BWW Reviews: Skylight Fabulously Re-Fashions Rossini's CINDERELLA

Think fairytales can be out of fashion? Please think again. Fairytales represent stories beloved and valued by every culture for untold centuries. So when a contemporary, in high fashion fairytale opens the 2014-2015 Skylight Music Theatre's 56th season bringing Milwaukee "Fairytales and Fantasy" under Artistic Director Viswa Subbaraman, please applaud this opportunity to renew faith to the 21st century. On a Friday in September, numerous opening night dreams came true in an adult "Absolutely Fabulous" performance of Gioachino Rossini's Cinderella, or La Cenerentola (The Triumph of Goodness).

Skylight performed the opera in English translated by Amanda Holden instead of Italian, where Rossini's 1818 opera resounds with humor, accessible to anyone over the age of twelve. Milwaukee Opera Theatre's Artistic Director Jill Anna Ponasik stage directed the production with a contemporary twist channelling current literary and television media mixed with mid 20th century clothing, vibrant street chic, where the lazy, "wicked" stepfather denies Cinderella a rightful place in her own run down castle. Rossini originally revised the age old tale to allow for technical limitations in the 19th century, with the story richer for the innovations because the characters shine instead of any sorcery when Cinderella's "sorrows to turn to joy,"

Central to the Skylight's production-clothes-racks and racks of every possible color, decked with feathers and sequins, these garments in visible layers cover Lisa Schlenker's multi level stage design assisted by the renowned Costume and Fashion designer Cesar Galindo. A designer who also transforms Prince Ramiro's famous ball into black and white haute couture, a sensational and stunning red carpet, runway affair.

These stage designers, directors and technicians set fantastic scenes for the gifted opera singers: Luke Grooms, who returns to the Skylight as Prince Ramiro after his Jean Valjean role in last December's Les Miserables. Petite Sishel Claverie reprises her Cabot Stage appearance as the hopeful Cinderella after her 2014 role seen at In the Heights. Comically speaking, in the role of stepfather Magnifico, Andy Papas excels, a great counterpoint to Grooms. Dimitrie Lazich plays the prince's stand in and servant, Dandini, alongside the Prince's magnificent counsel Aldora, a masculine version of the fairy godmother. A role regally performed when donning a sparkling silver vest by LeMarcus Miller. These marvelous men complemented the all male, six person chorus, who added substantially to the performance in the role of witty eye candy. All to showcase the two troubled step sisters, Erin Sura's Clorinda and Kristen DiNinno's Tisbe, together with the forlorn Angelina, Cinderella's given name.

To accompany the opera, a twelve piece orchestra conducted by Music Director Subbaraman has been raised off the Cabot orchestra pit floor approximately 20 inches for additional resonance, making the live music decidedly more prominent when the company redesigned the orchestra space. All so the Incredible talent assembled on and off the stage performs a Cinderella that frequently parodies the opera genre, while simultaneously paying this tradition homage, a beguiling combination for first time opera goers or those who adore opera.

Cinderella and her domestic story of woes, being a scullery maid often abused by those who indeed should cherish her, has been drilled into little girls for years. Little girls who dare to dream about "working among the ashtrays," and then chosen to wear glitter, glitter and sparkle, sparkle to dance with their "prince charming" who will cherish them for who they are instead of what they wear on a glamorous night out. Or perhaps only to magically do the drudgery of housekeeping for them with the wave of a wand, this would certainly be a dream come true. Rossini and the Skylight present a Cinderella while utterly modern, resists removing the redemptive ending, true to the timeless hope in humanity fairy tales engender. When marginalized persons rise above their sorrows because their kindness and virtue sparkle through the darkness of the ashes, or the ashtrays, surrounding them.

In Rossini's version, Cinderella saves herself, through her dedication and goodness, and ultimately virtue triumphs, which is the real charm and dream of the fairy tale. That somehow, whether a little boy or girl, at age five or fifty, they can still envision a world filled with goodness and virtue instead of homelessness, poverty and war. Goodness that will ultimately bring joy, forgiveness and peace to those to wish to believe in the redemptive power on stage in the Skylight's fantastic production of Cinderella.

The Skylight Music Theatre presents Rossini's Cinderella, La Cenerentola, in the Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center through October 5. For date night evenings, information or tickets, please call, 414.299.4965 or skylightmusictheatre.org.

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