Cinderella

What is the most beloved princess that all young girls want to be? Of course, it’s Cinderella. This fairy tale came from a story written by Charles Perrault. Cinderella is yet another classic musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. This incredibly successful team wrote this musical specifically for television. It was broadcast live for the first time on CBS on March 31, 1957. The broadcast was seen by over 100 million people. The role of Cinderella was played by none other than our favorite: Julie Andrews. Forty years later, The Wonderful World of Disney did a remake of this musical with a very diverse cast. Brandy starred as Cinderella; the Fairy Godmother was played by Whitney Houston; the King and Queen were played by Victor Garber and Whoopi Goldberg; the Prince was played by Paolo Montalban; the Stepmother was played by Bernadette Peters; and Jason Alexander was cast as the Royal Herald. The plot of the story is very similar to the Disney’s animated Cinderella, but with a few changes. At the opening of the story, the Royal Herald goes into town and announces that the Prince is giving a ball (presumably for his 21st birthday). Even though every eligible young lady is invited, Cinderella’s evil stepmother and stepsisters keep her too occupied with chores to go to the ball. After they have departed for the ball, Cinderella tries to convince herself that she doesn’t care about the ball. As she dreams about what the ball would be like, her Fairy Godmother appears and transforms her from a filthy servant girl into a beautiful, ball-gowned lady. She sends Cinderella off in the customary pumpkin carriage with the traditional “midnight” warning. Cinderella arrives late at the ball and rescues a very bored Prince from all the infatuated young ladies vying for his attention. They dance, they talk, and they fall in love. Then, of course, midnight strikes and Cinderella flees the scene to the astonishment of everyone there. She still leaves the slipper behind and gets away. The Prince vows to find her and marry her. They try the slipper on the foot of every maiden in the kingdom. At the last house, the Stepmother and Stepsisters try on the slipper without success and try to keep Cinderella hidden while the Prince is there. But Cinderella has made her own plans. She is tired of all the abuse and scorn she receives from her Stepmother and Stepsisters and decides to run away. The Prince finds Cinderella leaving the house just as he has finished with her family. She tries on the slipper but finds that it doesn’t fit anymore! Just kidding. Of course it fits so they get married and live happily ever after. If you have ever seen the musical live, this is the same version they use on stage. The Disney animated version and the Rodgers and Hammerstein version are a little different. So you will have to watch both versions.

My favorite songs from this movie are “Impossible”, “Ten Minutes Ago”, and “Stepsister’s Lament”. I have the Brandy version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and I love watching it. One of the funniest lines comes from the Royal Herald after he argues with the Prince about sneaking into the town dressed as a peasant while the RH lies to the Queen about the Prince’s whereabouts.

Royal Herald: If he wants to kill me, why doesn’t he just run over me in his carriage and get it over with?!

I hope you have seen this musical performed live but if you haven’t, check out the movie(s) of the Rodgers and Hammerstein version. It’s always best to check out the original, don’t you think? Well, I hope ya’ll enjoyed your extra hour of sleep for Daylight Savings! Have a wonderful week!