norules-nolights.com
Theatre Sarnia: Cinderella |
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Directed by Holly Mayea |
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Theatre Sarnia: Cinderella The Imperial Theatre, Sarnia, Ontario: Saturday May 8, 2010 by Brian Hay This is a very elaborate production. Walt Farr's set design was a two tiered piece that filled much of the main stage. The upper tier housed the band. Semi-transparent curtains kept them visible but not particularly noticeable. The lower tier served as the gardens and terrace while the remainder of the stage served as both the interior of the palace and as the house that Cinderella shared with her step-mother step-sisters. A few mobile false walls served as the interior of that dwelling. The technical aspects of the production were generally sound. Brian Austin's lighting designs are always superb. He always seems to know exactly how much of a highlight is needed to make the eye follow the action without undermining or overpowering what surrounds it. Stage Manager Ethel Crossman had the scene changes moving smoothy. Having the prop few dressed in night clothes for scenes that took place late at night was an inspired stroke. The sound was generally good. The work of Brian Vanrooyen and Dan Tidball insured that the performers voices came through clearly whether they were speaking or singing. Unfortunately the players doing the choral singing didn't have microphones so their voices didn't come through as clearly. It didn't hurt the numbers much but it was noticeable. The performers were all good. Lindsay Marshall and Christopher Woolsey made a charming couple in the roles of Cinderella and the Prince. Her singing was especially good, and she did a lot of it. John Reid and Adrienne Hughes were good foils for each other in the roles of the King and Queen. She played the straight one while he supplied the laughs. Chris Molyneaux was a good Herald and his singing was very good. Terri-lyn Earle was convincingly conniving as the evil step-mother. Her character projected an aspect that was almost serpentine. Sarah-Jane Murray was radiant as the Godmother and her singing was lovely. The two standouts in this production though were Amy Mayea and Danielle Taylor. The wardrobe that costume designers Norma Wenning, Lynn Kershaw-Smith and Jeannie Dowswell came up with for these two was as hideous as they intended. With the ugly clothes and the make up that Maddy Taylor and Annette Rodelez designed their appearance as the two ugly step-sisters was enough to scare hedgehogs away from their dinners. Danielle Taylor delivered her dialogue in a voice fit to make men swear off women and become Monks. The shrill tones Amy Mayea affected were enough to peel paint off a battleship. It was brilliant! They ran away with almost every scene they were part of. The wardrobe the aforementioned designers created for this production was gorgeous. Every individual on the stage looked as if they belonged in a fairy tale. The special effects that Frank Cannino created were excellent. The little touches he added at strategic points such as mist or projections made the set appear magical. The effects in the transformation scene were especially effective. Director and Choreographer Holly Mayea deserves all the credit in the world for the way this production turned out. She worked with a lot of young people who probably don't have much theatrical experience and drew some excellent work for them. The dance sequences ran very smoothly. The acting and timing was generally really good. During the musical numbers many of the young people sang with maturity that was beyond their years. It was an impressive achievement. 'Cinderella' runs at the Imperial Theatre until May 15, 2010. This line acts as a spacer. |
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Jason Mincer and Mary Tiballi |
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