DELIGHTFUL PRODUCTION;
SLIPPER-Y NEW SCRIPT
Arriving for last Saturday’s matinee performance and observing the front of house community support made for a welcoming atmosphere. It was delightful to see all the little girls in their sparkly gowns and tiaras, (crowns and wands were also available for purchase should you have forgotten yours at home). I only saw one little prince; I was going to tell him how lucky he was to have his choice of princesses, only he had a temper tantrum, and his father had to deal with him. Anyway, the poster for 5-Star Theatrical‘s Cinderella promised a magical, moonlit, sparkling glass slipper, happily-ever-after experience. The music, energetic dancing, and some of the performances made this possible.
Camryn Hamm
After an overture (orchestra conducted by Musical Director Anthony Lucca), the curtain rose revealing a forest scene reminiscent of Into the Woods and Wicked, the presentable scenic rental provided by Front Row Theatrical. Ella, sweetly and intelligently played by Camryn Hamm, enters singing the “Prologue” with the chorus. Next enters the orphaned Prince Topher (Tyler Matthew Burk) — a rewrite from the new book by Douglas Carter Beane — with his soldiers, his Lord Chancellor Sebastian (Kevin Bailey), and Lord Pinkleton (the vocally gifted Landen Starkman). After a humorous pantomime-like slaying of a giant and a dragon, (lighting effects by Brandon Bauch), the prince mounted upon his adorable neighing mechanical horse (sound design by Jonathan A. Burke), sings “Me, Who Am I?” bringing an engaging inquisitive quality to the song with his pleasing lyric baritone.
Aaron Camitses, Camryn Hamm, Luke Pryor, Regina A. Fernandez (in air)
We next see Ella with her stepmother Madame (Emily King Brown) and her daughters Gabrielle (sensitively played by Sarah Hinrichsen) who has an endearing plot twist in the second act, and Charlotte, clownishly played by Kelsie Kiana Piini who sings “Stepsister’s Lament” in the second act as a solo while roughhousing the girl’s chorus. (I am still trying to figure out why.) Ella is treated meanly by the three and shares her coping strategy singing “In My Own Little Corner” beautifully and with a truthful optimism. Meanwhile at the castle, Prince Topher echoes Ella’s sentiments and joins in the song. These two have more in common in Beane’s new book; this is the best of his rewrite contributions.
Kelsie Kiana Piini (center) with the ensemble
What follows is a town scene with the social-minded young Jean-Michel, played in an understated and sweet manner by Frankie Zabilka. Soapboxing the injustice of the monarchy to the people, he competes with heralding Lord Pinkleton for the townsfolk’s attention, “The Prince Is Giving a Ball/Now Is the Time.” The musical number features exceptional dancing and athletic feats by the men, especially Bruno Koskoff and Cole Sisser. As a lead-in to the ball, Marie (Regina Fernandez), the town crazy woman who turns out to be magical, sings “Impossible” with Ella and preps her, complete with traditional horses and carriage, sparkling blue gown, and venetian glass slippers. At the ball, Prince Topher becomes smitten with Ella and they sing “Ten Minutes Ago,” one of the most beautiful romantic songs from the original Rodgers & Hammerstein television score.
Bruno Koskoff and Kevin Bailey
Disappointingly, while the lyrics sing of “dancing” and “flying”, their staging was static as the ensemble waltzed around them until the singing ended. The choreography by Cheryl Baxter was authentic and entertaining. Director Yvette Lawrence’s staging was qualified but uninventive, and while the Prince and Ella were enchanting, some attention was needed to some actors who chose to pitch their voices in an unrealistic and irritating manner rather than find a more truthful way to portray the eccentricities their character role required.
Regina A. Fernandez and Camryn Hamm
Wrapping things up, the show’s glittering and celebratory final scene “The Wedding (Finale)” ultimately felt like nothing more than the tying up of loose ends due to the rewrites of Beane. He has written some very funny and successful plays including The Little Dog Laughed, As Bees in Honey Drown, and Xanadu, but his social studies tinkering with the original Cinderella TV scripts (1957 and 1965) and early stage version is complicating and ineffectual. Nevertheless, this won’t matter to fans of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s music and the little princesses (and prince) who will enjoy this sparkling theatrical experience out with their families.
Tyler Matthew Burk, Cole Sisser, Mary Kate Chapman,
Bruno Koskoff and Landen Starkman
photos by Veronica Slavin
Landen Starkman (far right on box) with the company
Cinderella
5-Star Theatricals
Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
ends on July 23, 2023
for tickets, call 800.745.3000 or visit 5-Star
Camryn Hamm and Tyler Matthew Burk