Review: 15-Year-Old Stuns as Cinderella at PASA

Cinderella's Makeover, which has begun its run at Performing Arts San Antonio, shows how much of a crucible for young talent PASA has become, with some outstanding performances from a predominantly young cast that earned a big standing ovation.

Lauren Cole, who only recently celebrated her 15th birthday, delivers a stunning performance as Cinderella. Looking a lot like a young Merle Oberon, she generated huge applause with her very first song (Cinderella's Lament, with music by Leo Delibes). Her overall performance showed vocal and acting talent beyond her years. I have no doubt that Lauren (whose mother Candace was also in the cast in various roles) is a major future star.

I first took real notice of Lauren's singing and acting abilities in PASA's Children of Eden, when she was just 14. Since then she has continued to impress with every performance.

Another young talent that is growing by leaps and bounds is Iyana Colby, who played the wicked stepmother, also showing abilities beyond her years. I have also watched Luis Garza (who plays Prince Nicholas) growing in his performances in different shows at PASA (including the excellent performance in the role of Renfield in Nosferatu - a role written for a much older actor). I am confident that he will establish himself as a major character actor.
Douglasss Hooker, who played Horatio (Cinderella's love interest), and the two wicked stepsisters (Stephanie Clark and Logan Magoun) also distinguished themselves in their roles. Other young performers who contributed to the success of the production included Emma Morris (only 9 years old), Jayme Orth, Mathian Riendeau and Abigail Bass.

Among the more mature performers, Jef Maldonado was hilarious in his role as Ambrose, Cinderella's fairy godfather, ably abetted by Wendy McNeil as his sidekick Rodney. Jef had the audience in stitches with his campy interpretation.

In this version of the Cinderella story, Cinderella doesn't marry the prince because he is too obsessed with the size of her feet as he tries to get her to try on a glass slipper that the magician Merlin has told him will fit the girl he is to marry.

Ambrose, the fairy gopdfather, brings in a team of stylists to give Cinderella her makeover and then introduces her to a handsome courtier named Horatio, who rescues her after her evil stepmother sells her to some slave traders (whose trademark is "Slaves 'R' Us"). Horatio and Cinderella fall in love.

The music is adapted from popular classics by composers including Leo Delibes, Mozart, Jules Massenet, Carl Maria von Weber, Luigi Boccherini, Edvard Grieg, Josef Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn, Frederic Chopin, Camille St Saens and Bedrich Smetana.

Costumes by Pamela Colby were excellent.

The show runs each weekend until the 26th. Telephone the theatre on (210) 557 1187. Seats can also be bought online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2502011.

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