Story Photos
 Debi Meyers as Cinderella and Robert Larson as the Prince dance at the ball in the Rising Star production of Cinderella at the Kelso High School auditorium. Bill Wagner / The Daily News
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Stage is set for Rising Star's Cinderella
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 11:38 PM PST
By Tom Paulu
Printable version
E-mail this articleFirst of all, this isn’t the Disney version of “Cinderella.”
“We have no mice,” said Jueanne Meyers, director of Rising Star Productions. “We don’t sing ‘Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.’ ”
Her production, which opens Friday, does have a sweet-natured, overworked servant girl; a handsome prince, mean stepmother and a dainty slipper (with silver sequins, not glass).
This “Tale of Cinderella” offers twists to the classic story: Cinderella’s father is still alive, the godmother hooks up with the Prince’s older companion, and since it’s set in Venice, people come and go by gondola, not pumpkin-derived coach.
Meyers admits to being a “Cinderella” groupie. She owns DVDs of several musical versions of the story.
She chose “A Tale of Cinderella” by W. A. Frankonis, Will Severin and David Weiss, because it had good roles for several characters, not just Cinderella.
“This one spreads the wealth around,” she said.
Meyers cast her 17-year-old daughter, Debi, in the title role, she said, and didn’t want her family to get too much of the star billing. She also wanted a show with plenty of parts for children; her cast of 30 includes 12 in the kids’ chorus.
As far as she knows, “A Tale of Cinderella,” which premiered in 1994, hasn’t been done in this area.
In its fresh plot, the father is a merchant who has lost nearly all of his money. He’s a decent dad, but his nasty second wife has cast a spell on him through a magic amulet. At one point, Cinderella steals the amulet to free her father, but wicked Stepmom won’t let her go to the ball unless she returns it.
Does Cinderella choose her social life or her devotion to Dad?
“One of the things I like about this show is that Cinderella is strong,” Meyers said.
The play has more depth than more-familiar versions of the story, said Alexis Bloomfeldt, who plays Pulchrituda, the stepmother. “There is so much more to it than poor, beaten-down Cinderella,” Bloomfeldt said. “I like the fact that it has meat to it.”
Bloomfeldt said she has to stretch for her role. “I’m not really a mean person,” she said. “I love children... But it’s kind of liberating” to be able to yell at Cinderella and allow the stepsisters to throw her in the fireplace.
The songs are a mixture of jazz and traditional musical comedy styles, said music director Laurel Moore.
The show isn’t aimed just at children. Some of the wordplay should appeal to adults, Meyers said.
Also in the cast are Robert Larson as the prince, Stacie Hunt Kelley as the godmother, Adam Pond as the prince’s godfather, Joshua Larson as Cinderella’s father and Erica Gonser and Coren Idle as the stepsisters.
IF YOU GO
What: Rising Star Productions presentation of “A Tale of Cinderella,” a musical retelling of the Cinderella story set in Venice.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and again Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 22. Matinees at 2 p.m. Nov. 15 and 22.
Where: Kelso High School auditorium.
Tickets: Evening performances $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 children. Matinees $8.00 adults/seniors, $5 children.
Information: www.risingstarproductions.org or (360) 431-5475.
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