Act I
Inside a poor cottage
Hansel and Gretel distract themselves from hunger and their chores by singing and playing. A neighbor has given them some cream and they hope their mother will make a pudding when she comes home. Gretel tries to teach Hansel a dance when Gertrude, their mother, finds them playing. She scolds them and in chasing them about the cottage, breaks the milk jug. Hansel’s laughter is the last straw and she sends the children out into the wood to gather strawberries. Exhausted, she sits at the table and worries that there is no food for the children. Peter the broom-maker approaches, singing a song about hunger. When he enters the house, his wife berates him for his alcohol-assisted high spirits but he has had a good day selling brooms and has brought home lots of food which Gertrude happily helps unpack. Asking for the children, Peter is horrified to learn that they are in the wood, explaining that it is the haunt of a witch who eats children. They set off together in search of Hansel and Gretel.

Act II
In the woods
Gretel sings a riddle song as she weaves flowers into a garland. Hansel searches for strawberries. Enjoying the strawberries, they are startled to realize that they have eaten them all and it is now dark. They are lost in the wood and alarmed by strange sounds as night sets in. The Sandman calms their fears and prepares them for sleep. They sing their evening prayer, invoking the protection of angels during the night, and as they sleep, the angels appear to watch over them.

Intermission

Act III
The same woods the next morning
The Dew Fairy wakes the children. They see a house made of gingerbread and all sorts of sweets. Hansel and Gretel convince themselves that their guardian angels have put the house there for them to eat. The voice of the Witch is heard, asking who is eating her house. They continue to eat until she emerges and catches them. Not trusting this strange person, they try to run away, but are immobilized by a spell. The Witch puts Hansel in a cage and forces Gretel to do chores which include fattening up Hansel.  Hansel is told to put his finger through the bars, but he fools the Witch with a chicken bone, delaying the feast the Witch has planned. When The Witch leaves her wand unattended, Gretel picks it up and frees Hansel from the spell. The Witch tells her to see if the oven is hot enough. Hansel, freed from the cage, warns Gretel who pretends not to understand what she is to do. The Witch impatiently demonstrates and the children shove her into the oven. They dance with glee until a number of other children have appeared but seem to be unable to see or move freely. At the touch of Hansel and Gretel, the children are freed. Gertrude and Peter arrive in time to join the rejoicing and all thank God for deliverance.