coppelia

The Story

Coppelia: A Delightful Tale of Love, Deception, and Magic in the World of Ballet

Franz is a young villager betrothed (engaged) to Swanhilda. But Franz is also taken with this mysterious girl named Coppelia, who sits at Dr. Coppolius’s window all day, every day.

Dr. Coppelius is a strange and slightly odd toy maker. As you can imagine, Swanhilda is not very happy about Franz’s flirtation with Coppelia.

In the village square, celebrations are underway...

They are preparing for the following day’s Harvest Festival, where Franz and Swanhilda will be married. The couple bicker and quarrel over Franz’s potential interest in Coppelia.

Swanhilda is not sure of Franz's love for her...

So she shakes a stalk of wheat to test Franz’s faithfulness which seems to calm her. Later, following a run-in with some mischievous youths on his way out, Dr. Coppelius mistakenly drops the key to his toy shop. This is too much to resist and Swanhilda and her friends pick it up and decide to venture in to meet the mysterious Coppelia.

Inside Dr. Coppelius's toy shop...

Swanhilda and her friends find out that Coppelia is nothing but one of the mysterious toymaker’s creations. While Swanhilda and her friends are playing with all of his creations, Dr. Coppelius returns and kicks them out, but Swanhilda is trapped.

Swanhilda introduces herself to Dr. Coppelius...

And tells him about Franz’s infatuation for Coppelia. She then sees Franz climb in through the window, hoping to meet Coppelia too, but he is intercepted by Dr. Coppelius who gives him a magic drink that makes him fall asleep. Dr. Coppelius and Swanhilda hatch a plan to teach Franz a lesson which involves Swanhilda dressing in Coppelia’s clothes.

While Swanhilda would like to teach Franz a lesson...

Dr. Coppelius would like to make Coppelia come alive. He casts a spell in hopes of making that happen, but soon Franz regains consciousness, and all is revealed. Swanhilda forgives Franz and they run out leaving the dismayed Dr. Coppelius with his creations.

The villagers gather to celebrate the harvest...

And the wedding of Swanhilda and Franz. Dr. Coppelius is upset and bitter, and threatens to take revenge for the intrusion to his toy shop. Eventually he is pacified by the purse of gold the mayor gives him.