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MILLBURY, Mass. - The Millbury Junior High School Drama Club presented an outstanding performance of Cinderella on Saturday night at the Millbury High School Auditorium. Crisply directed by Nicol Boria and Jane Kerins, the drama club takes a sometimes fun and comical look at the classic fairy tale.
Cinderella Show Saturday
The show starts with a comical pair of doves who narrate the story Whitey and Blanche who provide the background on the story as well as some funny moments, nicely done by Sophie Wackell and Audrey Hopkins.
We meet Marianne/Cinderella wonderfully portrayed by Hannah Licarie who brings a dazzling stage presence to the role at the grave of her departed mother and upset that her father, portrayed by Stephen Weaver, is about to remarry.
The evil stepsisters Gwyenth and Paltrow....(things that make you go hmm) are delightfully evil and cruel, they take as great delight in tormenting their mother as they do Cinderella, also well done by Katherine Carman and Gianna Vigliatura.
But here is where the story takes a wee bit of a twist from the classic tale. Needing a dress, the doves take Cinderella to a wild, wacky crow named Abe who makes clothes for the bird kingdom. Outrageously funny and over the top, Abe, superbly played by Kyle Hidenfeiter. simply steals every scene he's in. And even in ones where he's supposed to be in the background, his facial expressions and muttered comments were the highlights of the show.
Abe makes a beautiful ball gown for Cinderella in just 15 minutes, and flies her to the ball on his back where he semi-crash lands. So finally Cinderella meets the prince who, as we know, falls head over heels in love with her.
The ball scene was nicely done as it expanded the stage and made the castle come to life vibrantly with the music provided by the Cinderella Chorus consisting of Emerline Imbody, Maddison LaMonda, Cassie Magliaro and Dakota Percival.
After Cinderella leaves quickly. the prince played by Andrew Salonich. cancels the rest of the ball and makes it clear that he will search for his one true love. He also isn't buying any of the stepmother's line when it comes to the slipper fitting the next morning and finds Cinderella finally.
This is definitely a non-Disney interpretation. Howeve,r with some outstanding performances, humor and great stage presence, Cinderella was a fantastic, fun-filled family night of entertainment. Ms. Boria in her opening remarks, stated that some of her performers were already ready for the big time. She wasn't stretching the truth, it was a fantastic performance all around.
Cinderella has one final matinee performance on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the door, $5 for students and seniors, $8 for adults.
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