Old Dr. Coppelius has spent his life developing his mystical powers, which sometimes work but more often than not don't! His great ambition is to bring Coppelia, one of the mechanical dolls he has made, to life. No-one in the village knows what Coppelius dose, and the noises and explosions coming from his mysterious house often give cause for alarm.
One day Coppelius puts Coppelia out on the balcony;he is delighted when everyone believes she is a real person. However, Swanilda, who lives across the street, is not so pleased when she is ignored by Coppelia but Franz, her sweetheart, gets plenty of Coppelia's attention. The Burgomaster arrives and suggests that Swanilda tests Franz's faithfulness with an ear of corn-if it rattles she will know his love is true. Before the Burgomaster leaves, hi announces that the Duke has invited everyone to a fete in the grounds of his mansion, where the “Masque of the Bell" will be performed to celebrate his gift of a new bell to the village church.
After everyone has departed, Swanilda and her friends return to decorate the square for the next day's festivities. They decide to enter Coppelius's house to look for the mysterious girl on the balcony. Franz then returns with the same idea.
Interval
ACT ?U
Dr Coppelius's workshop, later the same night
Inside the workshop Swanilda and her companions discover Coppelia and are astonished to find that she is only a doll.
Coppelius returns and drives them all out, except Swanilda who hides. Franz appears;Coppelius seizes him and threatens to punish him. He then has second thoughts and, by putting a sleeping draught in some wine he offers Franz, he makes him fall asleep. With the help of a book of magic, he tries to bring Coppelia to life using the boy's spirit.
Interval
ACT ?V
The gardens of the Duke's mansion, the following evening
The new bell is formally presented by the Duke, who bestows purses of gold upon Franz and Swanilda and another couple who have announced their wedding that day. Coppelius arrives, angry that his doll has been ruined by Swanilda, but the Duke placates him by giving him a purse of gold too.
The masque now begins with the “Dance of the Hours" and the “Dawn of a New Day". Then there are dances that illustrate the uses to which the bell will be put:the call to prayer, work, the announcement of a marriage, the call to arms and, finally, the declaration of peace, in which we see Swanilda and Franz express their true love. As everyone departs with the bell, Coppelius, alone and forgotten, discovers that, for once, his mystical powers really have worked.
