Olympia Family
Theater brings back a local legend
by Alec Clayton
Published in the Weekly Volcano
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| from left: Justin Valdez as Prince Rupert and Mandy Ryle as Cinder Edna, photo by Alexis Sarah |
Olympia Family
Theater premiered Cinder Edna five
years ago, almost to the day, and now they’re bringing it back with some
revisions and a larger cast. A local actor not involved in either production
called it a legend and wondered if it was too soon to bring it back. I think
not. I think the time is just right.
Based on the
children’s picture book by Ellen Jackson and adapted for the stage by local
actor and writer Ted Ryle, with music by Ryle and Miriam Sterlin and
arrangements by Mark Thome, Cinder Edna
offers a wise modern version of the Cinderella story that, among other
delightful twists, points out that marrying a prince might not be the best
thing a young maiden can aspire to.
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| from left: Mark Alford as Prince Randolph and Mandy Ryle as Cinder Edna, photo by Alexis Sarah |
Cinder Edna
(Mandy Ryle) is Cinderella’s next-door neighbor. Both are poor step children
who slave for their heartless step mothers (who, in this modernized version of
the fairy tale spend all their time on their cell phones as do their other daughters).
That’s where the similarity ends. Unlike her pitiful neighbor, Cinder Edna is a
budding young entrepreneur who cooks delicious dishes and sells them, with the
cooking and the sales transpiring behind her clueless step mother’s back. While
Cinderella (Corissa DeVerse) wears her glass slipper’s and a beautiful gown to
the Prince’s ball, transported in the magical pumpkin coach (a sweet nod to
magical tradition), Cinder Edna wears a sensible dress and loafers and catches a
bus to the ball.
And there are
two princes, one for each of the Cinders. Prince Randolph (Mark Alford) is a
narcissist in love with his image in the looking glass. Prince Rupert (Justin
Valdez) is the practical brother who runs a recycling business.
The arrival of
the pumpkin coach — in sections that are danced in by actors — is a magical
moment that could rival any big-stage production even though it is simply
painted cut cardboard.
There are lines
that are hilarious because they are so true, such as when it is pointed out
that the glass slipper is just a shoe that would easily fit at least a quarter
of the women in the kingdom.
The ensemble
cast is great. DeVerse was a great choice for Cinderella. She has an
outstanding voice. Valdez is a likeable Prince Rupert. In an amazing range of
roles from Johnny in American Idiot
at Lakewood Playhouse to Kyle in OFT’s Fishnapped,
Alford’s acting ability continues to amaze. He is captivating as Prince
Randolph, but this prince is too one-dimensional for an actor of Alford’s
statue, and his preening and looking-glass gazing becomes a little too often
repeated by the middle of the second act. Other actors in supporting roles
stand out, notably Jesse Morrow as Edna’s step sister and Jennifer Cariaso as
the fairy godmother. And, of course, there is the title role of Edna, played
marvelously by Ryle. She brings this made-up character to life and makes her
real, down-to-earth, big-hearted and lovable. And she sings up a storm.
Finally, a big
shout-out to director Jen Ryle, choreographer Vanessa Postil, and set designer
Jill Carter.
Cinder Edna, 7
p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, through June
3, $19 adults,
$16 military, $13 youth, http://olyft.org/tickets, 612 4th Ave E, Olympia,
360-570-1638.
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