CHARMING TAKE ON ‘CINDERELLA’ GREAT FOR VARIETY OF AGES
If you watched a lot of TV in the late 1960s like me, you probably saw Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” musical on television in repeats every year.
It premiered in black and white on TV in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, then was remade in color for television with Leslie Ann Warren in 1965. In 2013, the musical finally made its Broadway debut in an updated and expanded adaptation now playing at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista. The adaptation, with a new book by Douglas Carter Beane, has modernized the characters and story and added more humor, but the gorgeous original score remains.
The production, directed by Noelle Marion, is charming, funny and well sung and has clever bits of stage sorcery that bring a magic to the story that children will enjoy. The special effects include dresses that transform from rags to taffeta in seconds, hand puppets and a glistening carriage pulled by four marionette-style white horses. Choreographer Jill Gorrie Rovatsos has also designed several large-scale dances, the best of which is a gorgeous ball dance.
Dhora De Luz and Samuel Shea have great singing voices and chemistry together as Ella/Cinderella and her prince charming, Topher. In Beane’s version of the story, Ella doesn’t just want to marry the prince, she wants to help him transform the regency into a democracy to give voice to the country’s poorest citizens. And Topher is an orphan fresh out of college who lack confidence, direction and agency until she opens his eyes.
Beane’s book has also beefed up and changed the stories of the secondary characters. Eileen Bowman is a scene-stealer as Ella’s hilariously wicked stepmother Madame. Bigvoiced Anise Ritchie is regal as Marie, the town crackpot who transforms into Ella’s fairy godmother. Kumari Small is endearing as Ella’s kind stepsister Gabrielle. Samantha Wynn Greenstone is an excellent song interpreter as Ella’s crass and socially awkward stepsister Charlotte. Steve Gunderson is
amusingly bored as Sebastian, the corrupt lord chancellor. Drew Bradford gives a goofy, high-strung performance as JeanMichel, the town revolutionary. And rubber-faced Zane Davis makes the most of his role as Sebastian’s assistant Lord Pinkleton.
All of the gorgeous songs from the original 1957 musical are intact and well-produced. But the new version has added several other Rodgers and Hammerstein songs to the score to help expand the show from 90 minutes to two hours, 30 minutes, with intermission. Not all of the added songs are as good as the originals, but that may just be my personal bias from knowing the original score by heart by age 8.
Tamara Paige makes her Moonlight debut as conductor and musical director, overseeing an 18-piece orchestra that sounded great on Wednesday night. Ryan Marsh designed lighting, Jim Zadai designed sound, Blake McCarty designed projections and Peter Herman designed hair and wigs. The scenery and costumes are rented, though Vista designer Renetta Lloyd designed additional costumes for the large cast of 28 adults and 10 youth actors.
Due to some COVID issues among the cast, the first two performances of the “Cinderella” run were canceled, but Tuesday shows were added to accommodate demand. Family-friendly musicals are always top-sellers at Moonlight and “Cinderella” is no exception. With its big cast and dance numbers and a little bit of magic, it’s a great show for all ages.