Journalism
"Cappies review for Taylor High School's 'Cinderella'" — published in The Cincinnati Enquirer
Twinkling lights atop a pumpkin carriage, rags twirling into riches, and a prince falling for a peasant were all the “Impossible” that became the “It’s Possible” in Taylor High School’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”
The beloved tale of “Cinderella” originated in 1634 from Giambattista Basile but was popularized by the Brothers Grimm’s interpretation in 1812. It has since been retold in many different mediums, including the 1950 Disney animation and the 1957 television musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. “Cinderella” tells the story of a young girl, Ella, who is forced to work tirelessly for her demanding stepmother and stepsisters after the passing of her father. Her life is changed when her fairy godmother, Marie, transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary and sends her to the ball, where Ella falls in love with Prince Topher. Over the following days, Topher searches for Ella after she flees the ball, and they are finally reunited when her glass slipper fits only her foot perfectly.
The anchor of Taylor’s production was the seamless transition of scenes. There wasn’t a single moment of silence or unoccupied stage due to set pieces being rearranged whilst the current scene was still occurring. The stage crew worked quickly and noiselessly and never distracted from the captivating performance happening downstage of them.
Allie Huston brought depth and imagination to Ella, especially during “In My Own Little Corner,” in which she acted out Ella’s innocent dreams with energetic actions and appropriate expressions. Additionally, Huston had excellent control over her vocal tone and was consistently on pitch. Ella’s heroic prince was played by Ben Wessel who stole the show every time he sang; his natural vibrato and mature tone rang out in pieces such as “Loneliness of Evening.” From a kooky beggarwoman to a sparkling fairy godmother, Emily Brettschneider was outstanding in both facets of her character, Marie; her impressive soprano range was perfectly displayed in “It’s Possible.”
A character that constantly evoked laughter was the impassioned and political Jean-Michel, played by Nick Swope. His wordless actions and expression added humor to the story, especially in a scene where his flowers were thrown back in his face by an annoyed Madame (Bella Winegeart). Both of Ella’s stepsisters brought bratty comedy to the show, particularly Charlotte (Raegen Bass), during “Stepsister’s Lament.” The entire ensemble was the perfect addition to key scenes, such as the ball where one awkward attendee after another attempted to woo and dance with the prince.
The creativity of each crew was exemplified within every scene. The interesting textures used to create the trees made the set appear all the more authentic. The color-changing lights of the backdrop set the mood for the scene, and the use of a clock projection in tandem with the ensemble members’ arms “ticking” made the countdown to midnight very prevalent. There wasn’t a single flaw in the microphones or the playing of the music track, which allowed the actors to perform with ease.
Through the use of romantic light hues, unified and sweet-sounding vocals, and a frequently universal energy, Taylor High School’s production of “Cinderella” was a fairytale from start to finish.