Considered a descriptive tone poem, the score may be the main reason for keeping the ballet in active repertory, but there is also much in the Marius Petipa choreography to behold with pleasure. Petipa filled Delibes' musical cues with group dances - in folk styles like mazurkas and czardas - and then waltzes and delicious virtuoso solo work.

The Pennsylvania Ballet has ideal casts for Coppélia's three principals, and reprised the comedic ballet again last Friday evening at the Merriam Theater. It runs this Thursday through Sunday.

Beatrice Jonah Affron conducted the well-known music live in the orchestra pit, but the Merriam's acoustics flattened things somewhat. She did rouse the orchestra for the opening mazurka danced by the villagers in the square. Opening night had the sprightly Martha Chamberlain in the Swanilda role, the village girl whose betrothed strays for a lifeless doll. The doll, Coppélia, is the creation of Dr. Coppélius who hopes to bring it to life. The easily duped betrothed is Franz, danced by Zachary Hench.

Chamberlain's Swanilda outwits him smartly. With girlish jetés, doll-like pirouettes, and knock-kneed fright, she spies on Franz, catches him flirting with Coppélia, and has fun turning the tables on him. Chamberlain leads with her piquant chin through the most daunting pas de deux and solos nailing at least 22 tours in one.

If Chamberlain charms, Hench enchants. His profile presents the perfect fairy tale character, somewhere between village lad and prince charming. But it was his air-filled ballonnés and beating feet that had the audience gasping time after time. When Swanilda rebuffs him, he turns briefly to a village girl - Hawley Rowe. Dr. Coppélius just as easily gets him drunk in his workshop where Swanilda impersonates Coppélia.

It is hard to believe that not 20 years ago, Jeffrey Gribler, who is now retired from the ballet and is its ballet master, danced the role of Franz and now dances Dr. Coppélius. His broadly painted characterization of the doddering dollmaker - mimicking dancers behind their backs and reacting to them with consummate timing - drew peals of laughter.

Another high point was Riolama Lorenzo's return from maternity leave as one of the finale's soloists. In the end, Swanilda and Franz do marry and are carried into the town square in a grand and too delightfully surprising way to spoil it by telling.

Alternate casts have Arantxa Ochoa as Swanilda and James Ady as Franz.

Coppélia

Performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet.

Playing at The Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St. 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets: 215-336-2000, www.paballet.org