what is the nutcracker play about

The Nutcracker is a two-act classical ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, set on Christmas Eve at the foot of a Christmas tree in a childs imagination. The plot is an adaptation of E. T. A. Hoffmanns 1816 short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King", which was greatly simplified for the ballet. The basic plot of the ballet remains the same as the original story: a young German girl dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads. The ballet begins with a Christmas party where Clara receives a Nutcracker doll from her Uncle Drosselmeyer. Later that night, Clara falls asleep and dreams of a battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. After the Nutcracker defeats the Mouse King, he transforms into a prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes. In the second act, they arrive at the Land of Sweets, where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and other characters who perform a series of dances. The ballet ends with Clara waking up from her dream, wondering if it was all just a dream.