UNF Opera Ensemble Hänsel and Gretel
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Our fourth production is Hänsel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck. Below are the details. Hänsel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki—Director
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Characters |
Cast |
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| Father – Peter, The Broom Maker | Brandon Thornhill, Terrence Joseph, and Victor Dorfman |
| Mother – Gertrude, His Wife | Shyla Norful and Kadishia Robinson |
| Hansel | Barbee Monk and Stefanie Gundacker |
| Gretel | Elyse Matthews and Melody Fallon |
| The Witch | Angelique Perretta |
| Sandman | Emily Sharrett |
| Dew Fairy | Maria Pena |
| Dancers | Members of Florida Ballet Training Center |
| Guardian Angels | Emily Holt and Julian Rachal |
| Guiding Angels | Breonna Chambers, Marena Galluccio, Marciana Rafada, Caroline Snyder, Kenna Valdovinos, and Amanda Way |
| Casting is always subject to change. | |
| Opera Crew | |
| Stage Direction | Krzysztof Biernacki |
| Dance Choreography | Laurie Picinich-Byrd – Florida Ballet |
| Lighting & Set Design | Johnny Pettegrew |
| Costume Design | The Costume Crew |
Plot
ACT I - Hansel and Gretel are home alone doing chores assigned by their parents. When Hansel complains to his sister that he is hungry, Gretel shows him some milk that the neighbors have given them for supper. To entertain them, Gretel begins to teach her brother how to dance. Suddenly their mother returns. She scolds the children for playing and wants to know why they have gotten so little work done. When she accidentally spills the milk, she angrily chases the children out into the woods to pick strawberries. Hansel and Gretel’s father returns home slightly drunk. He is pleased because he was able to sell many brooms that day and he made very good money. He brings out the food he has bought and asks his wife about the children. She explains that she has sent them into the woods as punishment for not doing their chores. Horrified, he tells her that the children are in danger because of the witch who lives there. They rush off into the forest to look for Hansel and Gretel.
ACT II - Hansel and Gretel are in the woods. Gretel sings while Hansel picks strawberries. When they hear a cuckoo calling, they imitate its call while eating strawberries until there are none left. As the evening approaches, the children realize that they have lost their way in the woods. The Sandman comes to bring them sleep by sprinkling sand over their eyelids. Hansel and Gretel say their evening prayer. While asleep they dream about guardian angels dancing around them and protecting them in the forest.
Short intermission after conclusion of ACT II
ACT III - The Dew Fairy appears to awaken the children. Gretel wakes Hansel, and the two eventually notice a gingerbread house. Soon after the Witch appears and decides to fatten up Hansel and Gretel so she can eat them. She immobilizes them with spells. While the oven is hot and the Witch is overjoyed at the thought of her banquet, Gretel spoils the witch’s plan, and breaks the spell on Hansel. When the Witch asks her to look in the oven, Gretel pretends she doesn’t know how. When the Witch is peering into the oven, the children shove her inside and shut the door. Eventually the oven explodes while children rejoice at their victory. Hansel and Gretel’s parents appear and find their children. All sing happily and express gratitude for their salvation.
About the Opera
Hansel und Gretel was originally described by Engelbert Humperdinck as a fairy tale opera (in German: Märchenoper). The libretto, based on the children’s story Hansel und Gretel by brothers Grimm, was written by Adelheid Wette, who was Engelbert Humperdinck’s sister. She approached the composer about writing music for songs which she had written for her children as a Christmas play. After several revisions of musical sketches and traditional German folk songs, the family fairy tale project was turned into a full-scale opera. Written in Frankfurt am Main ca. 1891, it was premiered in Weimar on December 23, 1893. Its first performance in English took place in London in 1894 and the first American production opened on October 8, 1895 at Daly’s Theatre in New York. The most common English translation of this opera, used in today’s performance, was written by English composer, pianist and teacher Constance Bache.