A charming adaptation of “Sleeping Beauty,” Michelle Vacca’s recreation of the classic tale, is sure to enchant audiences with its timeless storyline, lovely costumes and animated characters. The play is being presented through May 5 by Act 1 Performing Arts in the Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, Center Valley.

The story begins just after the birth of King Philip and Queen Eleanor’s daughter, Princess Rosalind. Shortly after her birth, the King and Queen of Phar Off Land, played by Christopher Skopowski and Marian Barshinger, respectively, decide to throw a party to introduce the princess to the kingdom.

Everyone in the kingdom is invited, including the good fairies Rosepetal, Moonbeam and Twinkle Toes. As the three fairies walk through the forest, they come upon the wicked fairy, Bella Donna. Twinkle Toes lets news of the celebration slip, sending Bella Donna into an angry rage for being left out of the festivities. Bella Donna vows to attend the party anyway, along with her henchmen.

Bella Donna indeed shows up at the princess’s celebration. Everyone in attendance witnesses Bella Donna casting a spell on the princess: “On Rosalind’s 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die!”

After Bella Donna leaves the party, the good fairies manage to alter the spell a bit. Instead of the princess dying when she pricks her finger, she will instead fall into a deep slumber that will last for 100 years.

The King and Queen order all spindles be removed from the kingdom at once in order to prevent the inevitable tragedy. Alas, Rosalind’s 16th birthday finally arrives. She pricks her finger and immediately falls into a deep sleep. The good fairies, at the request of the King and Queen, put the same spell on the monarchs, so that they can be with their daughter once again, in 100 years’ time.

Over the years, it is inferred that many princes have come to the castle to rescue Rosalind from her forced slumber, sadly to no avail. After 50 years have passed, a prince shows up, but is unfortunately turned off by the amount of work it would take to fight his way through a high rose bush full of thorns.

Luckily, after many years have passed, Prince Stephen arrives. He fights his way through the thorny bush, kisses the princess, and returns the kingdom of Phar Off Land back to normal.

The actors are very entertaining. The fairies are all very quirky and fun (the children loved them). Bella Donna and her henchmen are consistently devious and evil.

The costumes are simple yet lovely. It is obvious that a tremendous amount of thought was put into working them around the characters’ personalities.

The show runs approximately one hour.

Tickets: desales.edu/act1, 610-282-3192