Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale and “The Nutcracker,” “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” showcases the wondrous journey of Clara, who finds herself in the mystical world of the Four Realms, home to a host of eccentric characters and no shortage of surprises.
Foremost of these characters are the Regents of the Four Realms -- the Sugar Plum Fairy, Mother Ginger, Hawthorne and Shiver. Let’s get to know them better!
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY is the beloved regent of the Land of Sweets, the yummiest of the realms with its gingerbread architecture and gum drop décor. Elegant, ethereal and naturally sweet, Sugar Plum wears a gown that sparkles like crystalized sugar. She welcomes Clara to the Four Realms with open arms, declaring her the guest of honor at an extravagant pageant. Clara’s mother, Marie, was once Sugar Plum’s dearest friend, so Clara is family.
“Sugar Plum is the personification of femininity,” says Keira Knightley, who portrays the character. “I like to do a lot of research, so I started with the actual music of the Sugar Plum Fairy, which led to her laugh. I later found her high-pitched, girly voice that has two sides to it: pristine femininity and at the same time, quite assertive.”
