Monday, March 4, 2013

Theater Review: Cinderella

Santino Fontana and Laura Osnes. Photo: Carol Rosegg
Cinderella Rewritten for a Social-Justice-Minded Generation
By Lauren Yarger
If you think you know the tale of Cinderella, think again. The first Broadway production of the musical from Rodgers and Hammerstein has a new book from Douglas Carter Beane (Sister Act, Xanadu, The Little Dog Laughed) that takes the story out of the land of fairytales and into a modern culture concerned about social justice.

Many of the beloved songs like "A Lovely Night," "In My Own Little Corner," "The Prince is Giving a Ball," "Do I Love You?" and "Ten Minutes Ago" still grace the score adapted by David Chase and orchestrated by Danny Troob, joined by some additions from the Rodgers and Hammerstein "trunk" (songs that didn't make it into their other musicals). The story and Cinderella's character get a makeover, however.

The book for this musical sorely needed a rewrite. The original, penned by Hammerstein, is one of the worst books of a musical ever written. It starred Julie Andrews in a for-TV production in 1957. Later, the book was rewritten and the musical starred Leslie Ann Warren and Stuart Damon in what became an annual must-watch for girls across the nation during the 1960s and '70s.

In 1997, Brandy starred in another update, but none of those versions ever made it to Broadway until its opening last night at the Broadway Theatre, where folks have been lining up to buy tickets that top out at $137 each like they're invitations to a ball where the prince will select his bride (the box office reportedly did more than $1 million in sales last week during previews). I attended the Saturday matinee where the house was populated by tons of little girls dressed as princesses wearing tiny tiaras.

But will they recognize their heroine in this new version? She's played with pluck by the lovely voiced Laura Osnes, only this cinder-sitting girl goes by "Ella" and is paired with a naive, but charming -- really, really charming -- Santino Fontana as Prince Topher, short for Christopher Rupert Windemere Vladimir Carl Alexander Francois Reginald Lancelot Herman, who's giving a ball. That announcement, sung by Lord Pinkleton (Phumzile Sojola) is intermixed with "The Time s Now," a call for social action.

This Cinderella still finds herself waiting hand and foot on a cruel Stepmother (a delightfully wicked Harriet Harris) and two unattractive stepsisters, Gabrielle (Marla Mindelle) and Charlotte (Ann Harada, whose attempts to win the prince for herself provide much comedy). Gabrielle has a softer side, however, and it attracts the attentions of a young revolutionary, Jean-Michel (Greg Hill Dreth), who calls for action against the unjust treatment of the poor by the government. When the king and queen die, a self-serving trustee named Sebastian (a droll Peter Bartlett) is left in charge until Prince Topher, off slaying odd tree monsters, can return home to the throne. (The monster slaying opens the show in a vast forest -- Anna Louizos designs the set -- with Topher wishing he could do something more significant with his life.)

Meanwhile, Jean-Michel's book about how people in other countries live inspires Ella (it's a really nice tie-in to "In My Own Little Corner" and this more pronounced, thoughtful version as directed by Mark Brokaw, is stronger than it ever has been in previous versions.) Despite the hardship she endures, Ella continues to show kindness to everyone, especially "Crazy Marie," (the always excellent Victoria Clark), a sort of homeless forest dweller who turns out to be her fairy godmother.

Marie changes Ella's rags into a beautiful white ball gown and a pumpkin and her fox and raccoon friends (puppets handled by Heidi Gilberson and Laura Irion) into a golden coach with footman and driver (Andy Mills and Cody Williams). The special effects use some nifty lighting (designed by Kenneth Posner), but hardly conceal how the magic happens (and Marie's new gown, designed by Costumer William Ivey Long, is rather silly looking to accommodate two large flexible ball frames at er hips that are necessary later for her to look like a giant butterfly while flying around.)

Ella meets the prince at the ball (a masked one -- now doesn't that make more sense since the prince can't identify Cinderella after she leaves??) where she encourages everyone to play nicely and displays her ballet talent in Choreographer Josh Rhodes's dances until midnight when she flees (I personally didn't hear Marie warn her about that). She pauses to tell Topher that he has to do something about how his government is treating the people. With that, she goes -- remembering to take her glass slipper with her.

But don't fret. Topher decides to hold a "banquet" which he hopes the mystery girl of his dreams will attend, and she does, this time in a golden gown that makes a much more impressive transition from rags than its predecessor did. Ella arranges for the prince to meet with Jean-Michel, Gabrielle and the villagers. They realize that maybe Topher's not such a bad guy after all and the prince, beginning to understand that Sebastian has been taking advantage of him, focuses on learning how to govern. He nominates Jean-Michel to run against Sebastian for the post of prime minister. Should things continue the way they are or they way they could be? Let the people decide, he decrees!

While the show is entertaining, with a lot of humor to entertain the adults bringing all those little ones to the theater, the overwhelming political message is annoying. I fully expected to see a Hope and Change or an Occupy banner displayed at the ball. Can't kids just be kids and enjoy a fairytale?

Overall, however, it's highly entertaining and lavishly done. I did enjoy Beane's decision to have Gabrielle and Cinderella become friends and there is a particularly moving moment when Ella forgives her stepmother. The new songs blend well with the old and there are some beautiful duets for Osnes and Fontana who are perfect in their roles. This is Osnes' breakout role. The show's strength, besides the score, is in its flawless casting across the boards.

And special kudos go to Music Director/Conductor Andy Einhorn, conducting the large orchestra. I never have seen a conductor smile and so obviously enjoy the music of a show before.

Cinderella has a lovely night at the Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway, NYC. Tickets: 212-239-6200; 800-432-7250 outside NYC; http://www.cinderellaonbroadway.com.

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Our reviews are professional reviews written without a religious bias. At the end of them, you can find a listing of language, content or theological issues that Christians might want to know about when deciding which shows to see.

** Mature indicates that the show has posted an advisory because of content. Usually this means I would recommend no one under the age of 16 attend.

Theater Critic Lauren Yarger

Theater Critic Lauren Yarger

My Bio

Lauren Yarger has written, directed and produced numerous shows and special events for both secular and Christian audiences. She co-wrote a Christian musical version of “A Christmas Carol” which played to sold-out audiences of over 3,000 in Vermont and was awarded the Vermont Bessie (theater and film awards) for “People’s Choice for Theatre.” She also has written two other dinner theaters, sketches for church services and devotions for Christian artists. Her play concept, "From Reel to Real: The Jennifer O'Neill Story" was presented as part of the League of professional Theatre Women's Julia's reading Room Series in New York. Shifting from reviewing to producing, Yarger owns Gracewell Productions, which produced the Table Reading Series at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT. She trained for three years in the Broadway League’s Producer Development Program, completed the Commercial Theater Institute's Producing Intensive and other training and produced a one-woman musical about Mary Magdalene that toured nationally and closed with an off-Broadway run. She was a Fellow at the National Critics Institute at the O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. She wrote reviews of Broadway and Off-Broadway theater (the only ones you can find in the US with an added Christian perspective) at http://reflectionsinthelight.blogspot.com/.

She is editor of The Connecticut Arts Connection (http://ctarts.blogspot.com), an award-winning website featuring theater and arts news for the state. She was a contributing editor for BroadwayWorld.com. She previously served as theater reviewer for the Manchester Journal-Inquirer, Connecticut theater editor for CurtainUp.com and as Connecticut and New York reviewer for American Theater Web.

She is a Co-Founder of the Connecticut Chapter of the League of Professional Theatre Women. She is a former vice president and voting member of The Drama Desk.

She is a freelance writer and playwright (member Dramatists Guild of America). She is a member if the The Outer Critics Circle (producer of the annual awards ceremony) and a member of The League of Professional Theatre Women, serving as Co-Founder of the Connecticut Chapter. Yarger was a book reviewer for Publishers Weekly A former newspaper editor and graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, Yarger also worked in arts management for the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and served for nine years as the Executive Director of Masterwork Productions, Inc. She lives with her husband in West Granby, CT. They have two adult children.

Copyright

All material is copyright 2008- 2024 by Lauren Yarger. Reviews and articles may not be reprinted without permission. Contact reflectionsinthelight@gmail.com

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Key to Content Notes:

God's name taken in vain -- means God or Jesus is used in dialogue without speaking directly to or about them.

Language -- means some curse words are used. "Minor" usually means the words are not too strong or that it only occurs once or twice throughout the show.

Strong Language -- means some of the more heavy duty curse words are used.

Nudity -- means a man or woman's backside, a man's lower front or a woman's front are revealed.

Scantily clad -- means actors' private areas are technically covered, but I can see a lot of them.

Sexual Language -- means the dialogue contains sexually explicit language but there's no action.

Sexual Activity -- means a man and woman are performing sexual acts.

Adultery -- Means a married man or woman is involved sexually with someone besides their spouse. If this is depicted with sexual acts on stage, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Sex Outside of Marriage -- means a man and woman are involved sexually without being married. If this is depicted sexually on stage, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Homosexuality -- means this is in the show, but not physically depicted.

Homosexual activity -- means two persons of the same sex are embracing/kissing. If they do more than that, the list would include "sexual activity" as well.

Cross Dresser -- Means someone is dressing as the opposite sex. If they do more than that on stage the listing would include the corresponding "sexual activity" and/or "homosexual activity" as well.

Cross Gender -- A man is playing a female part or a woman is playing a man's part.

Suggestive Dancing -- means dancing contains sexually suggestive moves.

Derogatory (category added Fall 2012) Language or circumstances where women or people of a certain race are referred to or treated in a negative and demeaning manner.

Other content matters such as torture, suicide, or rape will be noted, with details revealed only as necessary in the review itself.

The term "throughout" added to any of the above means it happens many times throughout the show.

Reviewing Policy

I receive free seats to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows made available to all voting members of the Outer Critics Circle. Journalistically, I provide an unbiased review and am under no obligation to make positive statements. Sometimes shows do not make tickets available to reviewers. If these are shows my readers want to know about I will purchase a ticket. If a personal friend is involved in a production, I'll let you know, but it won't influence a review. If I feel there is a conflict, I won't review their portion of the production.

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