A ballet or an opera will naturally require a different procedure than a play, because the character analysis comes from the music. Here are the steps by which the Petrouchka Ballet was worked out:
1. The story was told to the pupils.
2. The musical score as a whole was played to them.
3. The motif for each character and incident was played to them.
4. The musical score as a whole was again played and the pupils listened for the motifs.
5. Each character was analyzed and his probable actions upon the stage were discussed.
6. The puppet was taken in hand and the interpretation of the music with it was begun.
There are four scenes in this ballet. The first scene is a street fair in a Russian village. A little theater occupies the center back stage in which the stage manager exhibits the Moor, the Ballerina, and Petrouchka. The scene closes with their lively dance and Petrouchka’s declaration of love to the Ballerina.
Scene II is in Petrouchka’s box and shows his despairing love for the Ballerina.
Scene III is in the Moor’s box and shows him playing with his ball. The Ballerina enters and they dance together. Petrouchka rushes in and in a jealous rage tries to kill the Moor. The Moor chases Petrouchka out of his box.