The O-town Scene

review review review review review review review review review review review review 'Cinderella' not completely enchanting It's a timeless classic, but not a big Broadway produc- tion. It lacked punch and wasn't on par with some of Orpheus Theatre's larger productions over the last year including last December's stellar holiday offering, "A Christmas Story." "Rodgers & Hammer- stein's Cinderella" played to sold-out crowds of almost 500 people at SUNY One- onta's Goodrich Theatre last weekend, but the production trumpeting the line that even foolish dreams can be pos- sible left some to be desired. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were responsible for a string of Broadway hits in the 1940s and '50s, helping usher in a golden age with hits such as "Oklahoma!," "Carousel," "South Pacific," "The King and I" and "The Sound of Music." They totaled 34 Tony Awards, 15 Academy Awards, a Pulitzer and two Grammys. However, they be- came known and sometimes criticized for formulaic musi- cals – presenting simple and predictable storylines with recycled character tropes. "Cinderella" fits that bill. The main problem with the show can only be laid at the feet of Orpheus Theatre because of the choice to perform it. The songs are not strong, the story is old and unimagi- native. The characters are simple and predictable to a fault – how can Cinder- ella love the Prince and vice versa when they've known each other for mere hours and spent most of that time dancing? The question is punctuated by the song "Ten Minutes Ago." Most audience members weren't so cynical. At intermission and after the show, the crowd, which consisted of children and the elderly alike, seemed to enjoy what they saw, which was a typical Or- pheus production with good casting, good direction and innovative staging — includ- ing some well-done special effects in connection with the Godmother. There were a few issues that detracted from the produc- tion. While the technical side of the musical was cause for by Mary Davis Fralick) and stepsisters (Portia played by Amanda Blake and Joy played by Veronica Rising) who squabbled their way to scene-stealing roles. Another highlight was the appearance of Godmother (played by Julia Baxter- MacGregor), whose time on stage was filled with well- done special effects including flashes of light and bangs as she appeared and disap- peared, a broom that glowed with blue lights and a chair that slid 15 or so feet across the stage to really wow the audience. Benjamin Patton Cinderella, played by Megan Benjamin, and the Godmother, played by Julia Baxter- MacGregor, perform in Orpheus Theatre's 'Cinderella' on Dec. 8. thrill with the special effects, simpler stage lighting was not always well done. Most notably though, was the sound mix. The live pit orchestra was too strong for most of the show, over- whelming the singing — a major problem for a musical. Megan Benjamin as Cin- derella was a great choice for the title role, displaying the innocence and purity desired in the Disney prin- cess. But her dainty and light soprano was often lost in the accompaniment, taking away from her performance. In fact, more than just Ben- jamin, many of the female vocals – even singing with mics – were lost. Only when more than three characters were singing at once were the performers consistently able to overcome of the pit. Aside from Benjamin, other highlights included the performances of Cinder- ella's stepmother (played Overall, director Nancy Bondurant-Couch, producer Sarah Lynn Serafin and musical director Kerri Hogle should be proud of their work. Managing a cast of more than 50 and pulling off a show that the audience enjoyed is always a success. Minus a few minor issues, Orpheus did the most it could with a weaker selection from the works of Rodgers & Ham- merstein. — Trevor Hayes 6 O-Town Scene Dec. 15, 2011

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