Cinderella
"It makes you wish that the world could be as lovely as it looks"
— Cinderella
I worked on directing Tokyo International Player's mainstage production of Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella. The performance should have taken place in May 2020, was postponed until Spring 2021, but has subsequently been cancelled. I was also the vocal director and lead costumer for the show. It was my second time directing mainstage for TIP, my first show being Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Cinderella is folk-tale that exists in thousands of forms. The version, most familiar in the English speaking world, is based on Cendrillon ou la petite pantoufle de verre, by Perrault. This is the story that features the glass slipper, others feature a golden slipper. I have always wondered why the slipper doesn't disappear when the clock strikes midnight, as the other elements of magic do, but I suppose magic can be quirky and inconsistent. Like most modern renditions of fairy tales, some of the cruelty has been removed from Cinderella. Most versions have her father dead, and not at home ignoring her abuse. Aschenputtel, by the Brothers Grimm has the step-sisters mutilating their feet, to make the slipper fit, and also has doves that peck out their eyes - as a terrible form of punishment. Thankfully the version I am putting on stage has less horror, but still keeps the themes of transformation and of the importance of being kind in a world that is often filled with harshness.
RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA is the new Broadway adaptation of the classic American musical originally presented on television in 1957, starring Julie Andrews. This contemporary take on a timeless tale features some of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's most beloved songs, including "In My Own Little Corner", "Impossible/It's Possible", and "Ten Minutes Ago" alongside a romantic libretto, some delightful new characters, and a few surprising twists!
CAST
Ella -- Hannah Grace
Prince Topher -- Spenst Hansen II
Madame -- Christiane Brew
Sebastian -- Tim Jeffares
Marie -- Kate Prior
Gabrielle -- Kristen Watts
Charlotte -- Georgia Ryder
Jean-Michel -- Carlos Quiapo
Lord Pinkleton -- Chiara Terzuolo
ENSEMBLE
Anna Andreeva. Chisa Aratani Kiera Boocock
Rose Charmaine Camacho Wynne Chu Tony Cosino
David Genesis Cruz Julius Fuentes Hana Kincaid
Nami Kincaid Zack Kobayashi Kayla Lee
Sopheen Lee Alessandra Leopardi Sayako Matsuoka
Leela McMullen Yuta Muraki Paul Pasion
Bruno Ribeiro. Sarah Roland. Ryu Sugimoto
Skip Taylor. Naoko Tsuge