by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Orange Park Community Theatre opened its 37th season last week with the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella. This bright, family entertainment will run through September 29th and is one you don’t want to miss.
Cinderella is an unusual musical for several reasons. It is the only musical that Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote for television. It aired in 1957 and starred Julie Andrews. It is a musical that has been very successful and popular but has never played on Broadway.
The story is universally known, but here is a short recap to refresh your memory. It is the fairytale of a slighted beauty who outshines her evil stepsisters at a royal ball, and then returns to her grim existence before the handsome prince finds her again.
Under the guidance of Director Robert M. Wilson and Musical Director Michelle Nugent Munley, OPTC has topped itself once again. In June this theater did the musical State Fair that had a cast of 34. Cinderella has 39 cast members and is even more elaborate than the very excellently produced State Fair.
The costumes are gorgeous, plentiful and as attractive and well selected as any I have seen in professional productions of this show. I especially liked Cinderella’s wedding gown (Thanks for the loan, Alhambra Dinner Theatre) and I loved the color co-ordinated attire worn by the King (Scott Broughton) and Queen (Erin Barnes) at the Royal Ball. These lovely creations would not have been possible without the funds provided by The Community Foundation Inc and The Tom Nehl Fund.
Director Wilson also designed the set and with a large staff of volunteers to build it and very capable stage crew to move it around, it was truly amazing. Revolving flats were used so that the front and back could be used for different locations. There were many scene changes and, at one point, Cinderella’s house reappears for only two minutes of lines. I was very impressed by the palace ballroom which was gorgeous.
The four piece orchestra under Ms. Munley’s direction was located in the auditorium, taking up most of the right corner. They handled the entire musical very professionally and right on cue.
In every production I have seen of this show, Cinderella’s Stepmother and her stepsisters provide many comic moments. Kirstin M. Jewell plays the stepmother and Erin Gawera and Yolanda Olmstead are the stepsisters. They all gave campy performances and were crowd favorites.
It was good to see Trish Stain back on stage. She makes the Fairy Godmother a very funny and memorable character. She has been an outstanding performer in more than 50 musicals in the North Florida area.
Joseph Walz is picture-perfect as the Prince. Walz, who just finished law school at Florida, has been a solid musical theatre performer for the past ten years. He has the ability to establish rapport with audiences, and you can feel that mutual warmth moving across the footlights. Joe is hoping for a career in theatre and is heading to California after he passes the bar exam. (Just sing your way through it Joe).
Erin Nicole Long is a Douglas Anderson School of the Arts graduate, and currently a student at the University of Florida. She drove to and from Gainesville daily to do this role and I am glad she did. Ms. Long certainly was the vocal equal to Julie Andrews, and with her good looks and charm, she is just the most delightful Cinderella you have ever seen anywhere.
Did I mention there are some wonderful songs in this show? ‘In My Own Corner,’ ‘l0 Minutes Ago’ and ‘Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?’ have become classics and you will leave the theatre humming them.
Choreographer Meme Broadfoot’s dance creations made the stage seem much larger than it was. I especially liked the antics of the various rodents who later became horses for the coach. (Yes, this play has it all.)
Special kudos to Stage Managers Pat Gorman and Cecilia Emmert. Without your efforts in coordinating everything, the show would not have been such a success and so smoothly run. Thanks as well to Barbara Well, Production Manager, who also created the program insert that includes a biography on every member of the cast.
I urge you not to miss this show. OPTC has assembled an outstanding cast, with many fine voices to this superbly produced production. It is a fast paced show with lots of fun for young and old. There is a song in this musical entitled ‘Impossible.’ Orange Park does not know the meaning of the word. Call 276-2599 for reservations or visit their website at opct.org.
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