Review: Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA at the Hippodrome

Some truly magical transformations are taking place at the Hippodrome where Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA concocts a frothy, fairy-tale confection of complete escapism. It's a lovely evening of endearing characters, elaborate sets and lavish musical numbers.

Originally conceived as a television event in 1957, it was revived in 1965 and then again in 1997. The story has been reworked and rearranged for the stage with some new twists to the old story.

Beautiful, kind Ella (Tatyana Lubov) longs to escape a life of servitude to her Stepmother Madame (Sarah Primmer) and stepsisters Gabrielle (Mimi Robinson) and Charlotte (JoAnna Johnson). Meanwhile, Prince Topher (Hayden Stanes) longs to be more than a dragon-slayer and the kingdom's most eligible bachelor. While the naïve but heroic prince is battling monsters, his main advisor, Sebastian, is ruling the kingdom with an iron fist.

Rabble-rouser, Jean-Michel (Chris Woods) seeks help for the dispossessed, while harboring a secret love for Gabrielle. To distract the unhappy kingdom, Sebastian decides to throw a ball and sends forth the booming tenor of Lord Pinkleton (Vincent B. Davis) to announce it. Ella seems destined to miss the grand event until the town beggar, "crazy" Marie, (Leslie Jackson) intervenes with a magical transformation of her own. As Marie explains, "I'm everyone's Fairy Godmother, but you are the only one who's given me charity."

This is where the real magic unfolds with gorgeous costumes, a glittering horse-drawn coach, and glamorous ballrooms filled with soaring music and sweeping choreography. Cinderella's ultimate makeover actually made the audience gasp with delight.

Lubov's Cinderella is a graceful and spirited heroine. You can see why the Prince falls in love with her. Stanes' cuts a statuesque romantic figure, but his prince also has heart and humor. They are the ideal romantic archetypes with a modern sensibility. Jackson makes a spectacular fairy godmother lending her strong voice to the beloved lyrics. Davis stands out as the town crier, proving that no role is small when you fill it with big talent. Primmer is so haughty as the bitter stepmother, you understand why even her daughters' call her MadamE. Johnson is the heir to her mother's bad temper, but is so comically talented you like her anyway. Robinson is delightful as the less-evil stepsister. Hunt provides droll asides with the sarcastic quality of Kevin Spacey by way of Charles Perrault.

Woods and Robinson are a charming second couple, though some may be confused by such detours from the original version. Some of the new plot elements feel a bit forced. Woods is energetically entertaining, but his social crusader seems to come out of left field. As my theater companion said, "I don't remember Lenin being in it." It did seem that the story might veer off into Les Miserables or the signing of the Magna Carta. Nonetheless, despite being a musical-averse male, my companion found himself thoroughly enjoying the show. Happily, in the end, the sparkling cast and sumptuous production give enough fresh appeal to make this timeless tale new again.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA plays now through November 6 at the Hippodrome on 12 N Eutaw Street. For tickets, call 800-982-2787 or go to ticketmaster.com.

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