The
opening night in August 2005 of this lightweight R&H confection, originally
written for live television, was definitely a success, especially with the
scores of little princesses in the crowd, not to mention the students from NSMT
youth program who got to be in the show. Unfortunately the next morning the
news included a report of a fire in the theatre which closed the show and put
the rest of North Shore's season in jeopardy. But Artistic Director Jon
Kimbell
announced a few days later that "Cinderella" would be back the
following season, and NSMT commenced on rebuilding. Not only was this
well-organized non-profit able to mount a appropriately barebones version of
"The Full Monty" on their own stage in November, but through
Herculean efforts NSMT transferred their Sept. and Oct. shows, a revival of
"Abysinnia" in conjunction with Goodspeed as well as their own
"Camelot," to the Shubert in downtown Boston. The adaptation from
arena to proscenium worked better for the former, but both shows did well enough,
busing down their subscribers and providing a freshness to last fall's season.
Their
current production of "Cinderella" features silver-voiced and rather
determined Deborah Lew in the title role, with Ryan Silverman, seen two seasons ago as Jimmy
in "...Millie" as her Prince. The two don't really click until their
final meeting when our heroine goes to find him. Better late than never. The
biggest scene stealer this time is "Christmas Carol" regular Maureen
Brennan as the
Fairy Godmother. This BosCon faculty member and musical theatre veteran brings
a touch of her no-nonsense Mrs. Cratchit to a role which can easily become
"campy." She also doesn't have to ride off on a crescent moon as
Annie Golden did last summer. The unclear development of this role makes one
wish Oscar had had the time to expand the show, perhaps in the direction of its
obvious predecessor, the light opera, "Cerentola." Terri Burrell, also seen in
"...Millie", is again charming opposite NSMT favorite David Coffee's King. He doesn't use his
native Texas accent--or cowboy boots--this time but has just a touch of Scrooge
instead. Their new director, Charles Repole, has made the show more
traditional, humanizing the action. Comedienne Lisa McMillan returns as the Stepmother but
the Stepdaughters, ample Natalie Joy Johnson (Portia) and sniffling Joyce
Chittick (Joy),
are new. All three are played somewhat sympathetically, though with antics
aplenty.
Other
returning members in the ensemble including ace Pearlies, Debbi Fuhrman, who's the Footman and the Dance
Captain plus TABB as the tallest gentleman in the court. Paul Gallagher is back as the Cook and
Stepmother's old flame, while bass baritone Gregory Sheppard is again the extremely dignified
Herald. These NSMT veterans no doubt made it easier for choreographer Karen
Azenberg to
refine her choreography. The "live TV" original didn't provide much
opportunity for traditional Broadway efforts, but she gets a lot of mileage out
of the gavotte.
Designer
Dex Edwards,
who's done more than a dozen settings NSMT--including his IRNE winning
"Miss Saigon" complete with helicopter--has simplified the show
somewhat from last summer, with Cinderella's glittering open-work coach as the
major spectacle. The second half does need something before the wedding with
its cloud of confetti, however. Costumer Joanna E. Murphy has reworked last years designs
for the ensemble--the costume storage escaped the fire--and dressed the major
characters more to Repole's vision of the show. Musical director Edward
Reichert from
the University of Southern Main once again gets a substantial sound from the
pit appropriate to Rodgers' lush music. Martin Vreeland's lighting and John A. Stone's are fully up to NSMT's high
standards.
This
was definitely not the Disney version, though there are again two radio controlled white
mice who metamorphose into the Coachman and Footman. NSMT, like the Reagle
Players down the highway in Waltham, continues to develop a pool of talent,
both local and imported who make up a company as well as a cast. It should be
noted that Nicholas Rodriguez, who appeared opposite Sarah Schmidt in last
summer's "Cinderella" returns next month as the lead in "Jesus
Christ Superstar." The rebuilding from the fire has proceeded remarkably
well, under the additional leadership of Robert Alpaugh, the new Executive Director of
this non-profit enterprise, including a significant grant from the NEA to cover
losses from the pit. Moreover, they've recently met their financial goal with a
$500,000 grant from the Commonwealth, which should help pay for the new roof,
watertight for the first time in years.