Just to set the record straight from the outset, there are no singing mice in “Cinderella” at the Fifth Avenue.
In fact, the Fifth’s production has no relation to the animated Disney version of Charles Perrault’s fairy tale. Instead it is based on the musical comedy originally broadcast on television in 1957 as a star vehicle for Julie Andrews and full of terrific, hummable songs by musical greats Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein (think “Oklahoma” and “The Sound of Music”.) There have been countless stage productions and several more television versions since.
Everyone is familiar with the tale of orphaned Cinderella (Jennifer Paz), forced to play servant to her cruel stepmother (a commanding Suzanne Bouchard) and ugly stepsisters (the Mutt and Jeff duo of Sarah Rudinoff and Nick Garrison) until a fairy godmother (Kendra Kassebaum of Broadway’s “Wicked”) magically transforms Cinderella into a beautiful princess who captures a prince’s heart.
Not only does this “Cinderella”, directed by Gregory Award winner Brandon Ivie, go all out to capture the magic with some truly spectacular onstage transformations of mice, pumpkins and gowns, but also contemporary language and adult humor beef up the book for more jaded audience members. The only jarring addition is an introduction educating the audience to the fairy tale’s Chinese origins that is informative but unnecessary.
Adding some comic spice to the production are the competitive stepsisters played by Rudinoff and Garrison who vie to outdo one another during their rendition of “Stepsister’s Lament”. And appropriate to this post-feminist era, rather than dissolving into pathetic teariness, Paz’s Cinderella has a spunky, go get ’em attitude as she sings “In My Own Little Corner” while Kassebaum’s fairy godmother has a world-weary edge. Prince Christopher (Brandon O’Neill) is more boy-next-door than dreamy Prince Charming and infuses his lovely tenor with a slightly gawky charm, particularly in his duets with Paz (“Ten Minutes Ago”, “Do I love You Because You’re Beautiful?”)
The mostly local cast displays some impressive voice talent, most notably Paz, O’Neill, Kassebaum and Cynthia Jones as the Queen. Choreography by Tony Award winning Seattle native Noah Racey adds a welcome dimension to the production and provides an opportunity for Greg McCormick Allen as Lionel the Herald to show off his tap dancing talents. David Gallo’s set design and Renato Balestra’s costumes have a Disney animation look with a touch of Dr. Suess zaniness.
Adding to the pleasures of the show are the little girls in the audience dressed in their holiday finery, many with tiaras and wands, eyes aglow with the magic of “Cinderella.” And in the end, “Cinderella” is all about the magic. As we left the theater, we inquired of a 30-something woman how she enjoyed the show. She replied, “I was eight again.” What can be more magic than that?
“Cinderella” plays through December 31 at the Fifth Avenue.
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