The Sleeping Beauty

PROLOGUE: THE CHRISTENING

King Florestan and his Queen have invited the Fairies to the christening of the infant Princess Aurora. Unfortunately, Master of Ceremonies Catalabutte has forgotten to invite the Fairy Carabosse. Nevertheless, she arrives, thoroughly outraged, as the other Fairies are bestowing their magic gifts. She gives a spindle and announces that one day Aurora shall prick her finger with it and die. Luckily, the Lilac Fairy still has her own gift to bestow, and she confounds Carabosse by vowing that Aurora shall not die but will instead fall into a deep sleep, to be awakened after a hundred years by a prince’s kiss. The King bans all spindles from the kingdom.

ACT I: THE SPELL

It is Princess Aurora’s birthday, and four Princes have come to court her. During the festivities, an old woman approaches with something Aurora has never seen—a spindle. In her fascination, Aurora dances with the spindle and pricks her finger. The old woman throws back her cloak, revealing that she is Carabosse and reminds every one of her mortal spell. The Lilac Fairy fulfills her promise to protect the princess. She casts a spell of sleep over the kingdom and commands a forest to grow and conceal the palace.