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Regional Reviews: Chicago Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella Also see John's reviews of Twist Your Dickens, or Scrooge You!, Airline Highway and Newsies
Beane adds a contemporary self-awareness to the proceedings, with his characters reacting much as we might if we saw such things as crazy ladies turning into fairy godmothers or pumpkins becoming elegant coaches. Topher is well-intentioned, but naïve and awkward in an early adolescent sort of way. The evil Stepmother and one of the stepsisters are as self-centered and unselfaware as ever (the other stepsister has been made more sympathetic). Beane's a funny writer and the show has its laughs, which are an odd mixture with Oscar Hammerstein's totally non-ironic, absolutely straightforward lyrics. The mixture works, though. The book lets us all have some fun with this fairy tale while the songs keep us connected to the sentiment of the story, making the whole affair as directed by Mark Brokaw an affectionate wink at the original tale. The national touring company, making a three-week stop at Chicago's Cadillac Palace, is a handsome production filled with talented Broadway pros and newcomers. The title role is played by Paige Faure, a very capable ingénue who was curiously replaced by an understudy for just a portion of the second act the night I attended. The find in the cast, though, is Andy Jones, who not only possesses princely blond looks (seems like Prince William of England has defined princely looks as blond for the time being) and a solid bari-tenor, but also a terrific sense of comic timing, landing Beane's gags like an ace comedy pilot. Like Faure, he's a veteran of this show and Bullets Over Broadway on Broadway. With his combination of musical and comedy chops I'm surprised he hasn't been cast in The Book of Mormon yet, but whatever happens, he's a talent to watch. Supporting these two are a team of veterans that also do their share to keep Beane's jokes aloft. Kecia Lewis is the smart fairy godmother (here called Marie) and she delivers knockout renditions of "Impossible" and "There's Music in You." Beth Glover is a stepmother who could be straight out of some sort of "Real Housewives of Fairybook Land," and Aimee Garcia lands some of the show's biggest laughs as the delusional stepsister Charlotte. Blake Hammond, who has numerous ensemble and minor roles among his Broadway credits, proves himself worthy of more in his work here as the pompous Prime Minister to the Prince. The production is also gorgeous looking, thanks mainly to William Ivey Long's Tony Award-winning costumes and the elegant and colorful sets by Anna Louizos. The dances by choreographer Josh Rhodes are expertly executed and enjoyable, though not mind-blowing like those of the other family musical (Newsies) playing down the street. This new version of the nearly fifty-year-old musical may not become the new definitive version for the next fifty years, but for the moment, it's a perfectly enjoyable contemporary take on the piece. It's all good fun delivered with true Broadway-caliber showmanship. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella will play the Cadillac Palace Theater, 151 W. Randolph, through January 4, 2015. For ticket information, visit www.BroadwayinChicago.com or call 800-775-2000. For more information on the tour, visit cinderellaonbroadway.com/tour/.
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