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| Leslie Jackson and Tatyana Lubov Photo by Carol Rosegg |
"The musicals of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II include some of the most recognizable and romantic songs in the history of musical theatre. ...one of their beloved creations, Cinderella, started out as a TV musical and..took over a half of a century to become a full-fledged Broadway musical, it is a lush and romantic show filled with many modern touches. The touring production is at ASU Gammage for a week and features a talented cast and lush production elements. It makes for one tasty holiday theatrical treat...this stage adaptation drops some of the small screen characters, adds others, and also incorporates a few songs that Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote for other musicals and movies, most of which were eventually cut from those works. ...also features an updated book by Douglas Carter Beane that fleshes out the original mostly stereotypical characters...These additions help transform the show from a simple fairy tale into a richer piece full of characters that have more dimension and a story that incorporates social injustice to portray the battle of cruelty verses kindness. Beane also incorporates many bits of humor and, while not all of the jokes land, they at least make the overall show more contemporary....Tatyana Lubov projects an air of simplicity, a deep sense of caring for her fellow members of the Kingdom, and natural elegance as Cinderella with a singing voice that shines. As Prince Topher, Louis Griffin is both quirky and noble as the young man who doesn't quite know what to do with his life. Like Lubov, his vocals are lush and layered and soar on his many solos and duos. Both Lubov and Griffin have a natural ease in delivering Hammerstein's lyrics with a clear understanding of the romance they derive, and the duo create a couple you instantly root to see succeed. As the fairy godmother Marie, Leslie Jackson is equally humorous and commanding with a magnificently sung "There's Music in You....Gina Rattan's tour direction, modeled on Mark Brokaw's original direction, is quite good. However...there are a few jokes that are rushed or not delivered appropriately enough to get the laughs they should. Josh Rhodes' original choreography, staged for the tour by Lee Wilkins, is simply beautiful and delivered expertly by the large cast. Anna Louizos' set design is rich and layered with an abundance of effective elements. ...William Ivey Long's Tony winning costumes, which include several that transform before our eyes, truly spectacular. Ken Posner's lighting is rich and expressive.... Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella has a lush, romantic score as well as an updated book that adds a fresh spin on this famous fairy tale. With a cast who embody these beloved characters with ease and an abundance of magical moments that deliver both gasps and rounds of applause from the audience, the national tour of this well-known story is a beautiful and magical crowd pleaser." -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)
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