Updated ‘Cinderella’ on a mission

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
New book by Douglas Carter Beane
Original book by Oscar Hammerstein II
Directed by Marc Brokaw
The Broadway Theatre
1681 Broadway
(212-239-6200), http://www.cinderellaonbroadway.com

By David NouNou

Whenever a sweet, good-natured peasant girl marries a prince, normally one would say it’s a typical Cinderella story. However, this is Cinderella, and the parameters are rather narrow. Never having seen any of the TV versions of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, be it the 1957 original version with Julie Andrews, or the 1965 version with Lesley Ann Warren, or the 1997 version with Brandy, it is hard to draw any perspectives. However, having only seen the glorious 1950 animated Disney version, I was totally enchanted with it as a child and as an adult. It still has the magical power to captivate at only 72 minutes. This version is two hours and 20 minutes, so you can imagine how padded it is.

Douglas Carter Beane, a master of infusing zingers into musicals such as Sister Act, Xanadu and even the winsome flop Lysistrata Jones, has done his best here to try to update the book and the heroine by having her believing in herself and anything would be possible, but has still left a fairy-tale feel about it. The story is so universal that there is very little room to tinker with it. Every girl (and even some boys) has grown up wanting to be a princess and meet Prince Charming. I reiterate, there is very little elbow room here to tinker with this iconic story. Comparisons are drawn to Cinderella, not the other way round. Adding filler does not necessarily mean making it better; it becomes stuffing to fill the space of a storyline for over two hours.

Laura Osnes as Cinderella is lovely and in perfect voice. Santino Fontana is charming as Prince Topher, who has far more talent than this flimsy role offers. Victoria Clark, as usual, has that enchanting voice that carries us on air, and Harriet Harris is “Bebe Glazer in crinolines,” her character from the hit TV sitcom “Frasier.” What happened to the mean stepmother she could play in her sleep? It is a shame her role as a wicked stepmother was only hinted at and not actually realized in print or in the acting.

It is great to hear an actual overture. Unfortunately, the tunes being played are so unmemorable and sub-par Rodgers and Hammerstein, I guess they didn’t have to try so hard for it was only for a TV show. Also don’t expect to hear any of the magnificent mellifluous melodies from the Disney version, with the infectious lyrics.

The show is handsomely mounted by three perfectionists: Anna Louizos’ sets, William Ivey Long’s costumes and Kenneth Posner’s lighting. Don’t be surprised that, while you’re watching Cinderella, your mind will drift and draw comparisons to similar musicals like Beauty and the Beast, Once Upon a Mattress, and the Cinderella portion of Into the Woods. As a matter of fact, I found myself drifting a lot and wishing it had more of a transfixing Disney feel for no one does this sort of show as well as Disney.

FAIRY GODMOTHER & CINDERELLA: Victoria Clark & Laura Osnes. Photo: Carol Rosegg

ROYAL REVELRY: Laura Osnes & company. Photo: Carol Rosegg

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published March 6, 2013
Reviewed at press performance on March 5, 2013