The Arkansas State Theater Department closed the spring semester with a bang with their production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella”.

Like me, when you first hear Cinderella, you think you know exactly what’s going to happen, but that would not be the case. This is Rodgers and Hammerstein, after all. 

In this version, Cinderella is not only kind-hearted and beautiful but also wants to change the world she lives in for the better. Ella goes to the ball not only to meet the prince, but to tell him he needs to open his eyes to what’s happening in his kingdom and that the poor are having their land taken from them. 

The biggest difference between this adaptation and all the others is that Ella does not lose her glass slipper while running away from the prince at the ball. Yes, her shoe falls off, and the prince picks it up, but Ella takes it out of his hands and runs away. 

To find the mystery girl he has fallen in love with, the prince throws a banquet the next night in hopes she will attend. Ella again finds herself in the arms of the prince when the clock strikes midnight. As she rushes away, she leaves her slipper on the stairs for the prince to find.

While Emily Provence, who played Ella, and Isaiah Wallis, who played Topher, both did amazing jobs as leads, it’s the side characters and characters added in this version that really brought the house down. 

One of the characters added is Sebastian, the prince’s advisor, played by Luke Holt. While the prince was underage, Sebastian abused his power, took land away from the people and treated them horribly. 

While he is one of the antagonists, he’s also one of the funniest characters in the story, and might even be one of my favorites. Holt brings Sebastian to life with his facial expressions, demeanor, and satirical delivery of many of his lines.

Marie, played by Haley Reed, is also in the running for favorite character. Marie is the local beggar woman who has been friends with Ella for some time, and is later revealed to be her fairy godmother. Many of the townspeople call her “Crazy Marie” as she goes around town mumbling and singing songs of gibberish. 

Her transformation from resident town crazy lady to fairy godmother was positively astounding, her patchwork cloak turning into a beautiful, sparkly teal ball gown right on stage. 

The costumes for this production are another thing entirely. Every dress and outfit Ella, the townspeople, Gabrielle and everyone else wears is more beautiful than the last. From all the green dresses worn at the ball to the floral dresses worn at the banquet, you can really tell how much time, effort and thought went into each costume. 

One detail I thought was super cute was how Ella and Topher matched and the ball, the banquet and their wedding.

While there were a few slip-ups here and there, it was super fun to get to watch a different spin on the fairytale I love so much. 

Categories: Arts & Entertainment