Act I: The Village Square |
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| The scene is a village square in a small town in southern Poland. On
one side of the square is the house where Swanilda, the heroine, lives.
On the other is the mysterious workshop of Dr. Coppélius, a toymaker
suspected of possessing magical gifts. In the upstairs window of the toymaker's
house sit's Coppélia, a doll, with a book in her hands. Swanilda
enters, sees the doll, and bows to it, not knowing it is a doll. Her friendly
bows, gestures, and greetings make no impression and she stamps her foot
in irritation.
Hearing the arrival of Franz, her sweetheart, she hides, suspicious of his interest in the remote Coppélia. Her thoughts are justified, for the young man flirts with Coppélia until the old doctor moves the doll away. Swanilda appears from her hiding place, where she has been able to observe her swain's interest in the mysterious girl, and pretends to chase a butterfly. Franz joins her and pins the butterfly to his jacket. Swanilda cries out as if her own heart had been pricked. The two lovers are interrupted by the villagers, who dance a lively Mazurka. The burgermeister arrives to announce a special festival to be held in honor of a new bell given by the local lord for the church. Dowries will also be presented to girls about to be married. The burgermeister gives Swanilda a stalk of wheat to test her love. Traditionally, if the wheat rattles when shaken, her love will be true. Swanilda and Franz dance with the wheat, but, when she shakes the stalk, she and her friends hear nothing. Although Franz says he hears it, she refuses to believe him. The marriage appears to be off. Dusk begins to settle and the celebrants depart. Dr. Coppélius emerges from his house, carefully locking the door and placing the key in his pocket. But some of the town bullies push him around and the key falls to the ground. Swanilda and her girl friends appear, find the key, and, under Swanilda's urging, sneak into the house of the toymaker. Then Franz appears carrying a ladder that he pushes against the balcony of Dr. Coppélius's house. As the curtain closes, Franz starts to climb up.
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Act II: Dr. Coppélius' Workshop |
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| Placed around the room are several life-sized automated dolls: a harlequin
doll, a Spanish doll, a Scottish doll, a Russian doll, a Chinese doll,
and an astrologer. Nervously, Swanilda and her companions enter the dimly
lighted room. Then, Swanilda is dared by her companions to approach the
curtained alcove to search for Coppélia. They soon discover that
the object of Franz's admiration is no more than a mechanical doll. All
fear is gone now and the girls dance merrily, setting all the life-sized
dolls in motion.
Suddenly, they are interrupted by the return of a furious Dr. Coppélius. They all escape, except Swanilda, who, unseen by Dr. Coppélius, hides behind the curtain that conceals Coppélia. There Swanilda exchanges places with the doll Coppélia. Having, as he thinks, rid his house of intruders, Dr. Coppélius sees Franz entering through the half-open window at the back of the room. Dr. Coppélius allows Franz to enter and then seizes him as he creeps towards Coppélia's alcove. Franz tries to make his way back to the window, but the old man bars his way and demands an explanation. Franz admits that he is in love with Coppélia and had entered the house to find her. Dr. Coppélius invites Franz to take wine with him. After slipping a sleeping powder into one glass, Dr. Coppélius pours out two glasses. He offers one to Franz, and then, unobserved, throws away the contents of the other on the floor. Franz slumps over on the table in a stupor. Dr. Coppélius consults the Book of Magic and then wheels Coppélia in from the alcove. He tries to draw the life force from Franz and then to transfer it to the doll. The doll, who is actually Swanilda, seems to come to life to the intense joy of Dr. Coppélius. Finally, Swanilda reveals her identity; and she and the revived Franz flee the workshop. Realizing that he has been tricked, Dr. Coppélius collapses at the feet of his precious Coppélia doll.
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Act III: The Village Square |
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| The final preparations for the village festival are in progress, a pageant to celebrate a new bell for the church. The Burgermeister arrives to preside over the blessing of the bell and to bless the betrothed couples in the village by giving them their promised bags of gold. Dr. Coppélius storms into the square, accusing the lovers of having destroyed his workshop. Swanilda offers to pay for the damage with her dowry, thus placating Dr. Coppélius, who then remains to enjoy the celebrations. The reconciled Swanilda and Franz lead their friends in the entertainment of a celebration of village life. | |