ballet gifts~ballet kilt pin brooch~ballet keyring~ballet shoes~ballet dancer

Maffre’s duet with the puppet evokes a tenderness and intimacy that’s striking. Watching the ballerina float across the tiny Aurora stage is so bewitching that it reminds us what the rest of the production lacks: a palpable sense of magic. Her love of ballet and her affinity for the tale make this interlude sparkle far more brightly than anything that comes before or after. The text (adapted from C.F. Ramuz’s book by Pocket Opera founder Donald Pippin) needs more whimsy to keep us fully engaged. The score, beautifully rendered by the Earplay ensemble, is a charmer, but there are a few too many times when the action stills and the music shines to the point that one stops missing the actors entirely.

3366 Bolsena Ct $525,000 10-25-2013 1679 SF 2 BR, 7683 Galloway Dr $489,000 10-31-2013 1509 SF 2 BR, 3522 Jasmine Cir 2703 $642,000 10-31-2013 1346 SF 3 BR, ballet gifts~ballet kilt pin brooch~ballet keyring~ballet shoes~ballet dancer 3254 Sangiovese Pl $705,000 10-25-2013 1626 SF 3 BR, 7397 Via Cantares $570,000 10-25-2013 1781 SF 2 BR, _______________________________, SAN JOSE 95136, _______________________________, 341 Ballymore Cir $460,100 10-25-2013 1168 SF 2 BR, 3055 Canoas Creek Ct $812,500 10-29-2013 2155 SF 4 BR, 505 Casselino Dr $630,000 10-25-2013 1810 SF 3 BR..

If anything, layers of grit and grime left by legions of dancers and drinkers over the years have been stripped away to reveal the Cardiff of yesteryear. Walking into the Cardiff today feels like it might have been in the early ’60s, with modern upgrades, of course, like an amazing sound system and several sharp TVs. Even the bar surface has gotten a makeover of solid black leather and granite. The “lounge” aspect hasn’t gone away, though. The long, narrow space has low-slung, mid-century modern furniture, mostly in black with a serious “Mad Men” vibe. The lighting inside — provided by Edison bulbs, the hipster bar’s best friend, over the bar — is still low, with the only natural light coming from the door that leads out to Campbell Avenue. On first glance, it looks like the walls have been covered with a jacquard print paper, but it’s actually a hand-painted stencil. The red-orange neon sign against the back wall that says “CLUB” is a vintage piece, Meharu said, going back probably five decades.

Northern California Classic Rock Tribute, 9 p.m, Jan, 20, Club Fox, 2209 Broadway, Redwood City, $12, 650-369-7770 or tickets.foxrwc.com, En Vivo CD Release, 8 p.m, Jan, 21, Club Fox, 2209 Broadway, Redwood City, $12, 650-369-7770 or tickets.foxrwc.com, A Soulful Sunday with Vicious Groove, 8 p.m, Jan, 22, Club Fox, 2209 Broadway, Redwood City, $10, 650-369-7770 or tickets.foxrwc.com, Music by David Lang, Paul Hillier’s Theatre of Voices, Bryce Dessner, Shara Worden, Nico Muhly and Owen Pallett, “The Little Match Girl Passion” and “Death Speaks” (world premiere), 8 p.m, Jan, 25, Dinkelspiel ballet gifts~ballet kilt pin brooch~ballet keyring~ballet shoes~ballet dancer Auditorium, Stanford University, $44-$50 ($10 for Stanford students), Presented by Stanford Lively Arts, 650-725-2787 or livelyarts.stanford.edu..

For more information, email katishort@yahoo.com. ‘House of Floyd’ plays El Campanil. ANTIOCH — Next up at El Campanil Theatre is “The House of Floyd” (the music of Pink Floyd) at 8 p.m. Saturday at El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St. The Pink Floyd tribute band is based in San Francisco. Rather than simply replicating the iconic band’s recorded songs, House of Floyd focuses on the adventurous live arrangements and sonic explorations of their namesake. Tickets are $27 general admission, $25 seniors and fee for those under 18 with a paying adult. Call 925-757-9500 or go online at www.elcampaniltheatre.com.