The Other Cinderella
at Archbishop Jordan High School

Reviewed on November 26, 2015

Samantha Horkulak
Millwoods Christian School
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 1

Archbishop Jordan High School kicked off the Cappies season with The Other Cinderella, a new interpretation of the classic tale that brought magical poetry and prose to the stage.

Written in 1958 by Nicholas Stuart Gray, this story is Lady Ella's. Called Cinderella by her own request, she sees life differently from a typical daughter of nobility. With the guidance of a good fairy, a demon, and some magic, the characters set about to restore Cinderella's happiness without making things seem tragic.

The cast and crew were well-prepared, and showed exceptional dedication, which anchored the versatility of the characters in the production. The 10-person cast was captivating and complex, showing excellent chemistry as their stories intersected.

The good fairy and the demon, played by Susannah Fernandez and Anita Lakusta respectively, had impeccable rapport. Their presence brought enchantment to the stage as they aided Cinderella to get her wish. Lakusta's comedic timing and captivating body language brought a twisted sense of humour that engaged the audience. Victoria Clark, who played Cinderella, moulded the protagonist to be her own, using strong emotions as a catalyst for her acting. Her character was compelling with many dimensions. Clark's interpretation created a leading lady who broke fairy tale conventions.

Emma Whipple and Haley Wirachowski played Melissa and Melanie, the kind and gentle step-sisters of Cinderella. They had a strong dynamic with their mother, played by Megan Haas, and showed a deep connection as their stories unfolded. Jacob Larocque performed hilariously as the Baron, and provided well-executed comedy as a scatterbrained, though wise and caring, father and husband. His body language was consistent as he walked hunched over with age, bringing laughter as his rear was the last thing to leave the stage.

Barny, played by Ryan Evans, endeared the audience. It was easy to identify with this shy, courteous, and love-struck character. His love for Cinderella was clearly portrayed through his expressions, actions, and words.

The set, built by Braden Welsh and Amanda McAra, was phenomenal. Realistic intricacies made the enchanted forest magical and authentic. The lighting and special effects, led by Kim Robinson, added to the mystery of the forest and the warmth of the mansion. Costumes designed by Dominique Prince-Hauck were exquisite, with pieces varying from rags to elegance. Though an occasional costume mishap occurred, the cast and crew recovered quite quickly and carried on flawlessly.

Overall, the Archbishop Jordan dramatic performance did not fail to impress. Their exemplary performance and talent taught two lessons: the glass slipper may not fit the right foot and the ending you expect may not be the one you meet.

Nicole Balaberda
Strathcona Christian Academy
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 2

Traditionally, Cinderella's story takes her from rags to riches; however, in Archbishop Jordan High School's production of The Other Cinderella, her story take an unusual turn.

In Nicholas Stuart Gray's rendering of the story, published in 1958, Cinderella's life isn't plagued by misery and a hateful step-family--it's all in her head! Because of her mother's death, Cinderella has turned into a pessimistic, hateful, and rude person. Now it's up to the good fairy, with the help of a cheeky demon, to make sure Cinderella finds her happy ending. Although, at the end of this story Cinderella doesn't fall in love with the prince, she falls in love with her childhood friend Barny.

From realistic sets, to brilliant lighting, hilarious and lovable characters, as well as gorgeous costumes, Archbishop Jordan High School's production was outstanding. Everything went smoothly throughout the play, all of the actors hit their cues perfectly—especially in the scenes where time was frozen. It seemed as though someone had taken out a remote and hit pause on one section of the stage!

Sarcastic, sneaky and sassy, Anita Lakusta's portrayal of the Demon was expressive and extremely well done. Lakusta was comfortable with her role: she was never out of character, even when she was off to the side awaiting her involvement in the next scene. Cinderella's character was extremely diverse: Victoria Clark, who played Cinderella, often had to switch from one mood to another in the flick of a wand. Clark managed to do this seamlessly, as well as make Cinderella's emotions and actions flow naturally.

A sweetheart that had many of the girls in the theater swooning, was the squire, Barny. Ryan Evans, who played the lovable squire, was able to perfectly capture the character's timid, gentle, and insecure nature. Danny, the prince's bodyguard, was amusing, thanks to Braden Welsh's comedic acting. Going off on an excellent monologue about growing wings and drowning in mud, he left many members of the audience laughing. Another actor who excellently captured the audience's attention was Jacob Larocque, who played the Baron. All he had to do to earn a chuckle was walk out on stage; everything from his stance to his expressions made people laugh.

The stage lighting, directed by Kim Robinson, was excellent. The realistic lightning for the demon's spells fit her character perfectly and complemented her rebellious look. The handmade costumes in the play were most impressive from ruffles to dresses to men's coats, the clothing fit each character perfectly. The sets in the show were realistic--with a touch of the imaginative--and enhanced the acting. The forest, in which the main characters are introduced, had both depth and texture, which created a haunting look. The elaborate set for Cinderella's manor was realistic and solidified the story's timeline.

From the actors' expressions and engaging performance, to the well-designed and authentic sets, Archbishop Jordan High School's production of The Other Cinderella was excellent.

Mira Spearey
Ross Sheppard High School
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 3

We've all heard some version of Cinderella's story, grown up hating her step-sisters and step-mother for not loving her as much as they should. But, what if it were the sweet, good-natured Cinderella who was the nasty one? What if her evil step-sisters were kind, and her step-mother loving? Archbishop Jordan's production of The Other Cinderella spins this new version of Cinderella, complete with Prince Charming himself.

The story of Cinderella has had innumerable reincarnations all around the world, but the Brothers Grimm version, originally penned in the 19th century in German, has become the most popular. It was this version that inspired British playwright Nicholas Stuart Gray to reimagine the well-loved fairytale as The Other Cinderella in 1958. The setup of the story is familiar: Cinderella's mother dies, her father remarries, and her new step-sisters and step-mother come to live with them. It diverges with the appearance of the demon, who works with Cinderella's good fairy to win over Prince Charming. The story follows Cinderella as she works at not being quite so horrible towards her step-sisters and step-mother, with the help of a few waves of her good fairy's wand.

The creation of the whimsical feeling throughout the production was reinforced by Braden Welsh and Amanda McAra's elaborate sets. The tall, grand walls of Cinderella and her family's lavish home — complete with even the smallest details courtesy of prop master Madison Hucal — were wheeled off in favour of the terrace of the Prince's castle. Kim Robinson's lighting design was the final transforming element, taking the story from castles to somewhere deep in the allure of a magical forest.

Victoria Clark moved easily between Cinderella's two moods: unsettlingly nasty towards her family, and equally loving and sweet a few scenes later. Her interactions with her step-sister Melanie, played by Haley Wirachowski, and Barny, played by Ryan Evans, were particularly charming. Jacob Larocque's comic timing was truly commendable in his role as Cinderella's old father; his combination of speech and perfectly executed physical comedy never failing to rouse a laugh.

Anita Lakusta delivered a stunning performance in her role as the demon: her movements were continuously smooth and confident on stage. The relationship between her and Cinderella's quiet, worried fairy, played by Susannah Fernandez, was dynamic and endearing. The helpful fairy appearing throughout the show with sage words of wisdom, to help Cinderella.

Dotted with familiar characters and familiar plots, Archbishop Jordan's production of The Other Cinderella may have had a new ending, but even in this version, Cinderella got her happily-ever-after.

Megan Prusko
WP Wagner
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 4

Every story has two sides. Many are familiar with Cinderella, a well known fairy tale. However, not everyone knows the other side of the story. Archbishop Jordan High School's dramatic production tells Nicholas Stuart Gray's take in his play The Other Cinderella, an enchanting spin on a familiar childhood tale. The action takes place on the Festival Place stage in which creative design, lighting, and sound bring this story to life.

The Other Cinderella is a story about a maiden who has lost her charm, innocence, and simplicity. The show simultaneously guides the audience through two main plots, that of Cinderella's and the subplot of a fairy who has to help her through her time of woe. The story begins with snappy, comedic dialogue between a fairy and a demon, both assigned to assist a troubled and unhappy Cinderella. As the tale progresses, it is revealed that unlike in the classic tale, it is Cinderella herself who is burdening the lives of her step-sisters and step-mother. The narrative is fueled by romance, loyalty, and comedy. With the help of endearing backdrops and sets, The Other Cinderella tells its own tale without straying too far from its original predecessor.

In the original fairytale, not much is known about anyone other than Cinderella. In this version of the story, more is known about her family and friends. Jacob Larocque plays Cinderella's father, a kooky old man who speaks in cryptic messages. Larocque is both the constant comedic relief of the show as well as one of the most endearing characters to take the stage. His comedic timing was excellent.

No story is complete without a setting. The set of this performance was magical. With many set changes, the setting varied from an ethereal forest, to a cozy home, to a stone villa. Combined with the lighting, no detail was overlooked. The technical aspects were some of the most notable. For the majority of the run time, lighting cues were executed with ease and skill, adding to the magical feeling of the play without stealing the attention from the dialogue. The costuming and props used light to their advantage. Whether it was the wave of the fairy's wand or a twirl of a lit up skirt, the technical parts were well-done.

One of the most eminent components of the play was the strong cast dynamic and energy throughout the piece. The obvious enthusiasm from everyone involved brought The Other Cinderella to life. Had it not been for the stepsisters' chemistry or the slapstick nature of the prince and his bodyguard, Danny, the story would have felt incomplete. The time and effort put forth from those involved was apparent when it came to presenting the piece on stage.

The Other Cinderella was a quintessential and enjoyable show.

Nancy Skorobohach
Strathcona Christian Academy
Submitted for publication to Edmonton Journal 5

What would happen if Cinderella was absolutely mad? If her step-family wasn't actually cruel and bad? If the prince lost his favour to a childhood lad? And if a demon and a fairy both had magic to add?

Archbishop Jordan High School presented The Other Cinderella, a three act play written in 1958 by Nicholas Stuart Gray. The story takes place in the traditional kingdom--but set within the Victorian era. However, the rest of the play is anything but traditional. The Other Cinderella brought a fresh twist to the classic fairy tale. Cinderella's family loves her, and wants nothing more than to see her happy--she is far too wrapped up in her own bitterness to even acknowledge this. Ready to assist Cinderella and carry on the story are the demon and the fairy: both are willing to work together to help Cinderella live happily ever after.

The production was visually delightful: everything from the set to the props to the costumes to the lighting was absolutely stunning. The details shown in the set and props were impeccable: each book and each tree were crafted to perfection. The play consisted of ten actors: each brought character, humour, and spirit to the stage.

Victoria Clark portrayed Cinderella with great personality and character. She flawlessly transitioned between being troublesome and bitter, to being full of hope and life--possibly the most difficult demand of the script. The demon, as portrayed by Anita Lakusta, was sassy and full of attitude; everything from the way she walked to her hand gestures was purposefully crafted into her character. Ryan Evans played Barny, the young squire and childhood friend of Cinderella. He brought wonderful chemistry to the stage, and had many audience members waiting with high hopes and anticipation each time he interacted with Cinderella.

By the end of the show, the entire cast had fully become their characters and took their acting to a new level. Haley Wirachowski played the step-sister Melanie, and did so with wonderful direction, dictation, and dimension: she fully embodied a mature and respectful older step-sister: her compassion towards Cinderella was convincing. The whole cast displayed passion and evidence of hours of hard work.

The curtain first went up to reveal a forest scene, full of intricate trees-- each handmade. The next scene was in a living room, where everything was historically accurate and the details were gorgeous. The set design by Braden Welsh and Amanda McAra was imaginative and meticulous; it transported the audience directly into the world of Cinderella. Kim Robinson showed exceptional work in designing and executing the lighting: the cues were timed perfectly and the lighting brought the show to life. The costumes were phenomenal and stayed true to the Victorian era; Dominique Prince-Hauck and Victoria Clark sewed, sourced, and rented each of the 60+ costume pieces.

Archbishop Jordan's production of The Other Cinderella was aesthetically appealing, delightfully detailed, and prominently passionate. The show proved that life doesn't always go as planned--and that's perfectly alright.