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Summary

PROLOGUE: THE CHRISTENING

King Florestan’s court gathers for the christening of his daughter, Princess Aurora. As fairy godmothers present gifts which foretell Aurora’s elegant attributes, the festivities are interrupted by the arrival of the even fairy Carabosse, irate that she was not invited. She bears no gift, she informs the Queen, but a curse. On Aurora’s 16th birthday, she will pierce her finger on a spindle and die. The benevolent Lilac Fairy intervenes with her gift — a reprieve from death. Aurora will not die, but will sleep for 100 years, to be awakened by a Prince’s kiss.

ACT I: THE SPELL

At Princess Aurora’s 16th birthday celebration, she accepts a rose from four princes who seek her hand in marriage. A mysterious guest arrives and gives Aurora a bouquet. The guest is Carabosse, who has hidden a spindle among the blossoms. The unsuspecting Aurora pierces her finger and seems to die. As the court is thrown into chaos, the Lilac Fairy fulfills her promise of reprieve. She weaves a spell of sleep over Aurora and everyone at court, and enfolds the pal-ace in a forest of lilacs and vines.

ACT II: THE VISION

A century later, Prince Florimund and his retinue are hunting, but the Prince is distracted, dreaming of ideal love. The Lilac Fairy appears and shows him a vision of Princess Aurora, the woman of his dreams. The Prince begs to find this beauty, and the Lilac Fairy takes him to the palace where Aurora lies sleeping. Florimund tries in vain to rouse her, until it occurs to him to awaken Aurora with a kiss. The spell is broken.

ACT III: AURORA’S WEDDING

Fairy tale characters join the court to celebrate the wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Florimund with dancing. All rejoice that good has prevailed over evil. The marriage of Aurora and Florimund restore the kingdom to balance and hope for a bright future.

Casting