Preview Performance - March 29, 2005, Wise, Virigina
Official Premiere - April 7, 2005, Hamilton, Ontario
Choreographer - Bengt Jörgen
Composer - Sergei Prokofiev
Set & Lighting Designer - Glenn Davidson
Costume Designer - Robert Doyle
Additional Concept Development - Donald Dawson
SYNOPSIS
Act I: At Cinderella's House
The scene opens on Cinderella's older stepsister reading an invitation to Prince Charming's Great Ball. Cinderella watches as the smaller sister fights to read the invitation. By chance, Cinderella gets the invitation from them, only to be ganged up on by her stepsisters. With Cinderella out of the way, the stepsisters continue to squabble among themselves, ending with the older stepsister putting her smaller sibling in her place.
Feeling for the smaller stepsister, Cinderella is kind to her, but is rudely rejected. Her stepsister laughs in her face and demands she act like the servant she is. A dejected Cinderella picks up a broom, but is soon lost in daydreaming of meeting her own Prince Charming.
Cinderella's stepmother is furious to discover her daydreaming. Cinderella jumps back to work, but is continuously criticized by her stepmother. Her stepsisters return and join in ridiculing Cinderella. Cinderella loses her temper and lashes out at the three of them. Just as the stepmother is about to hit her with the broom, an old woman appears looking for a place to rest. The stepmother insists that Cinderella send her away, but Cinderella is unable to carry out her demands. The stepmother threatens to hit the woman with the broom, but Cinderella rushes in to take the blow for her. Instead, magically the old woman stops time before Cinderella is hit. The old woman predicts a bright future for Cinderella if she follows her heart. The old woman gives Cinderella a seed and tells her to make one wish when she plants it. If the seed takes root, a fairy will emerge and her wish will come true. Then the old woman disappears and all returns to normal.
Two suitors in need of escorts to get into the ball arrive to usher the stepsisters to the big event. They depart, leaving Cinderella feeling alone and dejected. Suddenly, she remembers the seed and plants it in a pot. Strangely comforted, Cinderella falls asleep on the hearth, her world dissolving, leaving large trees in its wake. Fairies emerge out of the trees. Their Lead Fairy awakens Cinderella from her sleep and the fairies bestow upon her everything she needs for the ball. But she is warned not to kiss or be kissed by anyone, or the magic will be gone and Cinderella will be revealed for who she truly is. With a promise to heed their warning, she is swept away to the ball.
Intermission
Act II: At the Ball
Cinderella's Stepsisters and their suitors, along with the other guests, gather for the upcoming ball and enter the ballroom. The Prince enters and the female guests fawn all over him. Cinderella appears and, enchanted by her beauty, the Prince asks her to dance, causing much gossip and jealously among the guests at the ball. But the Prince and Cinderella are unaware of this and dance joyfully together. The stepsisters, jealous and uncouth, demand attention of their own. The Prince and Cinderella finish their dance, gazing into each other's eyes. The Grand Waltz plays and all the guests are swept up in the moment.
The Prince steals a kiss and the spell is broken. Cinderella flees from the ball before her stepsisters can recognize her. As she runs out, she drops one of her shoes.
Act III
The Prince knows he has found his true love and is desperate to find her. The Prince and two suitors set out to find Cinderella, travelling through the forest enchanted by fairies. Neither of the Prince's companions can resist the fairies' charms and fall to sleep. The Lead Fairy tests the Prince, but his love for Cinderella is clear and they point the way from him to continue his search.
At Cinderella's house, Cinderella awakens in the kitchen, thinking it all a dream, until she discovers her ballroom slipper on one foot. She safely hides the slipper in the flowerpot.
Cinderella's stepsisters enter just having woken, feeling that they made quite an impression at the Ball. The sight of Cinderella stops their musings and brings them back to their current surroundings. They berate Cinderella for her shortcomings and lack of proper respect for her esteemed stepsisters.
The Prince arrives at the home and the Stepmother hides Cinderella from view, warning her to stay out of sight. The Stepsisters do everything they can to try to convince the Prince the shoe fits one of them. They try to fit into the slipper to win the hand of the Prince, but to no avail. As the Prince is about to leave, he senses Cinderella and knows he has found his match.
In love, Cinderella and her Prince dance together. The curtain closes on them content and at peace in each other's arms.
