CENTERVILLE — To be honest, I wasn't really looking forward to seeing "Cinderella." I mean, it's a centuries-old fairy tale and there's no suspense (everyone knows how it ends). I figured it was geared to the 9-years-old-and-under set.
But then, I hadn't taken into consideration that Rodgers Memorial Theatre, over the past few months, has been luring better and better talent into Davis County — some of the region's best directors, choreographers, designers and, of course, onstage talent.
Annette Wright, probably best known for her work at Hale Centre Theatre, has injected this tune-filled story with plenty of zip and pizzazz, helped considerably by James Christian's first-rate choreography, Owen Richardson's scenery, Sylvia Swasey's costumes and Merrilee Webb's pretaped musical accompaniment.
Except for a few sound problems (occasionally the music was way too loud, drowning out the lyrics), this was a professional-looking show.
Wright has added a couple of interesting touches, which may come as a surprise for those familiar with the show's first two made-for-TV versions (in 1957 with Julie Andrews and Jon Cypher in the leading roles, and eight years later with Leslie Ann Warren and Stuart Damon).
Wright has put in a narrator named Sammy Goldbergstein (Leslie Warwood on opening night; Jay Henderson will alternate on Mondays and Fridays).
He's sort of a Jewish Chorus/Everyman, toting in props, commenting on the action, making clever remarks about the story.
"I'm NOT Prince Charming," he tells the audience, then wonders out loud about how this ancient story will work for a bunch of youngsters who're fans of Pokmon. He heads backstage, singing "Cinderelly, Cinderelly . . . " then, in an aside to the audience, "No, you're not going to see THAT version."
Another nifty touch is having Prunella and Esmerelda, the two Ugly Stepsisters, played by tall, muscular men.
"We couldn't find any ugly women in Davis County," advises Sammy, "but ugly men? There were plenty!"
Having David Glaittli (who is single-cast in the role) and Chuck Wheeler (who alternates with Shawn Maxfield), play the sisters in garish, gaudy gowns, raises "comedy relief" to a tacky new level. They were hilarious.
Meredith Wilson was also nicely cast as the Wicked Stepmother.
("Did you get a load of that woman?" Sammy asks during one scene change. "I'd sooner meet Darth Vader on the dark side of Endor than have anything to to with her!")
But "Cinderella" is not just about comedy. It's mostly about romance and happily-ever-after endings.
Amber Edson is an enchanting, silken-voiced Cinderella and Gregg Rosentreter (seen a couple of seasons back as Joseph at the Grand) looks and sings exactly as you'd expect Prince Charming to look and sing.
As the prince's anxious parents, the King and Queen, Richard Judd and Linda Jean Stephenson were also well cast. If you recall, in the 1965 TV version, Walter Pidgeon and Ginger Rogers didn't have much to do — some nice banter about their old courtship but no music. Wright has rectified that minor oversight by inserting — with permission from the various entities involved — "I Remember It Well" from Lerner & Lowe's "Gigi." It came as something of a surprise, but the song does work very well in the context of the story.
Rodgers & Hammerstein's score itself has a romantic, '50s-ish lilt.
Cinderella's "In My Own Little Corner" sets the scene for her lonely existence by the fireplace, and the prince's "Loneliness of Evening" lets the audience see that he's anxious to fall in love. Their two duets — "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful" are nicely rendered by the two leading performers.
Glaittli and Wheeler's falsetto singing and comedic timing are perfect in the hilarious "Stepsisters' Lament" after they're quickly rejected by Prince Charming at the gala ball.
Pondering the mysterious young woman who seemed to capture the prince's attention (are they really so dumb that they can't recognize Cinderella?), Esmerelda sings, "She's a frothy little bubble with a flimsy kind of charm and with very little trouble (switching to a brave, masculine bass) . . . I could break her little arm!"
One mishap on opening night turned into a running gag. The footman accidentally drops the "glass" slipper — and it doesn't break. From then on, Sammy injects a few comments about the wonderful slipper made of unbreakable glass.
Producer Cliff Cole proved that he's an expert builder as well. He constructed a lovely carriage for Cinderella, utilizing Amish wheels purchased over the Internet. The four horses are a quartet of actors wearing "Equus"-style horse-head masks.
The one major problem of the evening, at least on opening night, was difficulty in hearing some of the Fairy Godmother's lyrics. Either her microphone wasn't working, or the music was just too loud.
The alternate cast includes Ashlee LaPine as Cinderella, Neal Sorenson as the Prince, Jerry and Jackie Forest as the King and Queen, Chris Brown as the Wicket Stepmother and Jane Huefner as the Fairy Godmother.