If the shoe fits

I have a confession to make: I’m a bona fide sucker for a romantic comedy. I don’t care how unrealistic it is, if boy meets girl and they fall in love, I’m there.

I’m convinced it started when I was little and saw Disney’s Cinderella. After all, it’s a story that tells us that even the poorest, most put-upon girl can be considered beautiful, win the prince’s love and live happily ever after. It’s just a matter of overcoming some challenges. It inspires hope and confidence, and in my opinion, that’s why the story never gets old. It’s been retold thousands of times, and it still sells tickets.

This weekend, Brewery Arts Center in Carson City, the BAC Stage Kids’ production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

There are some further selling points for the show, as well. First, it’s short—an hour, which includes a 10-minute intermission. Second, with all this cold weather and snow, you might just be looking for an excuse to get your kids out of the house. And third, all these shouting children’s voices that filled the theater prior to the show were completely quiet the moment the show started, which tells me they were transfixed and enjoying every moment. Plus, it’s directed and choreographed by Andie Anderson, an extremely talented local actress and singer.

The story is essentially the one you and your kids know from Disney, with just a few differences. The show begins in a forest where the fairies live; they, along with the fairy godmother (played by a beaming Hayley Pederson), conspire to make Cinderella into a princess. Cut to the townspeople, who are celebrating the recent announcement that the prince will hold a ball to find himself a bride.

We then find ourselves in the home of Cinderella (played by a beautiful Heather Canfield), whose wicked stepmother (Brynn Garrett) and two awful stepsisters, Portia (Monica Ricketts) and Joy (Melody Ricketts), are bossing her around and taunting her about not being able to attend the ball. Enter the fairy godmother, some singing and dancing, and ta-da! She’s dressed and ready to attend the ball in her magical horse-drawn carriage.

You know the story … there’s a glass slipper, the clock strikes midnight, the prince is enraptured, he searches, he finds her, the end. What’s different here is that it’s Rodgers and Hammerstein’s music, which is very catchy, uplifting and fun.

Also, since the kids are the performers, it’s relatable to kids and absolutely precious. In particular, kudos go to 14-year-old Jack Percival’s performance as the king. His sense of humor and over-the-top expressions surely indicate a future acting career. One note: There are two different casts for this show, so unfortunately, I was only able to see half of the actors.

When Cinderella and the prince (played adorably by a bespectacled, 12-year-old Braeden Garrett) sing of their love for each other, someone behind me gasped and said, “It’s so romantic!” The romantic kiss we’ve come to expect is a hug in this production; it couldn’t be safer for kids. Yet to see such romance portrayed by children is enough to make any child—especially a girl like me—became hooked for life.