Cinderella
Musical in 2 acts, 11 scenes
Music by Jeanne Bargy and Jim Eiler; Book and Lyrics by Jim Eiler
Synopsis
A pantomime in the true tradition for all seasons of the year. The glass slipper, Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming and the Ugly Sisters will recall childhood memories for adults and keep children spellbound with its ageless story of the girl who becomes a princess.
Story
ACT ONE
The scene begins in the realm of the Fairy Godmother. Two helpers introduce her, and the Fairy Godmother appears. She sings that if you ever need any help, all you need to is call for her and she will tend to you. She then gets down to business, and pulls out the list of their neediest cases of the day. At the top of the list is Ella. She is 18, an orphan, and lives with her stepmother and 2 stepsisters. Her mother died years ago and her father remarried. He then died and she has been forced to become a servant to her stepmother and stepsisters. She is forced to sleep in the kitchen and sits among the cinders dreaming of being rescued. They laugh at her and have taken to calling her Cinder – Ella. This nickname inspires the Fairy Godmother and she realizes how magical the name Cinderella is. She and her helpers rush off to look in on Ella and see if she is worthy of their help.
The three arrive at the stepmother's house and find Cinderella asleep among the ashes. They awaken her but remain invisible. She awakens, confused, thinking she heard a voice and rushes into the main hall. She is upset and disgraced and wonders what will become of her life. Her stepmother comes in and yells at her for being in the main hall then rushes off to check on her beloved daughters. The two stepsisters, Gertrude and Henrietta enter. They bicker between themselves but their mother pacifies them and completely dotes upon their every word and move. They have much work to do so they call for Cinderella. They begin bullying and bossing Cinderella around. As she is busy doing the ironing, Gertrude sends her to her room to fetch her perfume; she is lending some to Henrietta. Cinderella returns with her starch in one hand and the perfume in the other. Henrietta grabs the wrong bottle and will not listen when Cinderella tries to correct her. She douses herself with starch. Stepmother is furious, and thinks Cinderella has taken to playing tricks on them. She begins to beat her for her "trick." Fairy Godmother has seen enough; this girl is certainly worthy of their help. She has an inspired idea which she only begins to explain to her helpers. Prince Charming must marry by his 21st birthday, which is at midnight that very night. That is all she tells them. She sends them to the castle to check up on what is happening as she looks up some spells.
The helpers disguise themselves as Royal Guards. King Darling III enters the hall where they stand. He is old and can barely see but is very good natured and a darling, after all, that is his name! He is very gentle and kind and fair and everyone is dear to him. Prince Charming enters and his father wishes him a happy birthday. His father insists that he must follow the rules and marry but he refuses. He has not found anyone yet who he is in love with. As a last resort, his father will throw a huge ball in honour of his birthday and invite all single women in the kingdom to attend so he may find a wife. The Helpers report back to the Fairy Godmother and she is pleased. Cinderella will attend the ball that night.
Back at the house, Cinderella is hard at work as always. The Helpers arrive to deliver the invitations to the ball. All unmarried women are to attend the ball at the stroke of 9 and at the stroke of 12, the Prince will pick his bride! The two sisters and their mother scramble to prepare and they day dream of what the ball will be like. They are sure they will be a hit at the ball and win over the prince. Stepmother and her daughters leave to the ball leaving Cinderella all alone. She dreams of what it would be like to attend the ball then wonders again what is to become of her. Just then, the Fairy Godmother appears to Cinderella. If she wishes to go to the ball, then she shall. She is to go and sit with a handful of cinders in her lap and imagine the most beautiful dress. Meanwhile, Fairy Godmother turns a pumpkin into a golden coach. The two helpers are to be disguised as noblemen and escort her to the ball. Cinderella appears in a gorgeous gown and glass slippers. The Fairy Godmother's only warning is that the spell will only last until midnight then everything will turn back to what it was.
ACT TWO
The Fairy Godmother watches from her realm and must get to the ball herself. Everything else is in order. Everyone is dancing at the ball and trying to win over the Prince. He does not seem interested in any of the women, however. His father is worried since it is already after 10. Just then the Prince spots a golden coach arriving carrying the most beautiful princess he has ever seen. Cinderella enters. The Prince greets her and asks her who she is. She says she must remain unknown and that she is from the Land of Enchantment. The helpers are sent to keep the stepsisters away from the prince while Cinderella dances with him. Just to make sure, the Fairy Godmother casts a spell that every time they dance, they begin to sneeze. Stepmother and the sisters are disgusted and thinking quick on her feet, Henrietta explains it is a new dance. The Stepmother is doing everything she can to get the Prince to propose to one of her daughters but he only has eyes for the Enchanted Princess, Cinderella. The Prince asks Cinderella to be his bride, and she says yes. As he announces this to his father and the guests, the clock strikes midnight, and Cinderella runs off. He chases after her but all he can find of her is one glass slipper.
It is a week later, and the King and Prince have been searching everywhere to find the Enchanted Princess. The Prince insists the only way to find her is to go to every woman in the Kingdom and see whose foot fits the glass slipper. His father grants him permission to go ahead with this plan. They search every house in the kingdom until they finally arrive at the Stepmother's house.
The women await the arrival of the Prince. Cinderella insists that she too must be allowed to try on the slipper but Stepmother will not hear of it. She locks Cinderella in the kitchen closet so she will not be seen. All three women try on the slipper and it does not fit any of them. The Prince must give up; his princess is nowhere to be found. The Fairy Godmother is watching and cannot let it end like this. She makes Cinderella sneeze. The women try to cover it up and pretend that it was one of them but after all, the guards find Cinderella in the other room. She tries on the slipper, and it fits perfectly. She and the Prince are to be married; he has finally found his Princess! The Stepmother and Stepsisters rush to her begging her forgiveness. Cinderella forgives them all and invites them to live in the castle with them, and they will all live happily ever after.
Musical Numbers:
- Opening Intro - Helpers
- Hi Diddle Dee - Fairy Godmother, Helpers
- What's To Become Of Me? - Cinderella, Fairy Godmother, Helpers
- Get To Work - Stepmother, Gertrude, Henrietta
- King Darling III - King Darling, Helpers
- Knock, Knock, Knock - Helpers, Cinderella, Step Trio
- Invitation - Helpers, Cinderella, Step Trio
- At The Ball - Stepmother, Gertrude, Henrietta
- Sneeze Polka
- Cinderella - Fairy Godmother
- Sneeze Polka - Henrietta, Gertrude, All
Cast
Principals: 4 Male, 5 Female.
- Cinderella - Ingenue. She is young and beautiful with an ethereal quality. She should be played with honesty as opposed to the farcical style of the Stepmother and Stepsisters. She must move well. (
Soprano)
- Fairy Godmother - Character comedienne. She can be most any age but should move well and be quite zany and lovable. She and her two Helpers set the comedic pace of the play. (
Mezzo or Pop Voice)
- First Helper -
Tenor
- Gertrude - Character comedian or comedienne (male or female). She is the younger stepsister; opposite of Henrietta and always jealous of her. Must dance and move well. (
Soprano or Tenor)
- Henrietta - Character comedian or comedienne (male or female). She is the elder, more agressive and dominating stepsister; more like her mother. Must dance and move well. (
Mezzo or Baritone)
- King Darling The Third - Character actor. He is a whimsical, near-sighted, lovable monarch; always confused as to where he is and to whom he is talking. Should move well. (
Tenor or Baritone)
- Prince Charming The First - Juvenile. He is the handsome hero of every fairy tale. Always patient and amused with his father's near-sightedness. He must move well, portraying both courtly elegance and boyish charm. (
Lyric Baritone)
- Second Helper - Both Helpers are character juveniles. They should be boyish, energetic and comical, and have good dancing ability. They work as a team assisting the Fairy Godmother. (
Baritone)
- Stepmother - Character actress. She has a strong, dominating quality; indulgent with her own daughters but cruel to Cinderella because she is jealous of the girl's beauty. She must dance and move well. (Mezzo or Soprano)
Chorus Numerous ladies and gentlemen of the court in the Ball scene, as well as guards and servants.
All vocal types: SATB
Scenes and Settings
ACT I
Scene 1: Fairy Godmother's realm.
Scene 2: Main Hall of Stepmother's home; morning
Scene 3: Hall of King Darling's castle; immediately following
Scene 4: Main Hall of Stepmother's home; that afternnon, then evening.
ACT II
Scene 1: Fairy Godmother's realm; evening
Scene 2: Ballroom of King Darling's castle; immediately following.
Scene 3: Hall of King Darling's castle; one week later.
Scene 4: Main Hall of Stepmother's home; a month later.
Scene 5: Palace Gardens
Scene 6: Tailor Quarters, then Procession through the Audience
Scene 7: Throne Room