Cinderella
Interestingly, despite being a famous production, Drury Lane's Cinderella, a new book by Douglas Carter Beane, only made it to Broadway in 2013. But even with its celebrated reach, its confusing additions and new songs will have some purists asking why it deviated from perfection. But why not? Luther Vandross remade many original songs into hits. Whitney Houston, outstanding as the Fairy Godmother in the 1997 film Cinderella, forever changed Dolly Patton's " I Will Always Love You" song. Besides, this isn't Beane's only adaption. In 2007, he reworked the film "Xanadu" to the stage, making it a Broadway musical success. His Cinderella adaption features new songs, "Me, Who Am I?, Loneliness of Evening, and There's Music in You," with new characters, featuring revolutionary Jean-Michel, a fighter for justice and seeking an audience with the prince, who is to become the new king to hear the plight of his people. Jean-Michel falls in love with Gabrielle, Cinderella's stepsister, who is no longer mean but sympathetic towards her.
Other changes: The play showcases a game in which the characters make fun of each other for amusement. However, the game transforms into a platform for words of encouragement and love due to Cinderella's (played by Lissa deGuzman) kindness. Her benevolence replaces the ridicule she receives from her stepmother and sisters. After coming to the aid of a woman named Marie (played by McKinley Carter), who is considered crazy, and shielding her from Lord Chancellor Sebastian's (played by Jeff Parker) punishment, Cinderella is granted a reward for her compassion. Marie, later revealed as a fairy godmother in disguise, helps Cinderella to attend the ball and meet the prince. Lastly, using an old fairy tale version, Beane made Cinderella and Prince orphans, and Cinderella and Gabrielle worked together to get their men. This refreshing retelling of the protagonist Ella - the name given to her by her parents, always seems to retain its glory and powerful message. Cinderella was a nickname her stepmother gave her after finding her near the fireplaces covered in ashes and cinder. This story is refreshing because it highlights women's empowerment, wisdom, internal kindness, and the power of sisterhood. Her kindness and understanding help the wayward prince Topher (Jeffrey Kringer) find himself and his compassion to listen to Jean-Michel's words regarding the injustice happening in his kingdom at the hands of his Lord Chancellor, Sebastian, who is also plotting with the evil stepmother, Madame, to get her daughter Gabrielle to marry the Prince. In this version, Cinderella doesn't lose her glass slipper at the ball but at the banquet given by the prince, who seemingly doesn't recognize her face and needs a shoe to find her. I recently saw a similar cartoon on Instagram poking fun at the originality of fairy tales. The cartoon pointed out that it's improbable for no one else in the kingdom foot isn't the same size as Cinderella's glass slippers. Still, Beane stayed the original Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella narrative of a mistreated, impoverished girl living in her own little corner who meets her Prince.
"And the moral of the story is beauty is a wonderful thing to find in a woman, but kindness is a much greater gift,'" Quote from: "The last line of the French version.
I enjoyed the chemistry between Lissa deGuzman and Jeffrey Kringer and their captivating duets, "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" This version of Cinderella is enchanting, as it portrays the couple's optimistic love at first sight and their youthful inexperience with how society views love. DeGuzman plays Ella, and Jeffrey Kringer plays the new prince, Topher; both have amazing vocals. DeGuzman, making her debut at Drury Lane Theatre, looked and performed angelic, wishing for a life as beautiful as a fairytale, and Kringer's boyish looks had one lady in the first aisle swooning like she had a childhood crush. Gisela Adisa, Christine Mayland Perkins, Alanna Lovely, Christopher Llewyn Ramirez, and Jeff Parker, playing Madame, Gabrielle, Charlotte, Jean-Michel, and Sebastian, respectively, featured a solid 26-member cast. One of those cast members, McKinley Carter, who played Marie/Fairy Godmother, is one of my favorite theater performers. Her elegance, grace, and operatic vocals (There's Music In You), combined with her exceptional acting, should be studied by young actors looking to learn the theatrical craft. The biased press night audience filled with family, friends, and production staff loved Ryan Michael Hamman, Lord Pinkleton's herald of all events.; his flair was magnificent. Other high notes were Danny Troob's orchestration, scenic and costume design by Riw Rakkulchon and Theresa Ham, music adaptation and arrangements by David Chase and Carey Deadman, music direction by Carolyn Brady, and direction and choreography by Amber Mak, as well as the music and lyrics by Rogers and Hammerstein.
The highlights include quick changes, such as Cinderella's dirty old dress magically changing into a majestic gown and Marie transforming from a beggar into Cinderella's fairy godmother right before our eyes. Also known as The Little Glass Slipper, Cinderella is a timeless tale with numerous adaptations, such as the Original, Enchanted Edition, and Broadway Version, that have captivated audiences around the globe for generations. Beane read an original French fairy tale about Cinderella, in which the fairy godmother was a beggar woman, and kindness seemed to be the main message. The storyline has been updated to appeal to younger generations while retaining the essence of the classic tale that theatre-goers have enjoyed. It's a wonderful chance for those who have seen the show before to introduce their children and grandchildren to this magical musical.
3 STARS ***
Drury Lane Theatre
Cinderella
New Book by Douglas Carter Beane
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rodgers
Now through January 7th, 2024
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