Review: CINDERELLA is Magic

It seems that Cinderella is an unstoppable and unavoidable force recently, whether you find her on the large screen or the stage. ROGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA and her pumpkin turned carriage have stopped at the San Diego Civic Theatre this week playing through Sunday, May 10th!

Based on a made for television version in 1957 (with Julie Andrews) it was remade with Lesley Ann Warren and Brandy both getting their turn to slip on the iconic glass slippers. In this version Cinderella is still very kind, very giving, and has big dreams. However, she also has a sense of helping people achieve their dreams; even those who may seem to be in a position better to support her than the other way around. Did you ever wonder what it was that Cinderella and her Prince talked about as they danced and walked in the garden? Turns out they talked about his people and Cinderella was encouraging him to be a more aware ruler to them.

As Cinderella and Prince Topher (his full name is so long it gets its own song in this show), Audrey Cardwell and Andy Huntington Jones, are picture perfect fairytale casting. They're both beautiful in face and voice, but they manage to keep the sense of humor in their delivery to keep them human instead of fairy tale perfect. After all, who can identify with that? Prince Topher has his own personal journey of self-discovery of what kind of ruler he is that runs parallel to Cinderella's journey, and he is charmingly both outrageously confident when facing a dragon, and shy and unsure when facing actual people.

The villains have motives that make sense as they try to maintain their positions of power and try to grab for more; which cannot always be said in other versions of this story. Jennifer Evans as Madame and Branch Woodman as the untrustworthy royal advisor Sebastian are a delight as they plot and try to contemplate all of this horrible "kindness" that seems to be gaining traction as Prince Topher and Cinderella spread their influence on the court.

Other standouts are the two step sisters Gabrielle, played by Kaitlyn Davidson, who is in love with the firebrand Jean-Michel, Blakely Slaybaugh, and Charlotte played by Amyee Garcia. Davidson makes Gabrielle the sister you love for being sweet and daring to defy her mother and truly embrace both her love and Cinderella as her sister. Charlotte you love because she is hilarious and dares to ask the obvious question of why a Prince would want someone who is "so obviously unusual, why can't a fellow ever once prefer a usual girl like me?"

The costumes in this show are lovely, and may make you wish that corsets, bustles, and petticoats were more in fashion. But of course, it is the famous costume change that happens on stage (twice) that proves that no matter what, a magical makeover and the right pair of shoes are always impressive.

The music of Richard Rodgers and the lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II, are where the real magic takes place. When the Prince and Cinderella sing "Ten Minutes Ago" or "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful" (with a beautiful flip in the second line "Or are you beautiful because I love you?"), you truly do believe in fairy tales. As a personal bonus, having grown up with the Lesley Ann Warren version, I have been know to burst into song when someone would use the word "impossible", now people know that I'm not crazy, just lyric obsessed.

The audience was full of people of all ages, including a few young princesses all dressed up in their own gowns and excited to support their favorite princess and this show doesn't disappoint. So while it might seem quaint to revisit a favorite fairytale, it's the quality of the ensemble singing, the gowns, the romance, and the belief in dreams and falling in love that truly make this show magical.

ROGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA is playing through Sunday, may 10th at the San Diego Civic Theatre for ticket information and performance times go wo www.Broadwaysd.com

Photo Credit: The Cast of the National Tour of ROGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA by Carol Rosegg

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