Will Cinderella make it to the ball?

Waiting for your first opening night is hard enough at the best of times, but for Kyabram Theatre Group’s current leading lady, Lily Murray, it feels like an eternity.

She was supposed to be on stage on Friday night for the first performance of Cinderella – playing Cinderella herself – but with Victoria once again going into a snap lockdown, she’s had to wait.

The performances have been pushed back a week, with a Sunday matinee show added next weekend, but with lockdowns coming into effect across the country it’s touch-and-go as to if those performances can happen on July 30, 31 and August 1.

Lily herself has loved every moment of it — well, nearly ever moment.

“The rehearsals and everything have gone great, the lines are down pat and fine, but COVID pushing our dates back really is stressful but I feel great about it really,” she said.

“We were all aware lockdown could happen and prepared for it if it did, but we were hoping it wouldn’t.”

The Kyabram P-12 student performed in the school’s production of Grease earlier this year, which gave her a taste of COVID restrictions impacting performances.

“It was quite fun but that was pushed back nearly a year as well; it was supposed to be August last year and we did it in February.”

She was in the background singing and dancing in that performance, but since taking singing lessons was cast in the leading role in Cinderella, despite being in just Year 8.

She has loved being in the performance with a huge variety of ages.

“It’s been really fun. We get together and make jokes and have fun, and it’s really inspiring to see the older girls come together,” Lily said.

She thanked everyone who had helped her prepare for the role — from costume designers and costars to directors and backstage crew — but said she just wanted the chance to pop the glass slippers on and get on stage.