Theater closes season with magical ‘Cinderella’

As the "stars in the hazy heaven tremble above you," it’s easy to see how young girls could fall under the spell of "Cinderella" at The Theatre in the Park.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s classic musical began as a 1957 TV special designed to showcase a young Broadway starlet named Julie Andrews. Reportedly, more than 100 million people tuned in for that single live broadcast. Soon after that record-breaking presentation, Rodgers expanded it for the stage.

Shawnee Mission Park’s popular outdoor venue is featuring his adaptation as their season finale.

Stephanie Cain leads the cast as the titular heroine, with Rob Constance as the dashing Prince, Linda Finch as the spunky Fairy Godmother, Wendy Godfrey as Cinderella’s nasty stepmother, and Hailey Lapin and Teresa Sheffield as the comical stepsisters.

Cain is well-cast as the hard-working servant girl who spends her few idle moments dreaming about going to the Prince’s ball.

Cain’s pleasant voice and lovely appearance make it easy to see why the young monarch would quickly become enamored with her.

Finch brings an amusingly daffy sensibility to the role of the Fairy Godmother.

Director Art Suskin and choreographer Carolyn Braverman are well aware of the inherent problems that the outdoor venue presents. With no fly space to raise or lower curtains and scenery, most of the sets must be rolled in or out from the wings. Suskin and Braverman wisely attempt to overcome this obstacle by blocking some of the action downstage as the settings are altered upstage.

Conductor Randy Schott and his talented pit orchestra are called upon to perform an "Entre’acte" as Cinderella’s modest home is replaced by the King’s palace set.

Despite some of the show’s awkward moments, it’s hard to knock "Cinderella’s" family-friendly spirit.

Suskin has added a children’s dance ensemble that magically appears when Cinderella and the Prince meet at the ball.

While audiences may not fall in love at first sight, "Cinderella" is still an agreeably congenial finale to The Theatre in the Park’s 2010 season.

"Cinderella" runs through Aug. 1 at Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park, 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee. For information, call (913) 312-8841 or visit www.theatreinthepark.org.

THEATER NOTES

Tina Maddigan is an acclaimed Broadway veteran who resides in the Kansas City area.

Maddigan originated the leading role of Sophie in the Broadway production of "Mamma Mia!" and had the featured role of Julia Gulia in "The Wedding Singer." Maddigan also has served as a host on the Discovery Channel and on Sprint TV, performed at the Grand Ole Opry, and released an album called "Inside Voice."

She will perform a one-woman-in-song show Aug. 12 as a thank you for donors of the Jewish Federation of Kansas City. The performance will be at the Lewis and Shirley White Theatre, 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park. For information, call (913) 327-8054 or visit www.jcckc.org.

•••

The sixth annual Kansas City Fringe Festival runs through Aug. 1 at various venues throughout the Kansas City area.

The festival, which turns the spotlight on fashion and the visual and performing arts, features more than 40 separate theatrical productions. Offerings include an original musical by Seth Golay and Frankie Krainz called "Goodbye, Kansas," a satire called "The Us & Them Reunion – A Musical Battle of the Culture War" by Jack Phillips, and "My Fragile Family Tree: A Story of Fathers and Sons" presented by Shantz Theatre.

Ticket and venue information can be found at www.kcfringe.org.

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