By: Chloe Swanson, Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Mount Holly
AUDUBON — Cinderella waltzed the night away with her Prince Charming and Snow White was awakened by the Huntsman’s true love’s kiss. Every prince and princess finds their “happily ever after” — but wait! Is that the same prince in every story? “Once Upon a One More Time” at Audubon High School cleared the air about a so-called “Prince Charming.”
In June of 2023, “Once Upon a One More Time” debuted on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre. Its empowering message was able to withstand the COVID-19 pandemic while numerous other productions faced closure and financial failure. The story follows Cinderella as she is introduced to her fairy godmother, accompanied by an eerie yet desirable book: “The Feminine Mystique.” She is inspired to gather every princess in the land to confront Charming for his manipulative behavior. Fueled by the high-energy hits of the pop princess, Britney Spears, the jukebox musical combines her rebellious style with themes of feminism.
Audubon High School’s delivery was anchored by the cast’s excellent comedic timing. By seamlessly integrating modern references with witty humor, the crowd was kept engaged in every scene.
The ensemble was already a hit, but the leads brought the production straight to the top of the charts! Emma Cochran, who played Cinderella, made it as clear as her glass slipper that she was the lead the moment she appeared. Her delightful tone embodied a pop-infused princess throughout, but was most notable in her Act Two ballad “Everytime.” Kyle Brown, who played Charming, effortlessly leaned into the vanity of the prince. Moments like “Oops! I Did it Again” villainized his character, yet his natural comedic timing made him an audience favorite.
The supporting cast combined stellar performances with a remix of classic mythical icons. Particularly, Cinderella’s stepfamily infused the stage with the perfect amount of “Toxic” energy. Shenequa Daley, who played the stepmother, was a powerhouse and could pivot with ease from nasty and fierce when around Cinderella to a genius manipulator around men. Her commanding presence perfectly complemented the dynamic of her stepdaughters played by Molly Rhoads (Belinda) and Lucy Hofstetter (Betany). Together, they created excellent obstacles for Cinderella to find her own feminist rhythm.
Audubon’s technical elements and the modern themes were perfectly in sync. The AHS Prop Team cleverly implemented contemporary items like Goldfish Crackers in Snow White’s cottage, and movie theater popcorn for the Fairy Godmother while she watched her magic unfold. The props intensified the comedic and trendy elements of the show as a whole.
However, the microphone quality had audiences struggling to understand. While the sound technology didn’t top the charts, the props would land on the Billboard 100 with Britney Spears herself.
“There’s only two types of people in the world:” Those who saw Once Upon a One More Time at Audubon, and those who stayed home. Be honest, were you one of the “Lucky” ones?
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