Hänsel und Gretel

Act I (At Home):

Hänsel and Gretel are at home trying to finish their chores. Hänsel is very hungry and complaining loudly about it, so Gretel shows him a jug of milk that was brought to the family by a neighbor. Knowing that the food is there, they decide to dance out of joy and to distract themselves. While they are dancing, their Mother comes home and yells at them, frustrated by the fact that they have done so little work. While she is scolding them, the children accidentally knock over the milk jug and break it. Mother chases the children out of the house, and sends them to go pick strawberries in the woods.

Finally alone, Mother sighs and laments the fact that she has so little food to give to her children. Father, a broom-maker, returns home, singing a joyful song. He has been drinking to celebrate the fact that he has brought home a feast for his family. After telling his wife of his success, he asks her where the children are, so that he can share the news. Mother, a bit