Hansel and Gretel 2008

Hansel and Gretel is based off of the many different versions of the Grimm Brothers’ story. This two-act ballet premiered in 2001 and is choreographed by Kristin Kingsley and composed by Brian St. John. This short story seems too short to produce into a full two-act ballet. You wouldn’t believe how many versions of this fairy tale are in the public. Some are indeed shorter than other. Longer ones do mention a Dove, Wood Sprites, Fireflies. All of whom are included in the first act of this ballet. The second act is filled with divertissement by Candy Canes, Gumdrops, Confections, and, of course, Gingerbread. In one version, a duck actually takes the children away from the witch’s house and leads them back to their home and to the open arms of their father.

Hansel and Gretel is based off of the many different versions of the Grimm Brothers’ story. This two-act ballet premiered in 2001 and is choreographed by Kristin Kingsley and composed by Brian St. John. This short story seems too short to produce into a full two-act ballet. You wouldn’t believe how many versions of this fairy tale are in the public. Some are indeed shorter than other. Longer ones do mention a Dove, Wood Sprites, Fireflies. All of whom are included in the first act of this ballet. The second act is filled with divertissement by Candy Canes, Gumdrops, Confections, and, of course, Gingerbread. In one version, a duck actually takes the children away from the witch’s house and leads them back to their home and to the open arms of their father.

Hansel and Gretel are loved dearly by their father, but times are hard, and as the story goes, H & G’s stepmother decides that having two fewer mouths to feed would be easier. The parents lead H & G into the forest two times. The first time, they are protected through the night by the fireflies and then lead back to their home by white stones that shine in the moonlight. The second time they are lead into the forest Hansel has no stones but uses his bread to make crumbs so that they may be lead back home. The birds in the forest feast on these crumbs and Hansel and Gretel are forced to stay in the forest. The Wood Sprites protect them and keep them warm all night. The birds, in an effort to apologize, decide to take the two children to a house. But this house is not theirs; it is the house of the witch. Her house is made from all types of candy and Hansel and Gretel get their fill before they realize that the witch has devious plans for the two children. Want to know how they escape? See the performance!

If you missed this amazing performance, DVDs of the show are on sale at the LDT Office.