The Sleeping Beauty story guide

PROLOGUE  |  ACT I  |  ACT II  |  ACT III

The Spell
It is Aurora's birthday and four princes have come to woo her. In order that Carabosse's curse will not come true, spindles and needles have been forbidden in the kingdom. During the festivities Princess Aurora meets an old woman working at a spindle; she has been sent by Carabosse. Aurora is fascinated with the spindle and when the old woman hands it to her she dances with it.Suddenly Aurora pricks her finger and falls to the ground. The King and Queen are distraught and the old woman is led away to prison. Triumphantly Carabosse appears - her curse has come true. As she vanishes the Lilac Fairy enters to fulfil her promise. She casts a spell of sleep over the whole court and commands a forest to grow and conceal the palace completely.