Coppélia

Synopsis

ACT I - The Harvest Celebration

Once upon a time, in a small village far far away, lives a faintly diabolical magician and maker of dolls named Dr. Coppelius, who has just finished his masterpiece: a remarkably realistic and life-size doll he calls Coppelia. This morning, the village boys spot Coppelia apparently reading on the doctor's balcony. Swanilda - the mayor's daughter - takes notice of Coppelia as well, and is angered when her attempts to get Coppelia's attention are in vain. When Swanilda's sweetheart Franz approaches her house, Dr. Coppelius casts a spell over him to make him fall in love with Coppelia instead. Though Franz eventually comes to his senses, Swanhilda sees him swooning over what seems to be another woman, and fights with him for the rest of the day, even when the villagers arrive to celebrate the wheat harvest with a Mazurka. After Dr. Coppelius emerges from his house and the young people tease him, Swanilda and Franz along with her friends and their suitors dance with the wheat. Traditionally, those who hear a rattle when shaking a stalk of wheat have found their true love. Though Swanilda hears the rattle, she is still angry with Franz and tells him she heard nothing, which upsets Franz greatly. Swanilda sends him away and dances with her friends until the villagers come back to end the harvest celebration. Once everyone has gone home and the sun has gone down, Dr. Coppelius leaves his house. Though he locks the door carefully behind him, he drops the key when he is accosted and taunted by the village boys. After everyone has left, Swanilda spots the key, and convinces her friends to sneak into the house. Upon realizing he has lost his key, Dr. Coppelius returns home to find his door left wide open, and enters not knowing what to expect inside. Meanwhile, Franz has decided that if Swanhilda is going to spurn his advances, he will turn to the elusive Coppelia instead, and sneaks into the doctor's house as well.


ACT II - Inside Dr. Coppelius's House

Before Dr. Coppelius returns home, Swanilda and her friends creep into the house and explore its mysteries. When she sees Coppelia, Swanilda tries again to talk to her, but finally realizes that she has no heartbeat. Relieved that Franz will not leave her for another girl, she explains to her friends that Coppelia is a mechanical doll, just like all the others in the house, which they set in motion. When the doctor enters, all of Swanilda's friends escape, but she herself hides with Coppelia, and changes into her clothes. When Franz enters the house, Dr. Coppelius is angry at first, but then pretends to welcome him when he devises a plan. He drugs Franz believing he can steal his heartbeat and give it to his beloved Coppelia, who he wishes was a real daughter to him. The cunning Swanilda pretends to be Coppelia coming to life bit by bit, and Dr. Coppelius is completely fooled. Thrilled, he presents her with two dolls - one Spanish and one Scottish. Seeing Franz passed out at the table, Swanilda asks Dr. Coppelius to wake him, and when he replies that he will not, she angrily fusses with the other dolls before frantically waking Franz herself. The lovers escape the house as the doctor finds his beloved doll and realizes his dreams have been crushed.


ACT III - The Wedding

As the villagers continue with the harvest, the whole town prepares for the wedding of Swanilda and Franz. Dr. Coppelius interrupts the proceedings, horribly distraught by the happenings of the night before. Though the townspeople offer him a small sum to make up for his losses, the doctor realizes that a wedding day should be a joyous occasion. Rejects the money and joins in the celebration. The townspeople offer the lovers gifts of Time, Dawn, Prayer, and Work. Franz and Swanilda graciously accept, take their vows, and celebrate their love. And they lived happily ever after.