Raleigh Little Theatre’s 2004 production of The Prince Street Players’ version of Cinderella, which runs through Dec. 19 in the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater in the BTI Center for the Performing Arts, is a marvelous musical spectacular, with magnificent storybook sets by Bill Rodgers, Brent Menschinger, and Rick Young; elaborate and colorful 18th century costumes by John Franklin and Vicki Olson; and lovely lighting by Cailen Waddell.
Once again, RLT artistic director Haskell Fitz-Simons superbly orchestrates the show’s comic and romantic moments and, with the assistance of Missy Dapper, crisply choreographs the play’s rousing production numbers, with “The Sneeze Polka” serving as one of the production’s comic highlights. Musical director/conductor Jane Williams and Dave Aduddell (bass), Ramon Kenon (trumpet), Wayne Leechford (clarinet), Bill McHenry (French horn), Vince Moss (percussion), Kevin O’Barr (piano), and Kent Parks (synthesizer) make The Prince Street Players’ score -- with additional music and lyrics by Haskell Fitz-Simons, Suann A. Strickland, and Nancy Whelan and new orchestrations by F. Charles Anderson -- sparkle like a treasure chest of precious (musical) gems.
Susannah DuPree is lovely as the poor exploited orphan-turned-domestic-drudge Cinderella, and Jason Roberts is dashing as Prince Charming I. Sandi Sullivan is a stitch as Cinderella’s rambunctious Fairy Godmother, and Curtis Scott Brown and Ian Meeks are highly entertaining as the Fairy Godmother’s two Helpers, who temporarily assume the roles of statues and palace guards with equal aplomb.
G. Paul Slovensky is a bit subdued in the Harpo Marx-like role of near-sighted, woman-crazy King Darling III; but Jo Brown is a veritable Queen of Mean as Cinderella’s wicked Stepmother, wearing an outlandish skirt that makes her five feet wide; and Timothy Cherry and M. Dennis Poole are hysterically funny, gallumping around the stage in drag as Henrietta and Gertrude, the biggest, ugliest, and coarsest stepsisters ever.
Targeted toward children, Jim Eiler and Jeanne Bargy’s animated adaptation of this beloved fairy story by French author Charles Perrault (1628-1703) is a potent mixture of musical theater and English pantomime. Thanks to a host of crackerjack comic characterizations and the considerable theatrical magic evoked by director/co-choreographer Haskell Fitz-Simons and cohorts, Raleigh Little Theatre transforms this children’s show into a musical extravaganza that will entertain Triangle children of all ages. Don’t miss it!
Second Opinion: Dec. 10th Raleigh, NC News & Observer preview by staff writer Bonnie Rochman: http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/story/1916869p-8262818c.html.
Raleigh Little Theatre presents Cinderella 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.
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