BWW Preview: CINDERELLA at The Playhouse, 2/7-12

CINDERELLA, written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, was created for a CBS TV premiere in 1957 and as a vehicle for Julie Andrews. The broadcast was viewed by more than 100 million people, my family being four of them. That was a yuge, bigly number. It was subsequently remade for television twice, in 1965 and 1997. The 1965 version starred Lesley Ann Warren and the 1997 one starred Brandy with Whitney Houston as The Fairy Godmother. (The last show featured Jason Alexander before we had heard of George Costanza). Both remakes added songs from other R&H musicals that had been cut; one from OKLAHOMA and one from SOUTH PACIFIC. (The duo had a huge trunk!)

Emilie Renier is in the stage show that opens at The Playhouse on Feb. 7. She has enjoyed a rather 'glass slipper' career herself. In high school the dancing shoes fit perfectly and it did not take long to fulfill her Broadway dreams. In fact, Renier's bio reads like someone channeling Julie Andrews. As a senior at Elon College she played the title role in CINDERELLA. After graduation came Mary in MARY POPPINS followed by Maria in SOUND OF MUSIC.

In 2015, just off an international tour of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST that ended after 500 performances, rather than taking a break she auditioned for this national tour of CINDERELLA. "I must be in this show", she exclaimed. The stars and slippers were aligned and Emilie was named Dance Captain and u/s for Ella (the updated name for Cinderella. The dance captain ensures and maintains the integrity of the choreographer's original movements.

Says Renier, "the plot and dialogue have been changed a bit in this production to be a bit more contemporary and relevant. The Prince is named Topher and both he and Ella are by no means the one-dimensional characters we remember from childhood".

Renier loves touring. "It's more fun and more challenging than being in the same theatre night after night. The audience in Texas, for example, may react quite differently than the audience in Wilmington."

A name that jumps out in this creative team is William Ivey Long, an icon in the world of Broadway costumes. He has designed 65 Broadway shows. One assumes he was really in his element with the beauteous gowns in the ball scenes. The production values are luxurious. Aisle Say suggests you visit http://cinderellaonbroadway.com/photos Cinderella's carriage is spectacular.

Two songs stand out from my watching the live production so many decades ago: "In My Own Little Corner (of the world)" and "10 Minutes Ago". Renier commented that everyone can relate to the latter tune sung by the Prince. When he espies Ella in the palace for the first time he postures a Romeo-like freeze frame. He sings that his now life has changed. Only 10 minutes ago, he had no idea it would. Would it be that all of us have felt this at least once.

For a glimpse of Julie in 1957, check it out below!

Feb 7-12 www.ThePlayhouseDE.org 800.37.GRAND