Viewfinder: Racine Theatre Guild Presents "Sleeping Beauty"

Four Caledonia residents will take the stage this weekend for the Racine Children’s Theatre production of “Sleeping Beauty.”

When the curtain rises Friday, two of them will be front and center in the story of Princess Aurora, who was cursed at birth to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die by her 16th birthday.

Ellie Hammond will step out as Queen Beatrice, Aurora’s mother, while Mary Kveton will play the Lilac Fairy, one of three fairy godmother-types who protect Aurora by countering the curse cast by the evil fairy Morgana.

“Instead of her pricking her finger and dying, I give her the gift of life,” said Kveton, 42, an assistant teacher in the Racine Unified School District and mother of three children, ages 15, 11 and 9.

When Aurora goes into a deep sleep, it is the Lilac Fairy’s gift that sustains her until she is awoken by a kiss from her true love.

Caledonia couple Lori and Frank Russ also will appear in the play. Lori will play Bippity the Rabbit, and Frank will play King Edward, father of Prince Ferdinand, who is destined to awaken Aurora with true love’s kiss.

The story is set to the music of the famous Tchaikovsky ballet, first performed more than a century ago.

Being part of the production is the culmination of a childhood dream for Hammond, 42, who grew up going to the children’s theatre and later brought her sons – ages 13, 14 and 18 – to shows.

“I always wanted to do acting, so when I got to it was kind of like a dream come true,” said Hammond, a nurse, who has played in five children’s theatre productions and several theatre guild shows.

The actors agreed that children’s productions are particularly fun because of the audience, which is filled with children in kindergarten through late elementary school, usually ages 4 to 11.

Many of the kids want to meet their favorite characters, so after the show the entire cast goes to the lobby to sign autographs and talk to the kids.

Some of the littler girls dress up like their favorite Disney princess. But, usually, a child’s reaction to a play depends on age.

“A 4-year-old watches the show for the fantasy of it, for the story,” Hammond said. “The older kids want to get on the stage. It’s not so much the story for them as much as it is the mechanics and doing it.”

Kveton, whose 15-year-old daughter Sarah made a costume for the show, gets just as much enjoyment out of being part of the theater.

“This is my second home,” she said.

If you go

What: Sleeping Beauty
When: Eight 45-minute shows, Friday, Feb. 11, through Sunday, Feb. 13. Show times are 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday; and 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Guests should arrive 15 minutes before curtain call.
Where: Racine Theatre Guild, 2519 Northwestern Avenue (Highway 38)
Cost: $6 per person.
Tickets: Available at the box office between noon and 6 p.m. weekdays or 90 minutes before show times; by calling, (262) 633-4218; or online at www.racinetheatre.org.