What lies ahead is a bibbidi-bobbidi-reVIEW of a certain show…
What do you get when you cross a lost glass slipper with a wicked stepfamily? You get “A Lovely Night” at Fort Lauderdale High School’s production of “Cinderella (Enchanted Edition)!”
Cinderella made her premiere on television in 1957, but with a bit of the Fairy Godmother’s magic, her carriage rolled onto the Broadway stage in 2013. Written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, the original was once one of the most widely viewed television programs of all time. The Enchanted Edition was inspired by the 1997 television remake of the story, featuring Whitney Houston, Whoopi Goldberg, and Brandy. A dazzling 60 million viewers watched the broadcast, a more diverse audience and cast than ever before.
Introducing Cinderella, a beautiful yet common girl with dreams bigger than the whole kingdom–not to mention, she’s a very eligible maiden. The captivating namesake of the musical herself was portrayed by Nylamarie Belle. Her vocals were clearer than her glass slipper, and she was responsible for “The Sweetest Sounds” of the night! She brought amazing passion to her role, and she impressively took on the duty of choreography for the entire cast.
Of course, every princess needs a villain… or three. The stepfamily brought a hilarious dynamic to the stage, bouncing off of each other with impressive energy. Stepmother, played by Madison Halloran, had a perfectly evil persona, and her condescending treatment of Cinderella was believable from “once upon a time” to “happily ever after.” Her two daughters, Joy and Grace, played by Cailey Herman and Rashell Broderick respectively, sent the audience into fits of laughter with each over-exaggerated facial expression, snorting laugh, and awkward dance with Prince Christopher. The ensemble of the show also admirably exhibited characterization that developed the community onstage. Unfortunately, there were difficulties with the blending of microphones and music at some louder points, which resulted in some inaudible dialogue, but the cast as a whole persisted with impressive determination.
Nylamarie Belle (Cinderella) positively shined in her beautiful blue ball gown. However, her dress was not the only eye-catching costume in the production. The royal family’s wealth was beautifully displayed in their garments, especially with Queen Constantina, played by Ella Michele Lippman. The costume designers– Kayla Parrott, Tamar Anderson, and Celani Lightbourne– must be commended for their mastery. At times, the lighting was not sufficient to see the beauty of the outfits, but the thoughtfulness and effort still shined through.
The set of the production, orchestrated by Cee Pavillard, magically transported the audience into the fantasy kingdom. Cartoonish details on household items, such as a mirror and a window, further contributed to the fairy-tale atmosphere. One standout detail was the large moon projection that lingered over the stage, making scene changes unexpectedly beautiful under its subtle glow. This circular set piece was also converted into a clock that ingeniously showed the passage of time over the progression of the night of the ball. Despite some difficulties with the durability of the set during scene changes, the use of multiple rotating triangular set pieces was a brilliant effort at practicality and smoothness.
The relatively new theatre program of Fort Lauderdale High School used a combination of sheer dedication and a sprinkling of magic to execute their production of “Cinderella (Enchanted Edition),” reminding every individual in the audience that “There’s Music in You.”
