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Cinderella (Preview)

Raleigh Little Theatre’s 21st annual presentation of Cinderella, presented Dec. 10-19 in the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in the BTI Center for the Performing Arts, will be a gala affair and a highlight of the local theater season. Moreover, Cinderella has become a Triangle holiday tradition, second only to Theatre in the Park’s madcap musical version of A Christmas Carol in longevity.

Based on the now-familiar fairy tale by French writer and poet Charles Perrault (1628-1703), who penned his 1697 collection, Contes de ma mère l’oye (Tales of Mother Goose), in a simple, unaffected style to entertain his children, this hilarious musical features a book and lyrics by Jim Eiler and music by Eiler and Jeanne Bargy, who originally adapted the beloved story for The Prince Street Players, which specialized in children’s musicals that charmed and amused children of all ages.

In describing this screamingly funny fractured fairy tale, a Christian Science Monitor critic once wrote, “In a way it is all too good for children which of course is the only thing good enough for them.”

“I love the seasonal return to this ‘old friend,’” admits RLT artistic director Haskell Fitz-Simons. “Cinderella still casts a magical spell for its audiences. Each year brings new delights as each new company recreates the timeless story of true love and happy-ever-after-ing.”

He adds, “This year, we are fortunate to have Susannah DuPree playing the role of Cinderella. Susannah returns to the cast after a number of years’ hiatus. She played a Mouse for about four seasons!”

In addition to Susannah DuPree, RLT’s all-star cast for Cinderella includes Sandi Sullivan as the Fairy Godmother; Jo Brown as the wicked Step Mother; Tim Cherry and Dennis Poole, in drag, as Cinderella’s ungainly and hideously ugly stepsisters Henrietta and Gertrude; Jason Roberts as the handsome and dashing Prince Charming; and Paul Slovensky as the aging and hopelessly nearsighted but still amorous King Darling III.

In her news release, RLT Public Relations Director Sarah Corrin calls The Prince Street Players’ vivacious version of Cinderella a “very special version of the famous tale.” She says “the script incorporates seasonal elements like Prince Charming’s Christmas ball.

“Styled after England’s traditional Christmas pantomimes,” Corrin continues, “the show overflows with sumptuous 18th century dress and includes the ugliest, yet funniest, step-sisters ever to stomp across a stage. (It probably has to do with the fact that they’re played by men!)

Corrin says, “The production keeps the fairy tale magic front and center too, as the Fairy Godmother transforms Cinderella into a princess onstage right before the audience’s eyes. And for the little girl who dreams of becoming Cinderella, Raleigh Little Theatre gives her the chance to have her dream come true. As the Prince searches hither and yon for his “mysterious princess,” he goes through the audience trying the glass slipper on any girl who presents her dainty (or not so dainty) foot.”

In addition to director Haskell Fitz-Simons, who also helped Missy Dapper choreograph the show, the creative brain trust for Cinderella includes musical director Jane Williams; set designers Bill Rogers, Brent Menschinger, and Rick Young; lighting designer Calen Waddell, and costume designer Vicki Olson.

With two decades of Cinderellas serving as a cash cow for RLT, and bringing out the very best in its cast and crew, director Haskell Fitz-Simons knows every comic and dramatic moment in this happily-ever-after-ing musical by heart. “Keeping the show fresh and immediate after all these years is always a challenge,” he claims.

Raleigh Little Theatre presents Cinderella Friday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 11-12, at 1 and 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, Dec. 16-17, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 18-19, at 1 and 5 p.m. in the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in the BTI Center for the Performing Arts, 1 E. South St., Raleigh, North Carolina. $15-$25. 919/821-3111 or http://www.etix.com/ticket/servlet/onlineSearch?action=venueSearch&venue_id=279&cobrand=RLT. Note 1: All shows are wheelchair accessible, and there will be assistive listening devices at all performances. Note 2: There will be audio description and American Sign Language interpretation at the 5 p.m. Dec. 18 performance. Raleigh Little Theatre: http://www.raleighlittletheatre.org/cind.htm.

WHAT: Robert’s Reviews is a FREE weekly e-mail theatrical newsletter, with previews and reviews by Robert W. McDowell and reviews by Alan R. Hall, Todd Morman, and Scott Ross. John Lambert and Classical Voice of North Carolina reprint reprint our previews, reviews, theater calendar, and theater and film links online at http://www.cvnc.org/. Robert’s Reviews previews and reviews are now listed under “Performance Reviews” on the CVNC home page. (Just click on the show title for the preview, which will be followed on the web page by the review.) For a comprehensive list of Triangle “Theatre Openings,” see http://www.cvnc.org/calendar/openings.html. For our extensive list of “Theater and Film Links,” go to http://www.cvnc.org/links/theatre.html. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? E-mail RobertM748@aol.com.

WHO: Since 1973, ROBERT W. McDOWELL has written theater, book, and music reviews for Spectator Magazine of Raleigh, NC; the Raleigh News & Observer; The Raleigh Times; and North Carolina Magazine of Raleigh. ALAN R. HALL was a columnist and critic for The Chapel Hill News from 1989 to 2000. His articles on theater have appeared in the Durham Magazine, Living It Up, and Raleigh’s Metro Magazine. He has written theater reviews for the online writers’ network “Themestream” and the Georgia State University System. He currently writes about Triangle theater online at Front Row Center: http://hometown.aol.com/theonlyarhall/reviews.html. TODD MORMAN is a Raleigh, NC freelance writer, reviewer, blogger, and host of the “Monkeytime” community-access cable television show. For more of his no-holds-barred commentaries on current events and the arts, see the Monkey Media Report: http://www.monkeytime.org/. SCOTT ROSS is a prize-winning playwright who has written theater criticism for Spectator (1981-86), movie and book reviews for the N&O (1986-91), and served as dance, comedy, and theater editor for Triangle.citysearch.com (1998-2000). He has been the CD reviewer for the quarterly Sondheim Review since 1994. Robert’s Reviews has nothing whatsoever to do with any of these publications.

DONATIONS: If you value the comprehensive, in-depth Triangle theater coverage that Robert’s Reviews provides, please use your credit card to donate online via PayPal: http://www.cvnc.org/support/index.html; or mail a generous check today to Classical Voice of North Carolina, 3305 Ruffin Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-4025. Because CVNC is a 501(c)(3) organization, all financial contributions are tax-deductible. Be sure to indicate that you want to support continued online publication of Robert’s Reviews.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: E-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type SUBSCRIBE ROBERT’S REVIEWS in the Subject: line. To have your name removed from our mailing list, e-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type UNSUBSCRIBE ROBERT’S REVIEWS in the Subject: line.

COPYRIGHT: Editorial content and all formats © 2004 CVNC and the respective authors. Reproduction in any form without authorization of CVNC and the respective authors is prohibited. For details and for copies of articles from previous issues, e-mail cvnc1@earthlink.net.

 


You are here: Home > Reviews and articles about the theatre's productions > Cinderella (Preview)

Cinderella (Preview)

Raleigh Little Theatre’s 21st annual presentation of Cinderella, presented Dec. 10-19 in the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in the BTI Center for the Performing Arts, will be a gala affair and a highlight of the local theater season. Moreover, Cinderella has become a Triangle holiday tradition, second only to Theatre in the Park’s madcap musical version of A Christmas Carol in longevity.

Based on the now-familiar fairy tale by French writer and poet Charles Perrault (1628-1703), who penned his 1697 collection, Contes de ma mère l’oye (Tales of Mother Goose), in a simple, unaffected style to entertain his children, this hilarious musical features a book and lyrics by Jim Eiler and music by Eiler and Jeanne Bargy, who originally adapted the beloved story for The Prince Street Players, which specialized in children’s musicals that charmed and amused children of all ages.

In describing this screamingly funny fractured fairy tale, a Christian Science Monitor critic once wrote, “In a way it is all too good for children which of course is the only thing good enough for them.”

“I love the seasonal return to this ‘old friend,’” admits RLT artistic director Haskell Fitz-Simons. “Cinderella still casts a magical spell for its audiences. Each year brings new delights as each new company recreates the timeless story of true love and happy-ever-after-ing.”

He adds, “This year, we are fortunate to have Susannah DuPree playing the role of Cinderella. Susannah returns to the cast after a number of years’ hiatus. She played a Mouse for about four seasons!”

In addition to Susannah DuPree, RLT’s all-star cast for Cinderella includes Sandi Sullivan as the Fairy Godmother; Jo Brown as the wicked Step Mother; Tim Cherry and Dennis Poole, in drag, as Cinderella’s ungainly and hideously ugly stepsisters Henrietta and Gertrude; Jason Roberts as the handsome and dashing Prince Charming; and Paul Slovensky as the aging and hopelessly nearsighted but still amorous King Darling III.

In her news release, RLT Public Relations Director Sarah Corrin calls The Prince Street Players’ vivacious version of Cinderella a “very special version of the famous tale.” She says “the script incorporates seasonal elements like Prince Charming’s Christmas ball.

“Styled after England’s traditional Christmas pantomimes,” Corrin continues, “the show overflows with sumptuous 18th century dress and includes the ugliest, yet funniest, step-sisters ever to stomp across a stage. (It probably has to do with the fact that they’re played by men!)

Corrin says, “The production keeps the fairy tale magic front and center too, as the Fairy Godmother transforms Cinderella into a princess onstage right before the audience’s eyes. And for the little girl who dreams of becoming Cinderella, Raleigh Little Theatre gives her the chance to have her dream come true. As the Prince searches hither and yon for his “mysterious princess,” he goes through the audience trying the glass slipper on any girl who presents her dainty (or not so dainty) foot.”

In addition to director Haskell Fitz-Simons, who also helped Missy Dapper choreograph the show, the creative brain trust for Cinderella includes musical director Jane Williams; set designers Bill Rogers, Brent Menschinger, and Rick Young; lighting designer Calen Waddell, and costume designer Vicki Olson.

With two decades of Cinderellas serving as a cash cow for RLT, and bringing out the very best in its cast and crew, director Haskell Fitz-Simons knows every comic and dramatic moment in this happily-ever-after-ing musical by heart. “Keeping the show fresh and immediate after all these years is always a challenge,” he claims.

Raleigh Little Theatre presents Cinderella Friday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 11-12, at 1 and 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, Dec. 16-17, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 18-19, at 1 and 5 p.m. in the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in the BTI Center for the Performing Arts, 1 E. South St., Raleigh, North Carolina. $15-$25. 919/821-3111 or http://www.etix.com/ticket/servlet/onlineSearch?action=venueSearch&venue_id=279&cobrand=RLT. Note 1: All shows are wheelchair accessible, and there will be assistive listening devices at all performances. Note 2: There will be audio description and American Sign Language interpretation at the 5 p.m. Dec. 18 performance. Raleigh Little Theatre: http://www.raleighlittletheatre.org/cind.htm.

WHAT: Robert’s Reviews is a FREE weekly e-mail theatrical newsletter, with previews and reviews by Robert W. McDowell and reviews by Alan R. Hall, Todd Morman, and Scott Ross. John Lambert and Classical Voice of North Carolina reprint reprint our previews, reviews, theater calendar, and theater and film links online at http://www.cvnc.org/. Robert’s Reviews previews and reviews are now listed under “Performance Reviews” on the CVNC home page. (Just click on the show title for the preview, which will be followed on the web page by the review.) For a comprehensive list of Triangle “Theatre Openings,” see http://www.cvnc.org/calendar/openings.html. For our extensive list of “Theater and Film Links,” go to http://www.cvnc.org/links/theatre.html. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? E-mail RobertM748@aol.com.

WHO: Since 1973, ROBERT W. McDOWELL has written theater, book, and music reviews for Spectator Magazine of Raleigh, NC; the Raleigh News & Observer; The Raleigh Times; and North Carolina Magazine of Raleigh. ALAN R. HALL was a columnist and critic for The Chapel Hill News from 1989 to 2000. His articles on theater have appeared in the Durham Magazine, Living It Up, and Raleigh’s Metro Magazine. He has written theater reviews for the online writers’ network “Themestream” and the Georgia State University System. He currently writes about Triangle theater online at Front Row Center: http://hometown.aol.com/theonlyarhall/reviews.html. TODD MORMAN is a Raleigh, NC freelance writer, reviewer, blogger, and host of the “Monkeytime” community-access cable television show. For more of his no-holds-barred commentaries on current events and the arts, see the Monkey Media Report: http://www.monkeytime.org/. SCOTT ROSS is a prize-winning playwright who has written theater criticism for Spectator (1981-86), movie and book reviews for the N&O (1986-91), and served as dance, comedy, and theater editor for Triangle.citysearch.com (1998-2000). He has been the CD reviewer for the quarterly Sondheim Review since 1994. Robert’s Reviews has nothing whatsoever to do with any of these publications.

DONATIONS: If you value the comprehensive, in-depth Triangle theater coverage that Robert’s Reviews provides, please use your credit card to donate online via PayPal: http://www.cvnc.org/support/index.html; or mail a generous check today to Classical Voice of North Carolina, 3305 Ruffin Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-4025. Because CVNC is a 501(c)(3) organization, all financial contributions are tax-deductible. Be sure to indicate that you want to support continued online publication of Robert’s Reviews.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: E-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type SUBSCRIBE ROBERT’S REVIEWS in the Subject: line. To have your name removed from our mailing list, e-mail RobertM748@aol.com and type UNSUBSCRIBE ROBERT’S REVIEWS in the Subject: line.

COPYRIGHT: Editorial content and all formats © 2004 CVNC and the respective authors. Reproduction in any form without authorization of CVNC and the respective authors is prohibited. For details and for copies of articles from previous issues, e-mail cvnc1@earthlink.net.

 

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