Act I

The action opens at the snug home of a broom-maker and his wife. Their children, Hansel and Gretel, are doing chores—or should be. But while daughter Gretel sings to herself as she works, son Hansel jests, turning her song into a ditty about how hungry he is. When Gretel reminds him of their father’s advice—that the Lord provides for those in need—Hansel replies that they cannot eat words. But Gretel discloses that a neighbor has given their mother a jug of milk that will help in making their supper, and Hansel, excited at the prospect, skims some cream from the top. Gretel tells him to get back to work, but soon they are dancing instead.

Their mother enters and is upset when she sees that the children have been slacking off. Angrily threatening to punish them, she accidentally spills the milk. Her dinner plans now ruined, she sends Hansel and Gretel into the forest to forage for wild strawberries. Once they are gone, her anxieties about caring for her family are more evident. She expresses her sorrow and appeals to God for help.

Approaching the house, the broom-maker can be heard singing. He’s been drinking, but that’s not the only reason he’s in a good mood: he’s laden with provisions including bacon, flour, eggs, onions, beans, and more, thanks to banner sales of his brooms. But when he learns that the children have been sent into the woods, he grows concerned. He tells his wife about the evil Gingerbread Witch—a notorious hag with magical powers who lurks in the forest, lures children with cakes and sweets, and then pushes them into her oven, transforming them into gingerbread. The worried parents rush out to look for their son and daughter.

Act II

Is that the sound if a wind-borne witch? Is she coming for Hansel and Gretel? We can feel the swooping air currents as we listen to Gingerbread Witch riding her broom in the “Witch’s Ride,” the evocative orchestral prelude that opens Act II. But the children seem unconcerned as Gretel weaves a floral crown and Hansel searches for strawberries. Soon they are nibbling strawberries rather than gathering them. Finally, with the strawberries gone and darkness closing in, they realize they are lost, and something is coming—something that grows more menacing as it comes closer. But what is it?

It is the Sandman, who loves them and will protect them as they sleep. Once he sprinkles their eyes with his sleep-sand, the children can barely keep them open. With another lushly beautiful interlude, the children sing their evening prayers. A tender postlude conveys all the beauty and innocence of childhood as fourteen angels array themselves protectively around Hansel and Gretel, lulling them to sleep.

Act III

With the dawn comes the Sandman’s morning counterpart, the Dew Fairy, who sprinkles dew on Hansel and Gretel to waken them. Soon the children notice a fantastic gingerbread house: fanciful, ornate, non-GMO, and 100% delicious. As they nibble, a voice calls out, demanding to know: who is the mouse-y nibbling on her house-y? It is the voice of the Gingerbread Witch!

Pretending to be just a sweet lady proffering sweets, the Witch tempts Hansel and Gretel with goodies of all sorts. Soon their suspicions are aroused. When they plan an escape, the Witch uses her wand to immobilize them. But their resourcefulness is by no means at an end: while Hansel slyly convinces the Witch that he needs further fattening, Gretel steals her wand, freeing them to move again; when the Witch tells Gretel to check the gingerbread cookies in her oven, Hansel pushes the Witch into it—restoring life to all the Witch’s gingerbread children. The Witch’s oven explodes, and with Hansel and Gretel’s further help, full freedom of movement is restored to all the newly liberated children.

Amid the happy scene, Hansel and Gretel’s parents are heard approaching. They joyfully reunite with all the happy youngsters as Hansel’s father reminds them of God’s justice and mercy.