 –500 miles Drosselmeyer Kurt Wiel and chorus – tap number
Act I Scene 4B Behind the Skirting Boards (Front of Tabs)
(Enter DL Gnawman, Twitchnose and Whiskers)
Twitchnose Are we leaving the house then, Boss?
Whiskers I didn’t think you’d keep your promise – you don’t usually.
Gnawman No, I don’t, do I.
Twitchnose So why are we going?
Gnawman I have my reasons.
Whiskers Is that all you’re going to tell us? ‘You have your reasons’.
Gnawman They’re very good reasons.
Twitchnose Oh good! I’m glad I’m being chucked out of my house for a
good reason.
Whiskers Makes you feel like it’s all in a good cause.
Gnawman It is. We’re moving to a better home.
Twitchnose We are? Where’s that?
Gnawman Candyland.
Whiskers Candyland – is that a real place?
Gnawman It’s where that Prince Nikki is going – and we’re going after
him to seek our revenge.
Twitchnose Well, they say revenge is sweet – very sweet in this case.
Whiskers Are there chocolates in Candyland?
Gnawman You only get chocolates after we’ve caught him.
Twitchnose Oh, come on Boss.
Whiskers It is Christmas tomorrow.

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 Nutcracker

Gnawman No more arguments. Gather the other mice together and tell
them we leave immediately – for the land of sweets!
SX14 – Memories are made of this Gnawman,Twitch and Whiskers
NO MUSIC ACCOMPANIMENT
(Twitchnose and Whiskers exit DL, still grumbling)
Gnawman (Making a few practice flourishes with his sword) This time
there will be no mistake. Prince Nikki will soon regret the day he ever
crossed swords with noble King Gnawman of the Skirting Boards! Ha
ha! (Exits DL)
PLUM Oh Dear oh Dear you’ll never guess I slept through Uncle
Drosslemeyers story well he does go on a bit ..but I do like him and
when I woke Freddy and Clara had gone. Oh what shall I do I’ve never
lost any of my children before.I wonder what made them go off on their
own… What mice are you sure mice are nice, Was there a mouse in the
house Did you see where they went… Which way… this way. Oh just
wait until I get hold of that uncle Drosselmeyer.
SX15 – Cover change – to fortress scens Nutcracker music
Act I Scene 5 At the Fortress of Sweets (Full Set)
(The scene starts with Front Tabs closed. Nikki enters DR with Clara
and Frederick)
Clara We seem to have been walking for ever.
Nikki It’s not much further now.
Frederick You keep saying that – I bet there’s still miles to go yet.
Clara Stop it Frederick! I’m sure Nikki’s doing his best.
Frederick Well where are we then? Admit it – you’re lost and you don’t
know where we are.
Nikki Oh, I know very well. You forget, I am coming home.
Clara Home to Candyland. Will we meet all your friends?
Nikki I hope so I’ve been away so long. Just round the next bend we
should come to the Fortress of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy
lives.

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Frederick Who?
Nikki The Sugar Plum Fairy – everyone’s named after sweets here.
Frederick Bet there isn’t a Gob Stopper!
Clara Frederick!
(The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy starts playing softly in the
background)
Clara Listen – I can hear music.
Nikki Then we’ve arrived. Welcome to Candyland and the Fortress of
Sweet!
SX16 – Entrance of Sweet Fairies and The Sugar Plum Fairy
(A junior chorus of Fairies dances to the music. At the end of the
dance, the Sugar Plum Fairy enters with the Flower Fairies USR)
Sugar Plum Prince Nikita! Clara, Freddie (She curtsies) I’ve found you
at last I went to Uncle Drosslemeyer and this funny little owl showed
me the way. I knew I had been here before. I thought I was dreaming at
first but when I arrived I knew I was home. You see I am the Queen
Fairy of Candyland. And that evil Gnawman had managed to banish me
to your house.
Nikki Yes Sugar Plum and thanks to Freddie and Clara the spell is
broken and I am free.
Frederick We had to fight with the most enormous mice.
Clara You didn’t fight them, Nikki did.
Frederick I did too fight them!
Sugar Plum (To the children) Well, whoever fought them, we are very
glad to see you here. But you must be weary after such a long journey.
Go with my fairies and they will give you some refreshment.
(She indicates to the Fairies, two of whom come forward)
Candy, Marzipan – look after these good children for me if you please.
(Clara and Frederick exit USL with the junior fairies)

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 Nutcracker

(To Nikki) And I will get my servants to prepare you the best room in
the castle. It’s not every day our prince and Queen returns home
together.
Nikki And you must tell me all that has happened since I was forced to
leave Candyland.
PLUM Well that’s not going to be easy but you see I have been living in
Bavaria as a Nanny and inventing lots of plumscrumptious
things. Inveting that reminds me that Drosselmeyer fellow
looks very familiar I just wonder where I know him from!
SX17 – Dum Dum Dum
(They exit USR with the Flower Fairies)
(There is a pause, then Sergeant Rock and Corporal Fudge enter USL)
Rock Time you were on guard, Corporal Fudge.
Fudge Oh Sergeant Rock, sir, I really don’t feel like it.
Rock Don’t feel like it? What’s that got to do with it? We can’t leave
the Fortress undefended just because you don’t feel like it.
Fudge Can’t someone else do it today?
Rock No, someone else can’t do it today. I’ve never heard such rubbish.
Fudge It’s so boring being on guard here – nothing ever happens.
Rock Well you’re lucky then, aren’t you – you get paid for doing
nothing.
Fudge Nobody ever comes – I just stand here and count the stripes on the
towers.
Rock I could always find you something else to do. Like cleaning the
sugar-glass windows, or polishing the barley-sugar columns.
Fudge Oh, no thank you, Serg. Counting stripes will do nicely, thank
you kindly.
Rock Let’s have no more complaints from you then, lad.
SX18 – Rock and Fudge PRIVATES ON PARADE
Rock I’ll leave you to it then. Corporal Allsorts will be taking over the
next watch from you.

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Fudge What, old Liquorice? He’s used to giving relief.
Rock What’s that?
Fudge Nothing, Serg.
(Sergeant Rock exits USL, muttering to himself)
Fudge Ah well, better make the effort to look busy I suppose. (He starts
to march backwards and forwards across the stage) Backwards and
forwards all day long. (To the audience as he marches) It’s all made
out of sweets this place, you know. You could eat the whole lot, except
it would make you sick. (He stops) You don’t believe me? Well, look
at this then. (He breaks off a suitable piece of balustrade or similar and
eats it) Mmm! Caramel toffee. Sticks your teeth together.
(Drosselmeyer and Twitt enter DSR while Corporal Fudge is busy)
Drosselmeyer Ha! Who’s this eating up house and home?
Fudge (Turning in surprise, with his mouth full) ’Alt ’oo go’ ’ere!
Drosselmeyer Pardon?
Fudge I ’aid ’oo go’ ’ere.
Drosselmeyer Is he speaking some language you understand Twitt?
Twitt It sounds like ‘Who goes there’ with your mouth full.
Drosselmeyer I see. Well we go here, but our mouths are empty. Is that
alright?
Fudge (Recovering his diction) Who are you?
Drosselmeyer Travellers.
Fudge New age travellers?
Drosselmeyer No, old age.
Fudge I see you’ve brought your bird with you.
Drosselmeyer I’m an ornithologist.
Fudge A horny what?
Drosselmeyer Ornithologist – I study birds.

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 Nutcracker

Fudge Oh, right. (Nudge, nudge) Know what you mean. I know a nice
Brown Owl myself.
Twitt Excuse me – may I join in this conversation before it deteriorates?
Fudge She speaks!
Twitt He speaks. He also eats vermin, so watch it!
(Clara and Frederick enter USL)
Clara Uncle Drosselmeyer, you’re here! And Twitt too.
Drosselmeyer Just a flying visit, as Twitt would say, to make sure you’re
alright.
Frederick You should see this place inside – you can eat the furniture!
Drosselmeyer Not to be recommended though, eh? Where’s the Prince?
Clara He’s with the Sugar Plum Fairy – she’s lovely. Come and meet
her.
Drosselmeyer Well, just for a while, then I must be away again.
Frederick Where do you keep going to? You pop up here and there all
over the place.
Drosselmeyer (Mysteriously) I have to keep the story going.
Clara I don’t understand.
Drosselmeyer Nor should you, my dear, nor should you. Come, lead me
to the Prince.
(Drosselmeyer, Clara and Frederick exit USR)
Fudge (To Twitt) I hope I didn’t ruffle your feathers too much just now.
Twitt Oh don’t worry – I really don’t give a hoot.
Fudge You know, you owls always sound pretty scary to me.
Twitt Those cries in the night? They’re just ’owls of delight.
Fudge (Unconvinced) Is that a fact?
(Enter USL Sergeant Rock)
Rock What’s going on out here – people keep coming and going all the
time – are we challenging them Fudge?

Page 24
Fudge Oh yes sir, they find us very challenging.
Rock What’s today’s password then?
Fudge I can’t tell you that, Serg.
Rock Why not?
Fudge Well, for one reason, it says in the rules you are never to disclose
your password to anyone else, under pain of dismissal.
Rock Quite right Fudge – but I am your superior officer – you can tell
me.
Fudge Ah, but the other reason is – I’ve forgotten it.
Rock Forgotten your password? What kind of a sentry are you?
Fudge A bysmal one, Serg.
Rock Quite right, Fudge. In fact you’re the bysmalest one I know. This
your bird?
Fudge We’ve just been through all that, Serg.
Rock (To Twitt) You staying long?
Twitt No, I’m just a bird of passage.
Rock Well there’s a corridor in there where you can wait then.
Twitt Oh, ha ha.
Rock Walk this way please.
Twitt If I walked that way, I’d trip over my tail.
(They all exit USL)
(Suddenly Gnawman’s head appears round the corner of the stage DSL)
Gnawman Aha! Found it! So this is where they are.
(He comes on stage, followed by Twitchnose and Whiskers)
Twitchnose What do we do now we’re here, boss?
Whiskers Call in the mob?
Gnawman Not yet – I want to see the lie of the land first.
Twitchnose The cheque’s in the post.

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 Nutcracker

Gnawman Pardon?
Twitchnose That’s one of the biggest lies in the land.
Gnawman Thank you, Twitchnose, we’ll let you know. Now, I want
you to go that way (points UR), and Whiskers, you go that way (points
USL).
Whiskers And you?
Gnawman I’ll stay here and wait for you to report back.
(Twitchnose and Whiskers creep off UR and UL respectively. Mean-
while Gnawman talks to the audience)
You didn’t think I was going to let that Prince Nikki get away with it,
did you? King Gnawman always gets his man in the end. I’ll soon have
this place overrun with my merry mice, and then there won’t be a stick
of candy left in Candyland and Madria will be grateful and help me to
gain more power .
(While he is talking, Sergeant Rock and Corporal Fudge creep from
USR and UL down towards him. Naturally he doesn’t notice them
coming, until they grab him)
Fudge Gotcha!
Rock You’re under arrest.
Gnawman Curses! Where did you two come from?
Rock Don’t try to scamper away.
Fudge Or we’ll get you by the short and curlies.
(At this point Twitchnose and Whiskers re-emerge from opposite sides of
the Fortress, and creep down to grab Rock and Fudge)
Twitchnose Oh no you don’t, you horrible humans.
Whiskers You can’t bag our Boss like that.
Gnawman (Breaking loose) Well done boys! I’ll see you get a medal
for this. (To Rock and Fudge) Now the tables are turned – tell me,
where is the Prince?.
Rock Tell them nothing, Fudge.
Fudge Can’t do that, Serg – I don’t know nothing.

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Gnawman We have ways of making you squeak – let’s see what you’ve
got that’s short and curly.
Fudge Here, Serg, I don’t like the sound of that.
Rock You won’t like the feel of it either.
Gnawman Be quiet!
Fudge I thought you wanted us to speak.
Gnawman Only when you’re spoken to.
Twitchnose What d’you want us to do with them, Boss?
Gnawman I’m thinking.
Whiskers Well you’d better think quick, because somebody’s coming.
Gnawman This way then (indicating DR) – back to the forest with them.
(Suddenly Twitt appears there, blocking their way)
Twitchnose Eek! An Owl!
Whiskers Help! Don’t eat us!
(They release Rock and Fudge in their panic)
Rock I thought we locked that owl up.
Twitt You left the window open, twit! I flew out.
Fudge That’s a bit of luck, Serg.
(Rock and Fudge move to block the DL exit. Twitchnose and Whiskers
cringe centre stage )
Rock You’re surrounded – better give yourself up.
Gnawman (Drawing his sword) Never! The Gnawman conquest will
succeed! We will fight to the last mouse.
(Suddenly Nikki appears UR with Sugar Plum, and a chorus of courtiers
enters SR and SL)
Nikki There he is – the evil monster who would take over your land and
ruin it. Get him, men.
Twitchnose Mind if we pass on this one, Boss?

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Whiskers It’s just that the odds aren’t even any more.
Gnawman What are you, mice or men?
Twitchnose Er, mice actually – run!
Nikki They’re getting away. Stop them!
SX19 –Chase Music -fades each time people speak thn fades back up
again Fades as Gnawman and rest go off for last time.
The chorus, along with Drosselmeyer, Clara and Frederick, and a chase
ensues. In the end all three mice escape in the general mayhem –
Madria casts a spell which momentarily halts the pursuers and the mice
escape through the auditorium.
As the music ends, the soldiers led by Drosselmeyer and Twitt exit
following the mice – the rest are left waving to them as the curtain
closes.
SX20 – Fades Up into NUTCRACKER Music
SX 21 Interval Music
*** INTERVAL ***
SX 23 Opening Music

Act II Scene 1 At the Fortress of Sweets (Full Set)

PLUM Well Boys and girls have you all had a nice time are we all
having lots of Candy and chocolate and ice cream o h good the
coffers will be flowing tonight then. So shall we have a recap……
…………… So in short everything is Awesome!
(The scene opens at the Fortress of Sweets again. A chorus of courtiers
and guards, including Rock and Fudge, is on stage)
SX 23 Chorus, Rock, Fudge – EVERYTHING IS AWESOME
(At the end of the song, Sugar Plum, Nikki, Clara & Frederick enter USR)
Sugar Plum I’m beginning to get worried about your old Uncle Drossel-
meyer. It’s been a long time since he went off after those mice and I
hear Gnawmans around again – he can be a nasty bit of work.

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Frederick Oh don’t worry about him – he’ll turn up again alright.
Clara Don’t be so mean, Frederick – Sugar Plum’s quite right to be
worried – those mice were nasty, horrid things, weren’t they Nikki.
Nikki Yes, but your Uncle has a trick or two up his sleeve, I’ll be bound.
He’ll be an even match for Madria.
Clara I do hope so – I wouldn’t like to see him get hurt.
Sugar Plum Well, there’s nothing much we can do about it at the
moment. Look, I’ve asked some of my fairies to entertain you while we
wait.
Frederick (Derisively) Fairies!
Clara Oh Frederick, you are rude!
Frederick I’d rather be out watching the soldiers.
Sugar Plum We’re all fairy-tale creatures here, you know – even the
soldiers. (She indicates Rock and Fudge)
Fudge Oh yes! I’m a real sweetie on sentry duty!
Rock You’re too soft, Fudge. It takes a rock-hard character to make a
proper soldier.
Fudge With letters right through your middle.
Rock You said you’d never mention that – you promised!
Fudge Serves you right – calling me a softie.
Clara Letters through his middle?
Frederick Like, “Present from Southsea”?
Rock (Defensively) Not quite like that.
Fudge Oh come on Serg, show us your message.
Sugar Plum A message, Sergeant Rock? We didn’t know about this.
Rock No, ma’am, it’s a family secret – or was. (Stares hard at Fudge)
Frederick Where is it?
Rock (Embarrassed) I’d really rather not say.
Sugar Plum But Corporal Fudge has seen it.

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 Nutcracker

Rock In the seclusion of the barracks wash house, yes ma’am.

Fudge Corporal Allsorts thought it was very appropriate.
Sugar Plum So Bertie’s seen it too.
Rock He was changing his liquorice sticks at the time, and we were
comparing notes, so to speak.
Clara Poor Sergeant Rock – it’s not fair to embarrass him like this.
Frederick I want to know what his message says.
Clara He doesn’t have to tell us.
Rock No – now the secret is out, I’d better make a clean breast of it.
Fudge That’s where the message is – on his chest.
Sugar Plum Well that’s a relief – I was beginning to wonder.
Fudge Tell them the story Serg, like you told it to me.
Rock (Coming forward) You see – when I was still just a heap of sugar
in the big mixing bowl at the Shipshape sweet factory …
Fudge Try saying that when you’re sober.
Rock Thank you, Fudge – (continuing) when I was in the mixing bowl,
one of the five fairy fondant makers found that her favourite fan-club
photos had fallen in the vat.
Fudge What did she say, Serg?
Rock Oh Fudge, stop it!
Fudge Well, I imagine she would.
Rock No, I mean stop interrupting me, Fudge, or I’ll never get to the
end.
Fudge Sorry Serg.
Rock And on the back it said, ‘Love from Elvis’.
Clara Did she get it out again?
Rock She didn’t notice till it was too late, and by then the mixture had all
been made into rock candy.

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Frederick You mean her fan-club photo was hidden in a stick of rock
somewhere.
Rock Somewhere, yes.
Fudge And we know where! Show them Serg.
(Rock sheepishly bares his chest, and there we see ‘Love from Elvis’)
Rock Labelled for life.
Clara I think it looks very smart, don’t you Nikki?
Nikki A mark of great distinction I’d say.
Sugar Plum But you’d better get back on sentry duty now, in case the
mice try to come back.
(Chorus start to exit at this point)
Frederick I’ll come with you.
Rock Come along then – we’ll find you a uniform. What have we got in
the locker, Fudge?
Fudge Well it’ll have to be some sort of sweet. (As he exits UL with
Rock and Frederick) Would you like to be a Lollipop Man or a Man
from Mars?
Clara Will the fairies dance for us now?
Sugar Plum Yes of course.
(It is suggested that the dances which follow are to the theme of those in
the Nutcracker Suite, using the appropriate Tchaikovsky music, but be
guided by the talent of your dancers)
Dances 13 Sweet Fairies – “Nutcracker Suite”
SX 24 Sugar Plum First we have the cheerful Chinese cherries.
(The Chinese dance)
SX 25 Sugar Plum And now the smooth Spanish chocolates.
(The Spanish dance)
SX 26 Sugar Plum The exotic Turkish Delights.
(The Turkish dance)

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SX27 Sugar Plum And finally the hot Russian mints.

(The Russian dance)
Sugar Plum (To Clara) You look tired – as if you’d been doing all the
dancing.
Nikki Clara’s had a busy day. We’ve explored the whole palace, and
I’ve been telling her all about life here in the olden days before I was
enchanted.
Sugar Plum Then perhaps you should have a rest until tea time. I’ll call
you when it’s ready.
(Clara exits USL with some fairies)
(To Nikki) And now we must make plans in case those mice come back.
Nikki Without Uncle Drosselmeyer to help us, that will be difficult.
Sugar Plum Then we’ll just have to do our best. Prepare the cannons
load them with every candied plum you can get your hands on
(They start to exit UR as the curtains close)
SX28 – Cover Music for Front rollers to be set
Act II Scene 2A The Mice Advance (Front of Tabs)
(Enter DL Gnawman, Twitchnose, Whiskers, Pip & Squeak – Madria
lurking in the background watching and listening, reacting as the
dialogue gets sillier)
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.

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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?

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 Nutcracker

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!!
SX29 – The Mice march off
(At this we hear the scampering of many tiny feet – some young Mice may
even rush SR to SL 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 exit DL in haste –)
SX30 –Entrance of SPF & Nikki
Act II Scene 2B The Sugar Plum Plan (Front of Tabs)
(Enter DR Sugar Plum and Nikki)
Sugar Plum No news from the forest yet.
Nikki None yet, but that means nothing. Those mice will soon be on
their way here, using secret paths –

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Sugar Plum What can we do? We have no means of stopping them.
(Twitt enters SL at this)
Twitt Oh yes, you do.
Sugar Plum We do?
Twitt Or you will, when it gets here.
Nikki When what gets here?
Twitt The Drosselmeyer perfect patent Mouse Trap. It’s just about
finished.
Nikki Only ‘Just about’?
Sugar Plum What happens if the mice get here first?
Twitt Hold them back till it arrives.
Sugar Plum What with?
Twitt Oh, anything you like.
Nikki Hang on – how’s it getting here, this mouse trap?
Twitt By air.
Sugar Plum Air? But aeroplanes can’t land here.
Twitt Whoo said anything about aeroplanes? Now I must fly and see if
it’s ready. Too-dloo! (Exits SL)
Sugar Plum Hey, wait a minute …
Nikki No good, he’s gone.
(Enter SR Clara, Frederick, Rock and Fudge)
Clara Was that the owl?
Nikki Yes, she was bringing us news – of a sort.
Sugar Plum We may get a mouse trap delivered in time, or we may not.
Fudge Sounds like it’s coming from Argos it be delivered today maybe
tomorrow
Frederick Who needs a silly mouse trap when we’ve got all these
soldiers in the fortress.

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 Nutcracker

Clara The soldiers are only sweets, Frederick, and the mice are real
mice.
Rock We’ll do our best of course. Put the rock hard ones at the front,
and the softer ones behind – and the chocolates right at the back of
course.
Fudge With respect, sah, and speaking as a softer one, I would wish to
take my place at the front with you.
Sugar Plum You’re a brave man, Corporal Fudge, but Sergeant Rock is
harder aren’t you big boy!.
Frederick I’ll be there at the front with them – I’m not made of sugar –
they can’t eat me.
Nikki They can give you a nasty bite though.
Clara Are we just going to wait here for them to come and get us?
Sugar Plum No – I think we should move into the forest and try to take
them by surprise.
Nikki I agree – we stand more chance against them that way.
Sugar Plum And I do have friends in the forest who can help us.
Clara I thought the forest was all full of creepy things.
Sugar Plum There are some of those, but if we ask the flower fairies and
the tree elves to help us, I’m sure we’ll be alright – even Gnawman can’t
work his powers over all of them.
Nikki In that case, let’s call out the guard and march into the forest.
SF31- Trumpet Call out the Guard
Act II Scene 3 In the Enchanted Forest (Full Set)
SF 32 Dance 14 Dance of the Flower Fairies – “Nutcracker Suite”
( UV if possible)
(The Flower Fairies are on stage. As the curtain opens, they ‘open’ and dance as Nikki etc enter they
hide and in UV light the mice appear—UV dance with and start taking the leads until only SPF left-
she is about to be nabbed when rescued by the Forest Fairies.) Dance 15 UV DANCE

(At the end of the dance, Drosselmeyer, Kurt and Weil enter UL, and
all the others including Fairies run off)

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Drosselmeyer Here will be the right place.
Kurt (Looking around) Looks no different to all the other places.
Weil We could be anywhere. How do you know they’ll come this way?
Drosselmeyer Trust old Drosselmeyer – he has the knack of knowing
such things. Now where has that owl got to?
(They all look up to the sky)
Kurt He was with us a moment ago.
Weil Waiting for Air Traffic Control perhaps.
Kurt Is that him up there?
Weil (Wiping his eye) If it is, I’ll have something to say to him later.
Kurt Got the message, did you?
Drosselmeyer We must mark out a landing zone for him.
Weil He seems to have managed quite well without one.
Drosselmeyer Nein, I mean for the big dropping.
Weil It was quite big enough, thank you.
Kurt Look out she’s coming down!
SF 33 Crate landing (They scatter)
Weil What’s he trying to do, kill us?
Kurt I thought owls were supposed to be brainy birds.
(Twitt enters SL, exhausted as a large crate lands from behind them being
dragged in by Twitt)
Weil Call that a controlled landing?
Twitt You should try being in control with that strapped round your
undercarriage.
Drosselmeyer Are you in one piece?
Twitt I don’t know – I haven’t counted myself yet.
Drosselmeyer Well while you do that, we’ll open the crate and check the
cargo.

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 Nutcracker

Kurt Right – where do we start?

(Business of opening the crate)
Drosselmeyer Be gentle with it.
(They reveal a large chocolate box)
Twitt Is that all it is? A chocolate box?
Drosselmeyer Ah, but a very special chocolate box. For a start it is a
very big chocolate box.
Twitt So I noticed!
Drosselmeyer Big enough for even the largest of the mice to get inside.
Kurt And they do like chocolate!
Weil They’ll be in there like a shot.
Twitt What all of them? There’s only room for one at a time.
Drosselmeyer That is where you are wrong, Twitt my friend.
Twitt (To the audience) Who’s the twit, him or me? You can’t get more
than one of those mice in there, can you?
(Business with the audience)
Kurt/Weil Oh yes you can!
Twitt Oh no you can’t
Drosselmeyer Oh yes you can, with my invention. Hidden inside this
box is a chocolate trans-mouseturiser.
Twitt A what?
Drosselmeyer Anything going in that box turns into a chocolate mouse.
Twitt Never!
Drosselmeyer Show him it working, Kurt.
Kurt I’ll need a volunteer.
Weil (To the audience) Anyone want to be turned into a chocolate
mouse?
(Hopefully we get a volunteer – but be ready with a stooge)

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 (The box is moved close to one side of the stage – the volunteer enters
through the lid, which is then closed –
SFX34- Mousturiser working play all together
(he or she is led away from the back by stage crew, unseen by the
audience. Meanwhile, with appropriate sound effects, a chocolate
mouse is ejected from the side of the box. The lid opens again to show
the volunteer has disappeared)
Weil There we are – one chocolate mouse.
Kurt Which I will now eat. (He picks it up)
Drosselmeyer Stop – don’t do that!
Kurt No?
Drosselmeyer No – that was only a trial. We must return this one – his
(her) family will want him (her) back.
Kurt Shame – and my mouth was watering.
(Business of putting the chocolate mouse back where it came from, with
reverse sound effects, SFX35- Mousturiser working play all together
and the volunteer re-appearing in the box. Perhaps have the wrong
person reappearing first.)
Drosselmeyer Now we must hide the machine until we need it again.
(Drosselmeyer, Kurt and Weil move the box off into the wings, and exit)
Twitt Flying in with boxes of chocolates! Anyone would think we were
doing a TV commercial. (Looks DR) Hello – who’s coming now?
(Enter DR Rock and Fudge)
Rock (Seeing Twitt) Halt! Who goes there?
Twitt Who-oo does it look like?
Fudge Oh, it’s you again. We thought you were one of the mice.
Twitt Watch it, sweetmeat – I’m not in the mood to be trifled with.
Rock You’ve not seen them then?

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 Nutcracker

Twitt No, but now I’ve finished playing at being Air Transport, I’ll start
my Air Reconnaissance duties. I just needed to get my breath back,
that’s all. Ta-ta for now. (He exits SL – or fly him off if you dare!)
Fudge I don’t like it here on our own, Serg. There’s all sorts of creepy
things in this forest – never mind mice.
( Gnawman should be lurking around somewhere, trying to listen and
create an enchanted barrier to stop the Candyland regiment following)
Rock Pull yourself together man. We have the best regiment in
Candyland at our command.
Fudge The only regiment in Candyland.
Rock Well, yes, that’s true – but they’re a fine assortment of men.
They’re not feeble, they’re not frail –
Fudge And they’re not here.
Rock (Looking round) No, they’re not are they. When did you last see
them?
Fudge Breakfast time, when we marched off. I thought they were
following us.
Rock They must have got lost.
Fudge Unless we’re lost. (Suddenly, he points SL) Look! Over there!
Rock (Jumps) What?
Fudge Something moved.
(The lights dim, eerie music starts, SFX36 – Tree Elves Music
Tree Elves begin to enter from all round. They encircle Rock and Fudge,
moving to the music, getting steadily closer)
Rock Who are you?
Tree Elves (Echoing his words eerily) Who – are – you?
Fudge Go away!
Tree Elves Go – a – way.
Rock We don’t like you.
Tree Elves We – don’t – like – you.

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Fudge Don’t want to stay.
Tree Elves We – don’t – want – you – to – stay – ei – ther.
(The Elves are just about to touch Rock and Fudge, when suddenly the
lights brighten and Sugar Plum appears SR, with Nikki and the
children)
Sugar Plum Stop! These men are with me.
(The Tree Elves retreat, whispering “Sorry” like the rustling of leaves)
Fudge Who were they?
Sugar Plum The Tree Elves. They tidy up the forest and keep it green.
Nikki We wondered where you two had got to.
Rock We were just out scouting –
Fudge We were practising to become Rangers –
Sugar Plum You were lost!
Fudge (Agreeing) And we were lost.
Nikki Well, now we’re together again let’s stay together, or the mice will
pick us off one by one.
Clara I’m frightened!
Frederick Typical.
Clara Well I am. I bet you are too, but you just don’t want to admit it.
Nikki It would be nice to know where the mice are. The forest’s so
thick, they could be anywhere.
Sugar Plum Now keep a good look-out won’t you.
Nikki First one to see a mouse, shout “Mouse” at the top of their voice.
(Suddenly Twitchnose pokes his nose in from the side of the stage SL.
Hopefully the audience will shout “Mouse”)
What’s that?
SFX -37 Battle music underscored coming up to a crescendo just as
Mice are winning
Rock Someone shouted “Mouse”.

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 Nutcracker

Fudge Where’s a mouse?

(Business with the audience. Twitchnose disappears SL and Whiskers
appears SR, etc, as the cast move from one side of the stage to the other.
Finally Gnawman appears on stage with Twitchnose, Whiskers and a
chorus of Mice)
Gnawman So we have you at last! You’re surrounded.
Nikki You’re wrong there Gnawman – we have a whole regiment of
soldiers around us in the forest, ready to take on you and your Mice.
Gnawman You did have, Prince – but unfortunately they have been
taken on a slight detour by some friends of mine.
Twitchnose We asked the Forest Mice to help us.
Whiskers They’re leading them well away from here.
Gnawman Right into the middle of the forest.
Nikki Then we shall have to fight here to the last man!
Gnawman It will be a glorious defeat, Prince. Stories will be written
about how the brave Nutcracker met his end.
(The Mice draw their swords and close in for the kill. There is a fight,
and the Mice appear to be winning – )
Clara Oh Frederick, where’s Uncle Drosselmeyer got to? Can’t he save
us? SFX -37 comes to Crescendo here!
(At this moment the Chocolate Box appears at the side of the stage,
brought in by the Tree Elves, and Gnawman stops in his tracks, smelling
the air)
Gnawman What’s that I can smell? Chocolate!
Twitchnose Steady on, Boss – we’ve got a battle to fight here.
Whiskers You said we couldn’t have chocolates till we’d beaten the
Prince.
Gnawman But this is no ordinary chocolate – this is Irresistible!
Twitchnose Don’t know that brand.
Whiskers Is it Cadbury’s?

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 (But Gnawman isn’t listening – he is drawn to the Chocolate Box, and
as he gets to it the lid opens and he goes inside. SFX38 – Mousturiser
again There is the sound of him being trans-mouseturised, and the
inevitable chocolate mouse pops out)
Frederick (Picking up the chocolate mouse) Look!
Nikki That’s brought him down to size.
Whiskers Here, Boss! – (to Twitchnose) where’s he gone?
Twitchnose Into the box – (sniffing) – for some of that wonderful
chocolate. SFX39 – Mousturiser again (He goes into the box, and the
same happens to him)
Clara (Picking up the second chocolate mouse) Here’s another one.
Whiskers Here, don’t leave me behind! SFX40 – Mousturiser again
(He too disappears into the box)
Nikki (Picking up the third chocolate mouse) Three down and more to go.
(But the other Mice don’t wait – they scamper off in all directions –)
PIP – Sound the retreat SFX41 – Mice sound retreat
Drosselmeyer (Entering from behind the Chocolate Box) So, my mouse-
trap was a success, ya?
Clara (Hugging him) Uncle, it was you!
Drosselmeyer (Expansively) Who else?
(Kurt and Weil enter at this)
Kurt Ahem! Ideas, they come two a penny.
Weil But making them work, that’s where we come in.
Drosselmeyer You’re right boys, and it worked a treat!
Sugar Plum Oh Drossy you have saved Candyland, my plums are
safe.Now we can return safely to the Fortress of Sweets and celebrate
with plum juice and plum jam and everything plummy.
Nikki And never have to worry about Mice or Gnawman again. By the
way I found this in upper Barley Sugar tower It’s a great likeness to you
and Herr Drosselmeyer..( he produces a photo of Dross and Sugar plum)

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 Nutcracker

Sugar Plum Now I remember I knew I had seen his face before why
that’s my one love from all those years who whisked me off to a sweetie
filled paradise. It was Candyland and he must have disappeared to fight
off Gnawman. Hang on No it can’t be there’s another picture here…my
It says to my dearest darling Baby Nikki
Nikki Oh Mother and Daddy?
Drosselmeyer – yes Nikki I’m sorry but you are my son.
Plum- So he did whisk off more than my earings then! Oh after all these
years Chuchi face my little Chuchi face come to plummy!!!
SFX42 –Chuchi face song No acompaniment
Fudge Oh well Back to boring old guard duty, counting stripes on the
towers.
Rock Unless there’s a promotion in order for us, of course – seeing the
positive part we played in this victory.
Sugar Plum Promotion? For getting lost and losing your patrol?
Clara Oh, but they’ve been so good to me and Frederick.
Frederick Yes, they looked after us very well and showed us all round
the palace.
Clara Don’t be mean to them.
Sugar Plum Well, we’ll see.
Clara (Yawning) Only they’re such nice people, and I wouldn’t like
them to be sad.
Frederick (Also yawning) And they’re very brave soldiers – they told
me so.
Clara (Sleepy) And you, and Nikki – it’s been a lovely time …
Drosselmeyer (Coming forward to hold them) There now my little ones.
Our story is almost at an end, and it will soon be Christmas morning.
Come, back to bed now.
Clara Must we?
Frederick Don’t want to go to bed.

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 (Middle tabs close behind them as the Enchanted Forest disappears.
Drosselmeyer starts to hum or sing a snatch of the lullaby again – he
guides each of them off SL)
Drosselmeyer To bed, to bed, my sleepyheads. Under the blankets and
fast asleep. Candyland’s safe now, it can look after itself.
Reprise of Hushabye Mountain to see children off they go with nanny
Plum and Nikki etc
(He then comes forward of front tabs as they close)
Act II Scene 4A Dreaming of a Fruit and Nut case (Front of Tabs)
Drosselmeyer (To the audience) They will sleep now the rest of the
night, and in the morning – (he chuckles) – in the morning, such a
wonderful mixture of dreams and reality. Do you not sometimes find
dreams more real than reality?
But there is still one more thing that I have to do, and I think you can
help me – together with my boys of course.
(He indicates as Kurt and Weil enter)
We have to make dreams come true.
Kurt Make dreams come true? No problem.
Weil What colour do you want them?
Drosselmeyer Colour? I hadn’t really thought of that. What colours do
dreams normally come in?
Song 18 Drosselmeyer, Kurt and Weil SPF ROCK & FUDGE-
(This can be a community song, with Kurt and Weil encouraging their
respective halves.) FRUIT AND NUT CASE SONG
SFX 43 Fruit and nut case song
Kurt So, we need to make a chocolate making machine.
Weil Shouldn’t take us more than five minutes. One chocolate making
machine coming up.
(Kurt and Weil exit DR)
Drosselmeyer

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 Nutcracker

But you know, while we have been out here singing, the whole night has
passed by – and now, for Clara and Frederick, it is Christmas Day.
(He exits DR as Lisa, Clara and Frederick enter DL for the next scene)
SFX 44- Change of scene to Bedroom – Sugar plum Fairy Music
Act II Scene 4B Clara’s Bedroom (Front of Tabs)
Lisa Goodness – the children were still asleep, and on Christmas
morning! Hans, come and see what a pair of sleepyheads we have here.
Hans (Entering DR) They usually wake us on Christmas Day.
(Clara is waking with difficulty)
Clara Nikki, did all those nasty mice run away?
Lisa Mice? What mice?
Frederick Is it time to change the guard, Sergeant Rock?
Hans Change the guard? They must be dreaming still.
Clara Where’s Nikki? Did he go away too?
Lisa (Finding the Nutcracker off-stage) No, look – he’s still here.
(Hands him to her)
Clara (Hugging the Nutcracker) Oh, Nikki! What fun we had.
Hans Come on now – the rest of the house is up and waiting for you.
Lisa Go and wash your faces and get dressed, and we’ll see you down-
stairs shortly.
(The children exit DL)
Lisa I blame this on Uncle Drosselmeyer. He’s been telling them one of
his fairy tales again.
Hans Come, let’s join the guests in the ball room
(Lisa and Hans exit DR, and the curtains open to reveal the final scene)

SFX45 – Arrival of Guests cover for Scene Change

Act II Scene 5 The Stahlbaum’s house, Christmas Morning (Full
Set)

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 (The room is decorated for Christmas as before. The Owl-clock stands
DR with Twitt behind it again. Guests and children are on stage)
(At the end, Hans and Lisa Stahlbaum enter UR)
Lisa Happy Christmas everybody! Did you all sleep well?
(Drosselmeyer enters UL)
Hans Ah, Uncle, happy Christmas to you too. The children will be down
soon.
Drosselmeyer Yes, and when they come I shall have a little surprise for
them.
Lisa More surprises, Uncle? I should think they’ve had enough by now.
Drosselmeyer We shall see. Ah, here they come now – look.
(Clara and Frederick enter UR)
Good morning my dears, and how were your dreams last night?
Clara (Clutching the Nutcracker) Oh Uncle – were they only dreams?
Frederick I thought it was real – I thought we were really there.
Lisa Nonsense, Frederick, your Uncle Drosselmeyer is just very good at
telling stories, that’s all.
Drosselmeyer Just stories, eh? (Looks up at Twitt) What do you think
of that, eh Twitt?
Twitt Too true! ( she pokes her head from the back of the clock and bobs
back again)
Frederick See – she spoke!
Hans No, it was only the clock getting ready to chime.
Drosselmeyer We shall see about ‘just stories’. Ah Hans here are the
rest of your guests
Fudge and Rock arrive – dressed as proper soldiers
General Rock and Colonel Fudge of the Imperial Guard
Kurt & Weil – dressed as Counts
Count Kurt of Klepstein and Count Weil of Winnyburg

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 Nutcracker

Gnawman Arrives as the horrible uncle with two naughty boys

Grand Uncle Norman and Thomas ( with the Twitch said aside) and
Walter (with the whiskers said aside)
4 fairies arrive as – beautiful countesses
The Countessas Wilhelmina, Alexandrina, Katerina and Rubina
Accompanied by Prince Nikita of Candovia
Nikki arrives as a Prince
Frederick We didn’t just dream it!
Clara Oh Prince Nikki It was all true, not just a story!
There is a loud gong and in all her glory and another flamboyant
outfit approx. her 7th change! Nanny Plum arrives to announce
Dinner
(Frederick runs to be with Rock and Fudge; Clara runs to Prince Nikki)
Sugar Plum Now may your days be filled with cheer,
Your dreams with subjects that enthral.
Nikki Be loved by those who you hold dear,
And in your turn give love to all.
Twitchnose And if, by chance, your work offends,
Whiskers For reasons which escape your ken,
Gnawman Just hope they let you make amends,
And bring you back, like us, again!

Uncle Drosselmeyer It’s the Christmas Bells Merry Xmas everyone!

SFX 46 Song 20 All Merry Xmas everybody’s having fun.
(The principals take a bow, followed by a reprise of one or more songs as
desired)
*** END OF NUTCRACKER ***

Page 48
Nutcracker
 Nutcracker

Special Words for original songs

I.2A 3. Gnawman, Twitchnose, Whiskers – “Christmas time is here

by Golly” (Tom Lehrer song)
Christmas time is here by golly, disapproval would be folly,
Underneath the sprigs of holly, presents lying on the floor –
A-mid the handkerchiefs and soxes, can’t you smell them in their
boxes?,
Lots of gorgeous gooey choxies – brother, who could ask for
more?
At Christmas time you can’t be sore,
Your brother mouse you must adore –
There’s time to cheat him all the more
The other three hundred and sixty-four!
Creep into the bedrooms quiet, as a mouse who’s on a diet,
Grab the goods and run, just try it – easy as your ABC –
Bring the loot back to the nest, share out your bounty with the rest,
We’re going to put it to the test, see how much we can take today.
So let the silly humans sleep on, while we rodents quietly creep
on,
through the skirting board, let’s squeak on – hundreds of us,
thousands, millions –
Gnawman Come … (back to the script)
Nutcracker

II.3 17. Drosselmeyer, Kurt and Weil – “Dance of the Reed

Pipes”
If you want a mouse to go, please
Come to Kurt & Weil who make the best traps:
Quite humane and harmless,
Nothing cheap or charmless,
We are quite the Rolls and Royce, and everything enjoys
A perfect guarantee for lifetime,
Nothing that we make will fall to pieces:
(shaking Nikki)
Try to pull the arms off,
Nothing ever comes off,
When we put it put, it stays, and doesn’t budge on windy days,
And doesn’t budge on windy days,
And doesn’t budge on windy days …
And doesn’t budge, and doesn’t budge,
And doesn’t budge, and doesn’t budge –
And if you want an owl to fly, please
Come to Kurt & Weil who make the best ones:
Gadgets, we excel in,
Put a magic spell in,
We are quite the Royce and Rolls of craftsmen making dolls:
A perfect guarantee for lifetime,
Nothing that we make will fall to pieces:
(shaking Twitt)
Try to pull the wings off,
Nothing ever spins off,
We – put – it – stays!