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Hans Christian Andersen
asks the audience to imagine the littlest flower just ready to bloom
within a magic garden. Before the bud can open a Garden Witch changes
the flower into a tiny princess. The flower blossoms to reveal a girl no
bigger than your thumb. She sits atop a thimble and the Garden Witch
pronounces her "Thumbelina!"
Thumbelina wonders how she can find happiness. A great
green Frog tries to help, and so does Cupid, who gives her a heart and explains
about love. Angus the Bluebird flies into Thumbelina's garden and warns her
about the approach of winter. His offer to fly her to a warm climate is too late
though, for suddenly the Snow Queen spreads her blanket of ice across the
garden.
Thumbelina, all alone in the garden, would have frozen, but
Mumford the Mole finds
her. He invites her to live in his home for the winter. He needs a
friend, too. His sweetheart, Miss Spider, has disappeared.
Thumbelina tells him to listen with his heart. He does, and hears the
Spider say she's OK. Soon Miss Spider appears in her newly spun wedding
gown and Thumbelina marries them. The Spider and the Mole together, but
Thumbelina is once more alone.
But alone isn't
necessarily unhappy. It is springtime again, and Cupid returns to explain he's
had a mix-up — he's given her the wrong heart. The Prince of the Sunflowers
storms in demanding Cupid give his heart back. Thumbelina has the Prince's heart
and he has hers! It's wonderful and grand, and now they can walk through life
hand in hand! |
