Coppelia - May 13th-May 26th

Synopsis Act I

The story begins during a town festival to celebrate the arrival of a new bell. The town crier announces that, when it arrives, anyone who becomes married will be awarded a special gift of money. Swanhilde and Franz plan to marry during the festival. However, Swanhilde becomes unhappy with Franz because he seems to be paying more attention to a girl named Coppelia, who sits on the balcony of a nearby house. The house belongs to a mysterious and faintly diabolical inventor, Doctor Coppelius. Although Coppelia spends all of her time sitting motionless and reading, Franz is mesmerized by her beauty and is determined to attract her attention. Still upset with Franz, Swanhilde shakes an ear of wheat to her head: if it rattles, then she will know that Franz loves her. Upon doing this however, she hears nothing. When she shakes it by Franz's head, he also hears nothing; but then he tells her that it rattles. However, she does not believe him and runs away heartbroken.

Later on, Dr. Coppelius leaves his house and is heckled by a group of boys. After shooing them away, he continues on without realising that he dropped his keys in the melee. Swanhilde finds the keys, which gives her the idea of learning more about Coppelia. She and her girlfriends decide to enter Dr. Coppelius's house. Meanwhile, Franz develops his own plan to meet Coppelia, climbing a ladder to her balcony.

Act II

Swanhilde and her friends find themselves in a large room filled with people. However, the occupants aren't moving. The girls discover that, rather than people, these are life-size mechanical dolls. They quickly wind them up and watch them move. Swanhilde also finds Coppelia behind a curtain and discovers that she, too, is a doll.

Dr. Coppelius returns home to find the girls. He becomes angry with them, not only for trespassing but for also disturbing his workroom. He kicks them out and begins cleaning up the mess. However, upon noticing Franz at the window, Coppelius invites him in. The inventor wants to bring Coppelia to life but, to do that, he needs a human sacrifice. With a magic spell, he will take Franz's spirit and transfer it to Coppelia. After Dr. Coppelius proffers him some wine laced with sleeping powder, Franz begins to fall asleep. The inventor then readies his magic spell.

However, Dr. Coppelius did not expel all the girls: Swanhilde is still there, hidden behind a curtain. She dresses up in Coppelia's clothes and pretends that the doll has come to life. She wakes Franz and then winds up all the mechanical dolls to aid their escape. Dr. Coppelius becomes confused and then saddened when he finds a lifeless Coppelia behind the curtain. Act III

Swanhilde and Franz are about to make their wedding vows when the angry Dr. Coppelius appears, claiming damages. Dismayed at having caused such an upset, Swanhilde offers Dr. Coppelius her dowry in return for his forgiveness. However, Swanhilde's father tells Swanhilde to keep her dowry and offers to pay Dr. Coppelius instead. At that point, the mayor intervenes and gives Dr. Coppelius a bag of money, which placates him. Swanhilde and Franz are married and the entire town celebrates by dancing.

((As always, feel free to play off this however you wish, and thanks for reading!))

((Synopsis "borrowed" from Wikipedia.))

Tony received Elizabeth's message, albeit belatedly. Somehow her message had gotten lost in the pile of paperwork that he had to wade through on a daily basis. Letters from hopeful dancers weren't all that unusual, though auditions had taken place months ago, and all the principals had already been filled. Still, Tony remembered what it had been like to yearn to be part of a dance company, and he believed everyone deserved a fair chance.

With that in mind, he sent a reply addressed to Miss Elizabeth Alexandre, c/o The Red Dragon Inn. The letter read as follows:

Dear Miss Alexandre,

My deepest apologies for such a late reply, but your message was lost and only just reached me. As it happens, open auditions took place a few months ago, but if you could fill out the attached registration form and send it along with a resume and photograph to myself c/o The Shanachie Theater, I will see what I can do.

Sincerely,

Tony DeLuca Company Director Shanachie Classical Ballet Company

SHANACHIE CLASSICAL BALLET COMPANY REGISTRATION/AUDITION FORM 2013 SEASON

NAME:

HEIGHT:

WEIGHT:

GENDER:

AGE:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (PLEASE FILL OUT EVEN IF THIS IS ON YOUR RESUME):

TRAINING & SCHOOL (PLEASE FILL OUT EVEN IF THIS IS ON YOUR RESUME):

Please note - The positions offered by the Ballet Company are full time and salaried. Members of the Company will be expected to keep to a strict rehearsal and performance schedule. Sick and holiday pay is non-negotiable and subject to duration of employment. The directorship withhold the right to terminate employment, should contractual obligations not be met.