Cinderella is Broadway’s latest addition but don’t be mistaken, this not your Disney version of Cinderella. In Douglas Carter Beane’s Cinderella, the show’s lead is Ella (Laura Osnes), a smart and beautiful girl who lives in the care of her wicked, self-absorbed stepmother Madame and Madame’s two daughters, Charlotte and Gabrielle.
Ella’s only friends in the world are the animals in the woods, Crazy Marie and the revolutionary student Jean-Michel. Meanwhile in another part of the kingdom, Prince Topher (Santino Fontan) is trying to find himself and learn his place in the kingdom. When his scheming advisor Sebastian (Peter Bartless) suggests throwing a ball so the Prince could meet potential brides. This is when Ella and Topher’s different worlds come together.
This is a delightful show that I truly enjoyed. There were so many outstanding performances from this first rate cast.
- Laura Osnes’ Ella, looks like a real- life princess but sings and dances like a Broadway star.
- I loved the evil step mother Harriet Harris (who you may remember from Desperate Housewives or Frasier), they gave her some delicious lines like “We are teetering precariously between upper-middle class and lower-upper class and Why is there a pumpkin on the table?”
- The two step-sisters offered comic relief even when they were being mean. Ann Harada as evil step-sister Charlotte is one of the true standouts from the show and a scene stealer. Every one liner and dance number was pitch perfect.
And kudos to the costume designer. The dresses were again just stunning, even if the girls at the ball’s dresses were too bright and colorful for the average person but for a Broadway show. Wow. And I have to mention all the transformations that happen when Cinderella goes from her dowdy rags to ball gown ready. This totally elicited delights of laughter and awe from my daughter. We still are wondering “how did she do that?”
Director Mark Brokaw deserves an award given all the dancing, special effects, scenery changes and managing an amazing cast.
You might be wondering what age is appropriate given it’s “Cinderella.” My daughter who is nine asked literally an hour before the show if we had to go. I think that she and most kids who are older are thinking “ew, Cinderella is for babies” but when I asked her after the show if she would recommend this show to her friend. It was a resounding “yes!” The staging is so not babyish and so not Disney Cinderella.
Cinderella will definitely delight kids of all ages.
Cinderella on Broadway
Location: Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway
Tickets: cinderellaonbroadway.com
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom received tickets for review purposes.
