By: Romina Macko, Audubon High School, Audubon
CLAYTON — Hear ye! Hear ye! Clayton High School charms audiences this past weekend with their performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella!”
Based upon the beloved fairytale, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” was originally written for television in 1957 before eventually making its way to Broadway in 2013. This “Golden Age” musical follows the struggles of Cinderella, who dreams of a better life away from her abusive stepmother and stepsisters. With a little help from the fairy Godmother, Cinderella goes to a royal ball and immediately catches the eye of Prince Topher. When she is forced to flee the ball at midnight, Topher embarks on a search for his lost love. The musical explores themes of kindness and the possibility of the “Impossible!”
Clayton High School’s resilient cast and speedy crew anchored their production of “Cinderella.” From whimsical characters to charming props, each component made the show feel right out of a fairy tale.
Mylia Rodriguez brought Cinderella to life with her angelic vocals and soft expressions. In every scene, Rodriguez remained true to Cinderella’s hopeful and kind character, which set her up as the lovable protagonist. She kept her numerous quick changes efficient and magical never breaking character. Her chemistry with Topher (Elijah Murrell) blossomed naturally and their voices blended seamlessly in numbers like “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?”
The production would not be complete without the rest of the kingdom. Briseis Hansen (Marie) beautifully captured the style of music with her rich vibrato. Whether a crazy cloaked beggar or a magical Fairy Godmother, Hansen never lost her character’s whimsy. Alexis Amerman’s performance as Madame was just as memorable. She fully leaned into Madame’s cruelty and effectively captured her wickedness. Gabrielle and Charlotte, played by Paulette Ford and Kyleigh Norris, brought energy and sass to their roles.
Another standout was Christopher Pedrick as Sebastian, whose posh accent and character choices solidified him as another haughty antagonist. The comedic aspect of the show was rounded off by Lord Pinkleton (Zander Taylor) and the Knights of the Kingdom, whose wacky antics in “The Pursuit” sent the audience into hysterical laughter.
Clayton High School’s technical elements were just as engaging to witness. Eye-catching student-made sets showcased the crew’s creativity and talent. The addition of wheels to their set pieces allowed for scenes to transition with remarkable smoothness. Despite the obstacles posed by microphone quality, the resilient cast persisted and still managed to deliver a magical performance!
The cast and crew of Clayton High School gave a truly enchanting performance of Rodgers and Hammersteins’ “Cinderella” and reminded audiences that nothing is “Impossible” with a little bit of kindness and a little bit of magic.
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