The first production of The Nutcracker was performed for critics, public figures, and members of high society and received lack luster reviews on December 17, 1892 . The story opens in the parlor of a middle-class German family, the Stahlbaums, during a party on Christmas Eve. Excitement fills the air in anticipation of the night's festivities. The Stahlbaum children, shy Clara and her brother Fritz, are caught in the enchantment of the evening. Guests arrive and presents are exchanged; all this is a typical Christmas scene, until the magic begins. Drosselmeyer, Clara's godfather, arrives late with his nephew, a boy near Clara's age, and a nutcracker for Clara. Clara very much likes Drosselmeyer's charming and courteous nephew and is also fond of her strange new toy. With the last dance, the party is brought to an end.

Clara, unable to sleep, creeps downstairs for one last look at her nutcracker.

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The Nutcracker takes place in two worlds: dream and reality, and in both worlds, Clara is dependent on a man to guide her. It is very meaningful that even in Clara's own dream she is being lead by the Nutcracker. This helps further display the belief that a woman not only needs but also wants a man to tell her what to do.

Women are also represented in ballet and The Nutcracker through their costume. At one time ballet was seen as no more than an excuse for shapely women to prance around while scantily dressed. Even though this is not true now, women in ballet are still dressed in a manner that portrays them as sexual objects. The typical costume of a ballerina is a leotard in which a ballerinas arms and back are bare and her legs are covered only by tights, such as the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Even Clara, while she is only a girl, is costumed in a manner that reveals her bust. When on pointe, a ballerina's legs are purposely elongated and her hair is pulled in a bun to display her long neck and back. Such dress flatters a ballerina who is to be admired for her grace and beauty.

She falls asleep on the sofa holding the nutcracker in her arms. Clara is awakened to the peculiar sounds of scurrying and rustling. The Christmas tree lights have turned on again, as it grows bigger and bigger. All of the toys, including Clara's nutcracker, have come to life. Sudden

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Approximate Word count = 982
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)