The New Cinderella
by Paula Gail Benson
Are
you familiar with the new Cinderella? I mean the Rodgers and Hammerstein
musical that played on Broadway from 2013 to 2015 and now is touring around the
country? If you haven’t had the opportunity and get the chance, please go see
it, particularly if you were enchanted by its television predecessors, the
first with Julie Andrews (1957), then Lesley Anne Warren (1965), and Brandy
(1997). Here’s the website for the touring schedule: http://cinderellaonbroadway.com/tour/
you familiar with the new Cinderella? I mean the Rodgers and Hammerstein
musical that played on Broadway from 2013 to 2015 and now is touring around the
country? If you haven’t had the opportunity and get the chance, please go see
it, particularly if you were enchanted by its television predecessors, the
first with Julie Andrews (1957), then Lesley Anne Warren (1965), and Brandy
(1997). Here’s the website for the touring schedule: http://cinderellaonbroadway.com/tour/
Just
be forewarned: this is not your traditional Cinderella story. This is a new empowered
Cinderella, who helps to bring out the leadership capabilities in the man she
comes to love. If you think I’m kidding, take a look at the cover for the
Broadway original cast album, which also is the national touring company’s
poster. It doesn’t feature a beautiful girl in a pumpkin carriage, or with a
glamorous Fairy Godmother, or even with a handsome Prince. Instead, it shows a
large glass slipper and inside the glass slipper is the image of a girl holding
a glass slipper looking up at a crescent moon. One poster also has the log
line: “glass slippers are so back.”
be forewarned: this is not your traditional Cinderella story. This is a new empowered
Cinderella, who helps to bring out the leadership capabilities in the man she
comes to love. If you think I’m kidding, take a look at the cover for the
Broadway original cast album, which also is the national touring company’s
poster. It doesn’t feature a beautiful girl in a pumpkin carriage, or with a
glamorous Fairy Godmother, or even with a handsome Prince. Instead, it shows a
large glass slipper and inside the glass slipper is the image of a girl holding
a glass slipper looking up at a crescent moon. One poster also has the log
line: “glass slippers are so back.”
So
what’s the history of this phenomenon? It was actually written as a television
musical with Julie Andrews as Cinderella. According to Wikipedia, the original
production had to fit into a 90-minute time slot with six commercials, so Oscar
Hammerstein wrote it in six short acts, which he said took seven months.
what’s the history of this phenomenon? It was actually written as a television
musical with Julie Andrews as Cinderella. According to Wikipedia, the original
production had to fit into a 90-minute time slot with six commercials, so Oscar
Hammerstein wrote it in six short acts, which he said took seven months.
I
remember seeing the Lesley Anne Warren version and being captivated by the
songs: “In My Own Little Corner,” where Cinderella explains how she deals with
a harsh world through her imagination; “Impossible,” in which the Fairy Godmother
sets the magic in motion; “Ten Minutes Ago,” with Cinderella and her Prince
realizing their instant attraction while waltzing; “The Step-Sisters’ Lament,” gleefully
demonstrating the pangs of jealousy (“With very little trouble/I could break
her little arm”); “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful,” has the Prince contemplating
his doubt upon Cinderella’s disappearance; and “A Lovely Night,” shows
Cinderella relishing the upper hand as she describes a ball she couldn’t
possibly have attended (“I do not know these things are so/I only can suppose”).
remember seeing the Lesley Anne Warren version and being captivated by the
songs: “In My Own Little Corner,” where Cinderella explains how she deals with
a harsh world through her imagination; “Impossible,” in which the Fairy Godmother
sets the magic in motion; “Ten Minutes Ago,” with Cinderella and her Prince
realizing their instant attraction while waltzing; “The Step-Sisters’ Lament,” gleefully
demonstrating the pangs of jealousy (“With very little trouble/I could break
her little arm”); “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful,” has the Prince contemplating
his doubt upon Cinderella’s disappearance; and “A Lovely Night,” shows
Cinderella relishing the upper hand as she describes a ball she couldn’t
possibly have attended (“I do not know these things are so/I only can suppose”).
While
the first two television versions followed the traditional story, the third had
Cinderella running away from home after particularly cruel treatment by her
step-mother. The Broadway and touring company version begins with the Prince
(now called Topher instead of Christopher) battling a dragon and heading home from
school to take over his princely duties. A trusted mentor has been handling the
kingdom’s business pending Topher’s return and hopes to continue to do so by
making Topher a puppet ruler. Meanwhile, a revolutionary character, Jean–Michel, is standing up for the rights of the common people, while ineptly romancing
one of the step-sisters. When the mentor seeks to distract Topher’s attention
by having a ball to find a bride, the more familiar part of the story begins,
with certain distinctions. One difference is that the Fairy Godmother is a
local “crazy” woman, to whom Cinderella has been kind. Another little twist is
that the first act ends with Cinderella losing her slipper on the stairway,
then going back to retrieve it before Topher can get it, making all of us
wonder what the second act may have in store. Never fear. There’s another event
at the palace, where Cinderella introduces Topher to Jean–Michel and the common
people, then leaves behind her slipper before vanishing.
the first two television versions followed the traditional story, the third had
Cinderella running away from home after particularly cruel treatment by her
step-mother. The Broadway and touring company version begins with the Prince
(now called Topher instead of Christopher) battling a dragon and heading home from
school to take over his princely duties. A trusted mentor has been handling the
kingdom’s business pending Topher’s return and hopes to continue to do so by
making Topher a puppet ruler. Meanwhile, a revolutionary character, Jean–Michel, is standing up for the rights of the common people, while ineptly romancing
one of the step-sisters. When the mentor seeks to distract Topher’s attention
by having a ball to find a bride, the more familiar part of the story begins,
with certain distinctions. One difference is that the Fairy Godmother is a
local “crazy” woman, to whom Cinderella has been kind. Another little twist is
that the first act ends with Cinderella losing her slipper on the stairway,
then going back to retrieve it before Topher can get it, making all of us
wonder what the second act may have in store. Never fear. There’s another event
at the palace, where Cinderella introduces Topher to Jean–Michel and the common
people, then leaves behind her slipper before vanishing.
In
each television and stage version, the names of the step-sisters changed:
Portia and Joy (1957), Prunella and Esmerelda (1965), Calliope and Minerva
(1997), and Charlotte and Gabrielle (2013 on Broadway). I may be wrong, but the
mystery writer in me noticed that Douglas Carter Beane, who wrote the new book
for the Broadway version lists a daughter Gabby in the credits, so I’m guessing
that may be the reason for the name Gabrielle as well as a change in character
so that Gabrielle becomes Cinderella’s confidant instead of her adversary.
each television and stage version, the names of the step-sisters changed:
Portia and Joy (1957), Prunella and Esmerelda (1965), Calliope and Minerva
(1997), and Charlotte and Gabrielle (2013 on Broadway). I may be wrong, but the
mystery writer in me noticed that Douglas Carter Beane, who wrote the new book
for the Broadway version lists a daughter Gabby in the credits, so I’m guessing
that may be the reason for the name Gabrielle as well as a change in character
so that Gabrielle becomes Cinderella’s confidant instead of her adversary.
After
we saw the stage production, John W. Henry, my theater buddy, who remembered
well having produced a local production of the original show, asked me what
story had been incorporated into the new version. I had to think about this
question a while, but I finally decided that it was a reverse of the Beauty and
the Beast plotline, where, instead of having to fight off the angry villagers,
Cinderella gets Topher to champion their cause.
we saw the stage production, John W. Henry, my theater buddy, who remembered
well having produced a local production of the original show, asked me what
story had been incorporated into the new version. I had to think about this
question a while, but I finally decided that it was a reverse of the Beauty and
the Beast plotline, where, instead of having to fight off the angry villagers,
Cinderella gets Topher to champion their cause.
I enjoyed this
version because when teaching short story writing, I have often used the
Cinderella model to show structure. The problem is that if you stick with the
traditional tale, Cinderella has things happen to her and never takes a
proactive role. I encourage my students not to let that happen with a
protagonist. I’m glad that the people behind this new production took my
advice!
Fun post here, Paula! Like you, I use Cinderella to illustrate narrative arc as well (thank you, Janet Burroway!)—so this was fun to read for a couple of reasons!
Great discussion! Thanks for your interesting post. I remember seeing the Brandy version and liking it very much. –kate