This past weekend the Vandegrift theater program performed Cinderella by Rodgers and Hammerstein, involving the classic Cinderella story with a few additions, such as a corrupt government and secret relationship between a kind stepdaughter and a revolutionary willing to change their kingdom for the better. The show opened Jan 21 and ran until  Jan 23.

Leads for the musical included senior Ruby Doolittle as Cinderella (senior Cami Everitt for the matinee performance), sophomore Evan Welliver (Prince Topher), senior Ben Patriarca (Sebastian), junior Ericka Myers (Madame), Everitt and sophomore Brooke Sanders (Gabrielle with Sanders for matinee), senior Isabela Spielman (Marie), sophomore Corbin King (Lord Pinkleton), sophomore Kelly Scalpati (Charlotte) and junior Brad Borman (Jean-Michel). All of the leads amazed the crowd with their acting, with the chorus singing and dancing behind them. The acting was incredible, with all of the different expressions and movements that created the flow of the whole musical. It was easy to see that everybody had a passion for either acting, singing or both and was clearly shown to the captivatedaudience. Even the chorus amazed with their skilled dancing and singing, with some of the boys surprising the audience with moves more suitable for a gymnastics class than a high school theater performance.

The Viper tech crew went all out with the complex scenery involved in the play. With elaborate sets such as Cinderella’s run down cottage, the steps of the royal palace and the prince’s throne room being taken on and off the stage quickly and smoothly, the story flowed easily and effortlessly between scenes. The varied colors and patterns of lighting (at one point the fairy godmother is introduced with rotating circles of light) convey different moods and emotions in addition to the dialogue and acting of the characters. The pinnacle of the scenery, however, was Cinderella’s carriage. Rolled onto the stage though a wall of mist, the carriage was pulled by four white mice turned horses and is strung with christmas lights wrapped around its arching frame. The carriage even rolls around the stage with Cinderella in it, singing and waving goodbye as she heads off to the ball. The scenery and lighting adds to the mystical magic of each scene, conveying a sense of enchantment beyond what the actors themselves are capable of.

Doolittle and Everitt both provide different perspectives of the character Cinderella. Doolittle did justice to the music, but her acting and performance of the dialogue outshone everything else. From her exaggerated facial expressions and body movements to the sweet pitch of her voice, Doolittle truly portrayed the nature of her character. Everitt also acted well, but in her case her vocal performance truly personified her character. The emotion Everitt conveyed through her singing made the music come to life and added meaning to each lyric that was sung. Watching both leads perform caused the show to come alive in different ways, and both were thoroughly enjoyable.