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 sits 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.
Act II:
Dr. Coppélius' Workshop
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.
Act III:
The Village Square
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.
