Freshening up a classic tale can be a fraught business, but when Douglas Carter Beane updated the book of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1957 Cinderella for a Broadway run in 2013, he made the message relevant for 21st-century audiences while retaining all of the magic of a story popularized in 17th-century France. Drury Lane’s production
After a lovely overture played by the eight-piece Drury Lane Orchestra, we’re whisked into a pre-industrial fairytale kingdom replete with Theresa Ham’s colorful costumes (a few of which have dazzling tricks up their sleeves), sprightly dance numbers choreographed by director Amber Mak, and Rodgers & Hammerstein songs beautifully sung, especially by Lissa deGuzman as a stunning Ella who’s going to bring some social justice to her backward principality.
The pageantry and humor will play well with children, many of whom showed up on opening night in their finest frocks, while adults may be swept away by the palpable chemistry between deGuzman and Jeffrey Kringer’s Prince Topher. They bring it all home in the magical duet “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?” The B-story romance between not-so-wicked stepsister Gabrielle (Christine Mayland Perkins) and rabble-rouser Jean-Michael (Christopher Llewyn Parker) is funny and sweet. For those reasons and more, this is Chicago’s best date-night show of the holiday season.
The production is aided by strong supporting performances from Jeff Parker, who plays nefarious prime minister Sebastian with a twinkle in his eyes and a sneer that’s often more of a sly smile; Gisela Adisa, bristling with cartoonish malice as evil stepmom Madame; and McKinley Carter, who makes the most of her time in the spotlight as fairy godmother Marie, becoming the true heart of the show with “Impossible,” her duet with deGuzman.
This Cinderella is one to fall in love with, tip to toe. The shoe fits.
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella runs through January 7 at Drury Lane Theatre.
For a full roundup of reviews of this show, visit Theatre in Chicago.
Photo by Brett Beiner
