Cinderella
VMA Arts & Cultural Center
February 14, 15 & 16, 2003
 |
Act I [A
room in Cinderella's house] |
The Prince's messenger arrives with an invitation to a ball.
The stepsisters are delighted, and make it clear that Cinderella is not invited.
Cinderella pleads with her stepmother to let her go, but the answer, alas,
is no. A mirror brings her back to reality; she sees her ragged dress and
realizes she couldn't possibly attend a ball looking as she does. Saddened,
Cinderella consoles herself with thoughts of her beloved father, taking his
portrait out of her trunk and dancing for him as she used to. She is caught
by her two stepsisters who taunt her and make her do all her chores at once.
A beggar woman appears, asking for alms. The others ignore her, but Cinderella
offers the woman all that she has a piece of bread.
The time has come to prepare for the ballet. The stepsisters try on all sorts
of gowns, fighting over each one. A dancing master is summoned to teach the
two sisters the proper way to dance, but the lessons end in disaster. Nevertheless,
preparations for the ball are completed, and the stepmother and stepsisters
finally depart. Left alone, Cinderella is carried away by her dreams of attending
the ball. Suddenly, the old beggar woman appears again, but this time as Cinderella's
Fairy Godmother. She orders Fairies, representing the seasons of the year,
to prepare and dress Cinderella for the ball. The fairy Spring presents the
girls with a pair of glass slippers; Summer brings her a gossamer dress; Autumn
offers a pumpkin that will magically transform into a coach; Winter brings
jewels glistening like icicles. Dressed and ready now for the ball, Cinderella
is truly a princess.
Before leaving the Fairy Godmother warns Cinderella that she must leave the ball and return home at exactly twelve o'clock or she will return to her former state. She tells Cinderella that she will be reminded of the approach of midnight by twelve elves, each representing the hours of the clock. Cinderella assures her Fairy Godmother that she will be home on time, and is then whisked off to the ball.
Act II
[The act opens in the magnificent palace ballroom]. While waiting for the Prince to appear, the ladies and gentlemen dance a stately measure. The Stepsisters arrive, attracting considerable attention as they grotesquely imitate the manners of the other guests.
The prince appears, greets his guests, and ascends the throne. As the ball continues, a new strain of music is heard and a lovely girl enters. The Prince cannot take his eyes off her and asks her to dance. He presents Cinderella with three oranges, the rarest of fruits in his kingdom. Moved by the envious glances of her stepsisters, who do not recognize her, Cinderella gives the fruit to them. They depart, leaving Cinderella and the Prince alone. The two dance together to declare their love.
The guests return and the court festivities continue. At the height of the celebration, the clock strikes twelve and the twelve elves appear. Terrified, Cinderella flees the castle, and the Prince runs after her. As Cinderella dashes home, the prediction of her Fairy godmother comes true, and she is once again left dressed in rags. Only the crystal slippers remain, and she loses one of these in her haste to depart. The Prince, pursuing his new-wound love, finds the slipper. He comforts himself with the fact that all he has to do to find his love, is to find the owner of the slipper.
Back at home, Cinderella sits alone by the fireplace. She
recalls the splendid ball, and dancing with the Prince. She decides it must
have been a dream, until she remembers the glass slipper in her pocket. The
stepsisters enter and relate the fine time they had at the ball – how
popular they were and how a princess gave them oranges. Noise from the street
heralds the Prince, who is searching from house to house for the unknown beauty.
Both stepsisters try in vain to force their feet into the shoe, and even their
mother tries her luck. She summons Cinderella to help her and, as the girl
bends down, the other glass slipper falls from her dress. The Prince's eyes
are opened as he realizes that this humble servant is the mysterious princess
who awakened love in his heart.
Cinderella and the Prince have found each other. They celebrate their reunion and set out to live happily ever after...
For ticket information, please contact Festival Ballet Providence at 401.353.1129.
