On July 21, 2015 we had the pleasure of seeing Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical, at the historic Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio. Not only did the restored theatre take our breaths away, so did the traveling production of Cinderella.
Our family has always enjoyed watching the 1950 animated Walt Disney’s Cinderella movie and had recently seen the live-action version of the movie also produced by The Disney Studios, so we were very familiar with that story line. This version by R&H was originally written for television in 1957 and starred Julie Andrews. It follows the French version of Cinderella and took a little different twist on the fairy tale, one that did not disappoint the audience. As we awaited the performance to start the curtain was up and we were able to see on stage and the beautiful scenery/set pieces that were going to transport us into the magical musical. The story line was a little different. For instance, Cinderella already knew her Fairy Godmother, but as an old hag living in the village. There were different songs throughout the musical including “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “In My Own Little Corner,” to name a few.
What I remember most about the show were the magical transformations of the character’s costumes live on stage. For example, when the Fairy Godmother appeared in her tattered clothes, her robe twisted around and became a beautiful dress. Her hair even changed right before our eyes. The most memorable moment of transformation was when Cinderella changed from her dirty maid outfit and into her ball gown, all while on stage in a blink of an eye. Wow! You can watch this transformation in this video:
The story line does follow the better known Cinderella with the evil Step-mother and the two dreadful Step-sisters. Cinderella does go to the ball in a pumpkin that turns into a beautiful carriage right on stage! She meets the Prince, but they had met before, earlier in scene one. At midnight, Cinderella rushes out and loses her glass slipper. Eventually, the Prince finds Cinderella again and they live happily ever after.
We highly recommend seeing Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella if you have the opportunity. You will be amazed at what can happen magically on stage!
(Cinderella logo copyright Rodgers & Hammerstein, Playhouse Square copyright Playhouse Square, all other images are from Vanessa and Andrew Prince’s personal collection. YouTube video from Sophia BP.)
Have you seen the Rodgers & Hammerstein version of Cinderella? How do you feel it compares to the Disney animated classic or the new live-action film?
Andrew is an 18-year-old high school graduate from Ohio. He was born with cerebral palsy and gets around in a wheelchair. He has been to both US Disney parks, several D23 events and is a DCL Gold Castaway Club member. If you would like to contact him feel free to e-mail him at arprince@bex.net or look him up on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/andrew.prince.7161 and on Twitter https://twitter.com/Andrew1arp
Vanessa has been going to Walt Disney World since 1971. She is happy that her three children and husband enjoy Disney as much as she does. Vanessa is an Annual Passholder, a member of Disney Vacation Club, Platinum Castaway Club, WDW Radio Running Team and a runDisney participant. Her son Andrew writes Disney on Wheels for the WDW Radio blog. When she is not at Disney she is a stay at home mom and uses her masters in marketing background to raise money for her children’s schools. Vanessa also enjoys planning her next trip Home to anywhere Disney.
