Because one of the purposes of a review is to encourage improvement, I have some general tips for the actors that may help them in this production and in later shows that they perform in. Many other actors were struggling, though. Finally, as the Fairy Godmother, Chelsea Lynn Tramell has the most powerful voice in the cast and brings a smart sensibility to her role during “Impossible.” Hamblin and Brower were a riot in the “Stepsister’s Lament” because they were so uninhibited in their acting. The three stayed away from caricatures and instead played their characters as petty, jealous women. I greatly enjoyed the family dynamic among the Stepmother (played by Rochelle Rackliffe) and her daughters, Portia (played by Ashley Hamblin) and Joy (played by Heather L. The female supporting performers are the source of much of what works in this production. Brower as Joy, Lindsey Brown as Cinderella, Rochelle Rackliffe as the Stepmother, and Ashley Hamblin as Portia. Faye had the prince kiss Cinderella on the forehead (why not the lips?), and choreographer Daniel Atwell had the two dancing with far too much physical space between them. Additionally, the physicality of romantic attraction during the ball was missing. But the masks made it harder for the two to connect emotionally. In the ball scene, the two wore masks - a decision that has sound logic behind it (because it would make it more believable that the prince does not recognize Cinderella until the slipper fits her foot). I think most of this problem arises from decisions imposed on the actors, though. There was a struggle, though, in creating chemistry between Cinderella and Prince Christopher (played by Marcus Johnson). A performer who can give such a memorable performance under those conditions deserves plenty of applause. Brown was also impressive at painting a verbal picture of the ball in “When You’re Driving Through the Moonlight.” I was also pleased Brown soldiered on, overcoming a temperamental microphone that often made her sound muffled (and failed completely for the first 10 or 15 minutes of the third act). “In My Own Little Corner” was playful and showed how Cinderella used fantasy to escape from her dreary life. Brown gave a tender performance as the tired, burdened girl who dreams of something better. ![]() Lindsey Brown played the title character beautifully. ![]() ![]() Likewise, there was no staircase for Cinderella to descend in order to enter the ballroom - even though her prince talked about seeing her enter that way. Because the set was limited to printed images hanging on scaffolds, it was confusing when the fairy godmother was supposed to be outside of Cinderella’s house and there was nothing on stage forming a boundary between inside and outside. The directorial concept probably sapped energy and resources away from more vital aspects of the production, especially the set. Marcus Johnson as Prince Christopher and Lindsey Brown as Cinderella.
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