THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE, Hale Centre Theatre, West Valley City, through April 9 (984-9000). Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes (one intermission).
WEST VALLEY CITY — In the mid-1970s, the Sherman brothers, Richard and Robert, dusted off the beloved "Cinderella" story, giving it a fresh approach (from the Prince's viewpoint) and a batch of wonderful tunes.
Those who have had a long-lasting love affair with the 1976 movie should be just as enchanted with writer Pip Burley's all-new British stage version, which is having its United States premiere at Hale Centre Theatre.
This is not the Disney edition. There are no cute little mice. Some things (like horses for the carriage) are left to your imagination.
Director Bruce Bredeson and the Hales' creative team have done some careful trimming and tweaking of some scenes to bring the whole shebang in just over a child-friendly two hours.
And, what with Andrew Barrus' spectacular special effects and Marilyn May Montgomery's choreography, there are some new touches as well. (When Prince Edward and his best friend, John, are contemplating "What a Comforting Thing to Know" in the royal family's crypt, a few of the corpses come whimsically to life — dancing and singing around the tombs.)
HCT's small stage is filled with a huge cast — 32 performers, some playing two roles. They're all good, and those in the principal roles are exceptional.
Opening night featured Gabriel Hamilton as Prince Edward (he has a real name, not just "Charming") and Melinda Lockwood as Cinderella. Despite interference from Cinderella's evil Stepmother (a gleefully wicked Sallie Cooper), they manage to build romantic chemistry.
The key ingredient in any Cinderella story is the Fairy Godmother, and Jennie Whitlock — sailing in on HCT's new flying system — fits the bill perfectly. This Fairy Godmother is a little wacky and discombobulated, but she eventually gets things done. In addition to all of the whiz-bang magic (an instant feast, a spectacular carriage, etc.), she also gives Cinderella a not-quite-cuddly friend — a larger-than-life dog named Aristotle (played by Jared Saunders).
Aristotle is a good judge of character; he growls at the Stepmother and her equally frightening daughters, Isobella and Palatine (played, respectively, by Jennifer Jones Baich and Jessica Pearce).
And, since this version focuses on the Prince's involvement, there is a lot of pageantry and a look at the royal activity in the tiny monarchy of Euphrania. Most of this dwells on Edward's parents, the King and Queen (Stephen McBride and Claire Spencer), and their frustration about the Prince's reluctance to accept what they consider a suitable bride.
When dad decrees that his son will marry, Prince Edward immediately insists that he un-decree it. The handsome lad wants to marry for love, not for the convenience of carving out alliances with neighboring kingdoms.
There were fine performances from Maxine P. Summers as the hilariously senile Dowager Queen, Ryan J. Poole as Edward's over-the-top cousin, the Duke of Montague, and Jerry Dunn as the stuffy Lord Chamberlain.
But, unfortunately, there were a few opening night problems, most of them technical (and fixable). The joystick for the newly installed flying system had to be repaired, but not in time for a last-minute run-through, so the Fairy Godmother didn't fly as much as originally planned. There were a few lighting miscues, and the background score was far too loud.
These are things that will likely be adjusted right away.
And those who have fond memories of the 1976 movie will certainly not be disappointed.
E-mail: ivan@desnews.com