Making Dreams Come True

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Amy Young

Noelle Hunter, Marley Guilfoyle, Kathryn Allen, and Emma Karren starred in Cinderella.

The prince is having a ball! The prince is having a ball! Have you ever dreamed of dancing the night away in slippers made only of Venetian glass? Dust off your ball gown, and enter an enchanting love story fit for all ages at Dominion High School’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Based on the Charles Perrault classic fairy tale, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella was written for television and aired in 1957, starring none other than Julie Andrews in the title role. The musical was later re-written by Douglas Carter Beane to incorporate modern ideas of politics, portraying a more realistic set of characters. This revamped version of the classic tale enjoyed a Broadway run in 2013, which received nine Tony Award nominations and won for costume design.

The modernized fairy tale follows Ella (spectacularly performed by Kathryn Allen), a young woman, who after the unfortunate death of her father, is stuck living with her ruthless stepmother and spoiled stepsisters. Despite her misfortunes, Ella is able to overcome her step-family with the help of her fairy godmother (a shining performance by Emily Wilson), and find the man of her dreams.

As the title role, Allen stood out as a phenomenal vocalist with a beautiful tone fit for a princess. She commanded the stage with her natural stage presence and had a stunning authority as she transformed from a meek country bumpkin to a bold young woman. As her opposite, Eli Pafumi was charming as Prince Topher. The two exhibited natural chemistry, and held beautiful harmony with each other.

In standout performances were Emma Karren and Marley Guilfoyle as Ella’s stepsisters. The two provided great contrast to one another: Karren as the quirky, and kind-hearted Gabrielle, and Guilfoyle as the stuck-up and spoiled Charlotte. Each sister made her place in the story with comedy and captivating vocals. Each one also stood out individually: Guilfoyle in “The Stepsister’s Lament,” bemoaning the woes of not being the prince’s chosen girl, and Karren as the helpful soul to Ella in “A Lovely Night Reprise”. Together, they were a driving force of the show. Along with Noelle Hunter as Madame, the three of them created a dynamic trio that stole the show in “A Lovely Night.”

Another notable performance was that of Emily Wilson as the sparkling fairy godmother, Marie. She drew the eyes of every audience member as she light up the stage, dressed in a beautiful pink gown, and coated in golden glitter. She also proved to be an alluring vocalist, providing strong harmonies, as well as providing wonderful chemistry as the matronly figure to Ella.

The technical elements of the show were truly enchanting. With the use of a decidedly dynamic set, the cast and crew were able to make quick set changes, and allow the production to run smoothly. A highly memorable performance was that of the costume department, with the production of three different dress transformations throughout the show. The transformations went seamlessly throughout the production, and the costumes themselves looked stunning against the pink and purple lighting themes of much of the show.

Making the impossible possible, Dominion High School’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella was a dream come true!