Review: First Stage World Premiere ELLA ENCHANTED Heroically Speaks to the Value of Words

The battle between saying 'yes' and 'no,' wages a magical war when spoken by a princess.,First Stage's World Premiere Ella Enchanted arrived at the Todd Wehr Theater this past weekend based on Gail Carson Levine's popular award winning novel. Company Associate Artistic Director John Maclay fill this turned on end adaptation of "Cinderella" with joy through the book/lyrics written by Karen Zacarias and her musical collaborator Deborah Wicks LaPuma. This fabulous artistic team complements equally fantastic double young performer casts. On opening night, Alison Pogerelc, Grace Becker, Elizabeth Robbins and Max Pink completely enchant the audience.

Alison Pogerelc. an actor of Young Company awards and status, mesmerized the audience with her professional class, confidence and royal chutzpah together with a lyrical voice to charm the entire production. This character, and Pogerelc's talents, underpin the entire premise for the fairy tale. Cursed with a gift to obey any command given to her when she was born, Ella of Frell strives to be her own person and say 'no"--speak her own mind--as she sings, "Words are like magic, revealing and transforming, comic and tragic."

This young performer Pogerelc transforms Ella into this confident young woman despite losing her mother, dealing with an absent father (Matt Daniels), and acquiring a money addicted Stepmother---a superb Niffer Clarke in dual roles of Ella's mother and Dame Olga. When a self absorbed and conniving stepsister Hattie, a lovely Grace Becker), and her follow-her-older sister Olive, the refreshing Elizabeth Robbins, learn Ella's secret curse the two sisters use this to their advantage. The stepsisters, ugly on the inside in their character instead of their physical outside, try to destroy Ella's happiness while she continues to search for her fairy godmother Lucinda, the very funny Bree Beelow, to undo Ella's curse of obedience.

Add in the handsome Prince Char--a debonair Max Pink who pairs beautifully with Pogerelc--and believes in Ella as she is, without finishing school or fancy postures--as a confidante and friend that writes her actual letters to speak his feelings when away from her. While this story unfolds over the 90 minutes, ogres and unicorns appear courtesy of Costume Designer Brandon Kirkham under Lighting Designer Jason Fassl shadows and Scenic Designer Jason Coale's brightly colored court and country village.

In Ella's fantasy designed for fairytale wishes-come-true, often sung in original music as well as spoken, First Stage delivers a tale that depends on dreams within everyone's grasp--a child's or adult's. A place where friendship conjures the magic that transforms into true love and Ella discovers the way to break the spell and finally say no, use her own will power. Along the way, a Prince also believes in a partnership where each person looks after the other when he genuinely says to Ella, "I will keep you safe, and you will keep me safer."

With this world becoming increasingly difficult for people to determine what words, printed or written, yes or no, and ultimately what is the truth, how to decipher what people are communicating when they speak or write becomes tantamount. What does one believe or do when an ogre can speak in a "smooth, liquid voice that makes them irresistibly persuasive (and a person could become their dinner)"? What does a person do when they feel compelled to say yes...and how important could speaking a 'no' be?

Ella's love of languages and learning saves her and underscores the entire fairytale with the significance of being well-versed, well-written and well--all qualities Ella acquires herself to grow her into the beautiful, learned young woman able to love a prince. A person who "refuses to become a princess. I want to become the Court linguist and learn every language I can. I want to speak my mind in thirty three languages."

Today, learning to understand another person, the battle of when to say yes and no, will be heroic, won on these home and work fronts both personally and collectively. An enchanted cure combined with friendship that anyone can access and develop to contribute to a world where accurate and sincere communication is key. What could be more important to connecting disenfranchised persons, families and communities?

This delightful and utterly disarming world premiere Ella Enchanted belongs to Pogerelc and Pink on opening night, and their young performer compatriots. Levine's novel reflects understanding of these often forgotten concepts in a era of cell phones and computers, the value of language, written letters, love and two tiny words on multiple levels that can be cherished by everyone.

A story more relevant today than when first published, the ever innovative First Stage once again says "No" to standard children's entertainment and a resounding 'Yes": to the power of professional live theater, casting young performers and producing stories that resonate with the relevance of friendship, perseverance and love--the real truths to surviving with enchanted grace and humor in today's culture. A story that gives every child a chance to be heroic every day.

First Stage presents the World Premiere Ella Enchanted adapted from Gail Carson Levine's novel in the Todd Wehr Theater at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts through May 1. For special events, further information on the upcoming First Stage 30th season or tickets, please call: 414.273.7206 or www.firststage.org.

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