The Sleeping Beauty
VMA Arts & Cultural Center
Friday,
April 23, 2004 @ 7:30 pm
Saturday,
April 24, 2004 @ 2:30 pm
Saturday,
April 24, 2004 @ 7:30 pm
Sunday,
April 25, 2004 @ 2:30 pm
synopsis | order
tickets
Act 1
Scene 1: Prologue / The Christening:
In the palace of King Florestan the royal court celebrates the christening
of the newborn princess Aurora. Six invited fairies each bring a gift and
bestow a blessing on the cradle. Suddenly the wicked fairy Carabosse bursts
in on the celebration, followed by her evil-spirited entourage. She is offended
not to have been invited to the christening by the Master of Ceremonies, and,
in spite of his pleas for pardon, pronounces a curse on the baby; that one
day she will prick her finger on a spindle and die.
The shock to the royal parents and the court is somewhat relieved by the Lilac Fairy. She has left her gift for last, and now grants that the Princess will not die, but will instead fall into a deep sleep from which she will be awoken only by the kiss of love.
Scene 2: The Spell
Princess Aurora is now twenty years old, a young woman of radiant
beauty. The King has ordered all spindles in the kingdom to be destroyed.
The court assembles in a palace garden, and village youths dance with garlands
of flowers to celebrate Princess Aurora’s 20th birthday. Four princes
have arrived from the various kingdoms to ask her hand in marriage. Aurora
dances with each of the princes, when suddenly an old woman interrupts, and
presents her with a bouquet of roses. Inside is an object she has never seen
before. It is a spindle. She dances with it, and soon she pricks her finger.
She faints, but then recovers, dancing again, until after a bout of giddiness,
she collapses, instantly falling into a heavy slumber. Throwing off the disguise
of the old woman, Carabosse is triumphant that her curse has at last come
true. The Lilac Fairy immediately appears to keep her promise, and by her
magic everybody present falls asleep, and a thick forest grows up, hiding
the palace and its gardens.
Act II
Scene 1: The Vision
A hundred years pass. Prince Desire is hunting in the forest with
his companions, and stops in a clearing in the forest. As the curtain rises,
the prince has been left behind as the others have continued deeper into the
woods in pursuit of game. The Lilac Fairy, who is also his godmother, appears
before him and shows him a vision of the Princess Aurora, dancing with the
woodland nymphs. Entranced, the young man tries to approach her, and dances
with her, but the picture suddenly fades.
 Scene
2: The AwakeningHe begs the fairy to lead him to the sleeping beauty and follows her to where Princess Aurora sleeps amid the enchanted court. Carabosse and her acolytes retreat, powerless to prevent the breaking of the spell. As he awakens her with his kiss, all the others also awaken. Prince Desire asks for Aurora’s hand in marriage. The King and Queen give their consent and bless the happy couple. |
Scene 3: The Wedding
Aurora’s wedding is celebrated in the grand ballroom of the
palace. Fairy-tale characters and all the fairies join the court in celebrating
the marriage of Aurora and Desiree.
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For ticket information, please contact Festival Ballet Providence at 401.353.1129.
Photo Credits: Thomas Nola-Rion
Pictured: Karla Kovatch, Gleb Lyamenkoff, Festival Ballet Providence
company dancers
