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Coppelia - Sep/2009

The magical story of a doll that comes to life, in a classical ballet for all ages.

Thursday 3rd December - Saturday 5th December 2009 at The Dancehouse Theatre, Manchester. See our sister site at www.thedancehouse.co.uk for details

Coppelia - a ballet in three acts performed by Manchester City Ballet. Music by Leo Delibes. Original production choreographed by Mariuspetipa Enrico Cecchetti after Saint-Leon.Additional choreography by David Needham. This production directed and staged by David Needham.

Act I A Village Square in Galicia
Dr. Coppelius, a toymaker, has constructed a beautiful clockwork doll ‘Coppelia’, so lifelike that, seeing it on his balcony, everyone imagines it to be a girl.

Swanilda is furious when Coppelia ignores her and is even more upset when she discovers that Franz is flirting with her. Villagers enter. After they have danced, the Burgomaster announces that there will be a festival the next day to celebrate the presentation by the Duke of a new church bell to the village and that all who are betrothed will receive dowries from him. He asks Swanilda if she is to be among them and suggests the she should test Franz’s faithfulness to her with an ear of corn. Everybody then departs and the crowd disperses to prepare for the next day.
Dr. Coppelius comes out of his house and is teased by some youths and in the skirmish drops his key. Swanilda and her friends find the key and enter the house. Franz returns; he too, has decided to visit the beautiful girl on the balcony.

Act II Dr. Coppelius’ House
Inside the house Swanilda, encouraged by her friends, approaches the alcove that hides Coppelia; they are astonished to find that she is only a doll. The other clockwork toys are set in motion by the girls who dance around them. Dr. Coppelius returns unexpectedly and drives out the intruders except Swanilda, who hides by taking Coppelia’s place. Franz appears, and Dr. Coppelius catches him. He plies Franz with drugged wine, sending him to sleep. Using a book of magic spells he tries to bring Coppelia to life with the boys’ spirit. Swanilda (as the doll) comes to life. Dr. Coppelius is delighted by his apparent success, unaware that Swanilda has taken the place of his doll. Swanilda revives Franz and Dr. Coppelius realizing that he has been tricked, weeps over his broken doll.

Act III The village square
The following day the new bell is presented by the Duke who gives purses of gold to the betrothed couple. Dr. Coppelius arrives and complains that his dolls have been ruined. The Duke pacifies him with a purse of gold. The villagers dance in the Duke in the ‘Festival of the Bell’. Franz and Swanilda are reconciled and everyone enjoys the ensuing festivities.

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