Act 1
Hänsel and Gretel are at home waiting for their mother, Gertrude, to return. The interior of their home illustrates the family’s abject poverty. Hungry and restless, the children start dancing to distract themselves. Their playing is interrupted by the arrival of their mother who in her anger at their idleness upsets a jug of milk. With all hope of supper gone, she sends the children out to pick strawberries. Depressed by their poverty, Gertrude falls asleep in a chair only to be woken by her husband Peter’s return. She forgives his drunken singing when she realises he has brought home food for their supper. The celebration of their good fortune abruptly ends when Peter notices the children’s absence and Gertrude admits she has sent them out alone near the home of a wicked witch. Both parents leave the house to look for the children.
Act 2
Hänsel and Gretel happily collect and eat strawberries in the woods before realising they are lost. They are frightened as by this time it is getting dark and in the growing gloom the Sandman appears, throwing sand in their eyes. Before going to sleep the children say their evening prayers and guardian angels appear to protect them while they sleep.
Act 3
Dawn breaks with the Dew Fairy sprinkling dew on the children. In the morning light the children discover a house made entirely of gingerbread, but as they hungrily break off pieces to eat a witch appears and captures them. Putting them under a spell the witch imprisons Hänsel in order to fatten him up. Gretel is set the task of lighting the oven. When the witch's back is turned Gretel uses a spell to free her brother. The witch asks Gretel to look into the lit oven but Gretel pretends she does not understand and asks the witch to demonstrate. As the witch opens the oven door the children push her in. The oven explodes and as it does, the gingerbread fence surrounding the house becomes a row of children the witch had baked in the oven. Peter and Gertrude arrive and everyone celebrates the witch’s demise.
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