Bossov Ballet to present another classic fairy tale

ORONO – Nine weeks after opening the contemporary ballet “The Red Shoes,” Andrei Bossov’s dancers will be back on stage at the University of Maine’s Hauck Auditorium in Orono performing one of ballet’s historic classics. The Bossov troupe will present “Coppelia” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights, Aug. 4-5.

Dancers are: Ben Malone and Stephanie Pouzol, Bangor; August Eaton, Hermon; Brooke Black, Eddington; Robert Dunphy, Kelsey Hayes, Jill Rancourt, Joanne Reuter, Mollie Sharples and Jacob Gambone, Pittsfield; David Gerry, Eve Schultz and Erica Marcoux, Waterville; Trinity Bacharach, Detroit; Caitlin O’Reilly, Farmington; Katie Paquin, Bristol; Gabby Perkins, Oakland; Chelsey Villetta, Portland; Eden Weinstein, Lewiston; and Rose Whitney, Fairfield.

Also, Kathy Babko and Grace Pusey, Pennsylvania; Kaitlynn Bass, Tennessee; Victoria Beeson, Betty Kelly, Ali MacWilliams, Calder Taylor, Joseline Mroczek, Katie Mroczek, Robert Mulvey and Lori Celeste, Maryland; Gabriela Berinstein, Abbie Singleton and Elizabeth Grande, Massachusetts; Krista Blackwell, Brinna Rose Weigel and Kendall Snyder, Connecticut; Sara Csizik and Melanie Mayhew-Hammond, Ontario; Jillian Cyr and Alden Taylor, New Hampshire; Tori Helfrich, Texas; Christine Herrera and Clare Schweitzer, California; Laurel Hunt and Natalie Robison, Michigan; Garvin Jellison, Minnesota; Joanna Lira, Mexico; Daniel Ostfield, Israel; Olivia Padgett, Rhode Island; Adrian Silver, New York; Malorie Torrey, Virginia; Joshua Wagner, Washington, D.C.; Danielle Walkow, British Columbia; and Tara Wilkins, North Carolina.

First produced in Paris in 1870, “Coppelia,” according to a contemporary choreographer and ballet historian, was “a breakaway from the sad, romantic ballets of the day and an immediate success with its humor, vigorous national dances, and brightness … the last hoorah for the Paris Opera before it fell into decay.”

Like E.T.A. Hoffman’s other fairy tale-turned-ballet, “The Nutcracker,” “Coppelia” has the same rare attraction for young and old audiences alike. It is humorous, romantic, lively and eloquent in its choreographic splendor, its wedding pas de deux among the most beautiful male-female partnerings in all ballet. Leo Delibe’s classical and spirited musical score flows easily from one section to another and keeps both dancers and audience inspired.

In the bizarre-yet-believable plot, Franz, a young villager, takes a romantic fancy to a mysterious girl whom he has not met but has seen in an upstairs window. Jealous, Franz’ girlfriend, Swanhilda, decides to make the acquaintance of her rival only to discover that she is no rival at all, but a life-sized doll created by the villager’s half-crazed toymaker, Dr. Coppelius. The doctor has tried everything known to his era’s version of science to make one of his toys come to life.

When Swanhilda changes clothes with the doll, Coppelia, and takes her place in the upstairs window to spite her lover, the doctor convinces himself that he has at last succeeded for indeed, Coppelia has developed a heart that beats and a mind of her own.

The remainder of the story for the time being will be left to the imagination of Bossov’s audience. Suffice it to say that the delightful fairy tale is one of those enduring and endearing stories that will never have to be rated so much as “PG,” as its innocence and decency stand untarnished against the backdrop of a truly well-told tale.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and seniors. Call Bossov Ballet Theatre at 487-6360.