ACT I - The Village Square
Dr. Coppelius, a mysterious old toy maker, has just created a life-size doll named Coppelia. Swanilda, a young girl of the village, sees Coppelia and runs over to make friends. She does not realize that this pretty creature is just a doll. Swanilda's sweetheart, Franz, enters and upon seeing Coppelia, begins to flirt and show off. Swanilda catches Franz flirting and accuses him of being unfaithful to her. The quarreling lovers are interrupted by villagers who have gathered in the square. The mayor enters to announce a festival in honor of a new bell for the town hall's tower. He promises to award a dowry to all couples who marry during the festival.
As evening approaches, Dr. Coppelius leaves his house and mistakenly drops his key. Swanilda finds the key as she and her friends decide to investigate the mysteries of Dr. Coppelius' workshop and Swanilda's rival, Coppelia.
ACT II - The Workshop of Coppelius
Swanilda and her friends tiptoe into Dr. Coppelius' gloomy workshop where they find Coppelia. Accidentally, the girls set some dolls in motion. Their merriment is interrupted when Dr. Coppelius rushes in, infuriated by their intrusion. The girls all flee except Swanilda, who mischievously decides to change places with Coppelia. Franz enters the workshop, hoping to find his beloved Coppelia and is caught by the old man. Franz explains that he is in love with Coppelia. Dr. Coppelius pretends not to be angry and offers Franz a secret drink that makes him fall asleep. While Franz is sleeping, Dr. Coppelius rushes to a book of magic to find a formula that will bring Coppelia to life. As Swanilda is pretending to be Coppelia, the experiment seems to work! When she tires of the game, Swanilda upsets the whole workshop. Franz awakens and together they joyfully flee, leaving the toy maker to discover what really happened.
ACT III - The Festival of the Bells
The festival has begun and all those who are to marry receive their dowries. Dr. Coppelius arrives and demands payment for the damage Swanilda caused in his workshop. Swanilda offers him her dowry, but the mayor intervenes and gives Dr. Coppelius another bag of gold so that all may be happy. The whole village joins in the dancing to celebrate the marriage of Swanilda and Franz.
INTERMISSION
