Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella
at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School

Reviewed on April 13, 2019

Kathryn Shepherd
Hayfield Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

The carriage, the shoes, the gown: What more could a girl want? Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's production of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella answers that question for young Ella, who wants nothing more than to escape her stepmother and stepsisters and open the prince's eyes to the injustice plaguing their kingdom. In this musical, Ella realizes that she is looking for more than dresses and princes and finds out that the impossible is more possible than she originally thought.

Originally written for television in 1957, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella has reinvented this classic tale. The rags to riches story was first performed on stage in 1985 in London, and since, has had runs in several countries worldwide. In 2013, the charming musical debuted on Broadway, sporting a new book written by Douglas Carter Beane. Receiving plaudits and nominations from its genesis, this show has proven to be a favorite for young and old.

A picture of kindness and grace, Ella (Madison Perry) drew all eyes in the room each time she was on stage. She wooed the audience with her sweet operatic voice and persistent energy through each song and dance. Topher (Richard VonTersch) shared this beguiling quality as a more-than-storybook prince willing to make a difference in his kingdom. His stunning vocals and humorous nature captivated the audience from the beginning of the show to its happily ever after.

Ella's stepmother and stepsisters seamlessly added flairs of comedy. Evil through and through, Annaliese Tamke's performance as Madame was characterized by physicality and facial expressions. From sinister pride to flagrant disgust, Tamke's body language left the audience in stitches with exaggerated movements and memorable reactions. Gabrielle (Gabriella Chellis) and Charlotte (Meg Dreany), Ella's stepsisters, bolstered Tamke well. Their overall family dynamic brought a new level of enjoyment to the production, especially in their performances in "A Lovely Night" and "Stepsister's Lament."

Not to be overlooked, the use of puppets for the fox and raccoon contributed yet another enjoyable aspect of the show. The woodland creatures, controlled by Bridget Walker and Sasha Cohen, had the distinct ability to contribute comedically to each scene they were in and proved themselves to be memorable additions to the show.

The technical aspects beautifully complemented the work of the actors throughout. The set, designed by Jaylan Enriquez and Libby Doty, beautifully immersed the audience deeper and deeper into the show. The lush greenery of the countryside and the rich wood of Ella's home were painted on mobile set pieces with exquisite attention to detail. Additionally, the lighting, designed by Eleanor Brunsman and Christa Nalda, was well executed. From the green of the jungle in "In My Own Little Corner" to the brilliance of the prince's ball, the lighting accentuated each mood in every scene effortlessly. Finally, the JP Pit Orchestra was impressive. With a student conductor (Padric Brown) and all student musicians, the band was able to play through extremely long interludes without a hitch.

Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's production of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella brought to life a well-beloved classic in a stunning testament to its longevity. With an abundance of energy and fervor from the entire cast, this renewal of a childhood favorite makes you fall in love with the story all over again.

Kara Murri
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

If you had a fairy godmother, what would you dream of? An invitation to the ball? A chance to tell the Prince what you really think of his kingdom? With a little bit of magic, the impossible became possible at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's "Cinderella," offering a night of delightful enjoyment full of heart, mind, and soul.

Rodgers and Hammerstein, the wildly successful writing duo, wrote "Cinderella" for television and as a star vehicle for Julie Andrews, its 1957 airing garnering over 100 million views. The award-winning stage adaptation eventually premiered on Broadway in 2013, with a new book by Douglas Carter Beane, adding his own twist to the classic tale that we all know so well- an evil step-family, a fairy godmother, one charming prince, a glass slipper, and enough magic to enchant every audience member.

Throughout the show, the whole cast possessed a lively ardor. Featuring many operatic voices, such as Jacqueline VonTersch as Marie, the Fairy Godmother, every cast member maintained a near-perfect level of consistency in vocal performances. Clean-cut harmonies, accompanied by an impressive live orchestra, resulted in true magic, like in the number "The Prince is Giving A Ball/ Now Is The Time." Student Jaci Jedrych's admirable choreography, whether folksy or formal, shone during various lighthearted dance breaks.

Madison Perry graced the stage as Cinderella, polishing off the title role with refreshing poise and optimism. Embodying all things bright and beautiful, Perry's emotional sensitivity and gentle disposition lent her character the air of a true princess. During the numbers "In My Own Little Corner" and "Lovely Night", Ella's playful imagination shone through, and in every song her impeccable vocal technique meshed with her melodious voice to render the audience full of wonder.

As His Royal Highness Christopher Rupert, more commonly known as Prince Topher, Richard VonTersch maintained a princely demeanor through his formal physicality and precise intonation. Complementing Perry's voice was VonTersch's rich and resonant tone, which not only charmed Ella but warmed every audience member's heart.

"Actual" sisters Gabrielle and Charlotte (Gabriella Chellis and Meg Dreany) and stepmother Madame (Annaliese Tamke ) served as sources of mockery and delightful physical comedy. Chellis developed her touching character arc commendably, as she found forbidden love with Jean-Michel, portrayed by Andre Morales, a revolutionary who criticized the Prince with vigor and notable passion.

Batting her eyelashes at every turn, prancing across stage, smirking and sneering, stepsister Charlotte was wildly entertaining, and led the hilarious number "Stepsister's Lament," arguably the highest energy number of the show.

One standout performance was Tamke as the evil stepmother. A master of ridicule and landing scalding insults, Tamke's priceless facial expressions, overbearing physicality, and impassioned outbursts created an oddly relatable villain who never failed to elicit chuckles from the audience. When conspiring with Sebastian (Ben Averia), the Prince's aide, the devious duo was truly delightful.

Overall, the technical aspects of this production added whimsy and magic to the narrative. Effective, colorful lighting greatly contributed to the show's atmosphere and reflected its tone. Props and set maintained the make-believe, as with the adorable puppets raccoon and fox. Especially notable was the set, which incorporated large, moving set pieces, an expansive background piece, and painted flats to efficiently transition between scenes.

Ever enchanting and entertaining, Saint John Paul's "Cinderella" made the audience believe in the make-believe, and left the audience with music in their hearts.

Abigail Frankenberg
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

After encountering a serendipitous pumpkin, a crazy old lady, and two glass slippers, the audience at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella was overjoyed to see Cinderella finally get her happy ending.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's story was initially composed for television, and it appeared on a CBS broadcast in 1957, starring Julie Andrews. However, it eventually engendered a 2013 Broadway production and tour featuring Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana.

A comedic take on the renowned Disney story, Cinderella explores the journey of a poor young girl who uses her kindness and strong morals to rise above the harsh conditions at home with her step family, ultimately leading her into the well-intentioned arms of Prince Topher.

With acting choices and a voice just as strong as her character, Madison Perry commanded the stage while playing Ella. She scrambled from her "own little chair" to the ballroom of her dreams and back again in the endearing number "In my own little corner." In addition, she had great chemistry with Richard VonTersch, who played Topher. VonTersch's eager mannerisms and controlled vocals gave him a sense of innocence that the audience appreciated.

Jacqueline VonTersch, who played Marie, also had a stunning voice. She was an audience favorite with her astute and comedic presence, especially in her song "Impossible." She played both a fairy godmother and a crazy old woman impressively, radiating energy as she moved. Meg Dreany shared this refreshing energy in her portrayal of the stepsister Charlotte; her exasperated mannerisms and exaggerated movements raised the stakes for all the actors on stage.

The set, by Jaylan Enriquez and Libby Doty, was gorgeous and efficient, allowing the stage crew to transition smoothly between the castle, the forest, and Ella's home. Eleanor Brunsman and Christa Nalda designed lighting that enhanced the enigmatic and romantic mood of the show, especially in the number "Tonight."

Overall, the cast and crew of Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella transformed a high school auditorium into a venue for magic and excitement, informing the audience that, actually, "anything is possible."

Anna Zakreski
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Lorton Valley Star

Pumpkins into carriages, rags into riches, a classic fairy tale brought to new light. The production of Cinderella at Saint John Paul the Great was a magical show which taught the power of love, kindness, and belief in the impossible.

Cinderella was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein for a television feature in 1957, but was adapted to a Broadway musical, debuting in 2013. Cinderella follows the life of a girl, Ella, who is mistreated by her step family, despite her constant goodness. When Cinderella learns Prince Topher, the charming heir to the throne, is throwing a ball Cinderella earns the help of her Fairy Godmother so she can go to the ball. Cinderella falls in love with the prince who, in turn, falls in love with her and they live happily ever after.

The musical is led by Madison Perry as Ella and alongside her is Richard VonTersch. Perry embodied Ella with truthful, clear, and powerful emotion that let the audience fully connect with Ella. Perry's voice was smooth, strong, and straight out of a fairy tale which further developed the character. VonTersch portrayed Topher with high energy, impressive stage presence that drew the audience's eye towards him. Additionally, VonTersch and Perry exhibited incredible chemistry which was showcased in all of their interaction, particularly in "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Waltz for a Ball"

Exceptional performances were given by Meg Dreany as Charlotte and Annaliese Tamke as Madame. Dreany approached the role of a stepsister with immense energy and commitment to the role. Dreany had the audience constantly laughing, especially in her song "Stepsister's Lament". Tamke created a character the audience loved to hate through her potent characterization and impeccable comedic timing throughout the show. Another standout performance was given by Jacqueline VonTersch as Marie, the Fairy Godmother. Her remarkable, operatic voice elevated the already enchanting character.

Sets, designed by Jaylan Enriquez and Libby Doty, were functional and versatile. The team used periactoids to display the various settings throughout the musical. Additionally, the set team created a moving clock for Cinderella's time limits with magic. The lighting, by Eleanor Brunsman and Christa Nalda, was appropriate and added to the mood of the show through techniques such as using pink light during love scenes and having different color palettes for each character.

The production of Cinderella at Saint John Paul the Great was magical, transporting the audience into the world of the classic fairy tale, while still giving it a unique twist.

Joshua Mutterperl
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Submitted for publication to InsideNoVa-Sun Gazette

Authors and actors alike have retold the story of Cinderella for generations, hoping to capture the magic of the story while still giving it their own personal flair. John Paul High School accomplishes this task as effortlessly as a prince slays dragons in their charming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

This version of Cinderella (composed by Richard Rodgers, original script and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II) was written as a 1957 TV movie starring Julie Andrews, and was soon adapted to the stage, though it wasn't until a 2013 Broadway revival (with a new script and lyrics added by Douglas Carter Beane) that the musical became a unique retelling of classic story of Cinderella. In this show, the meek and kind Ella tormented by her step family still meets a charming prince with the help of a fairy godmother, but there is an additional story line in which Ella's kinder stepsister, Gabrielle, falls in love with a idealistic peasant named Jean-Michel who, with Ella's help, convinces the prince to listen to the poorer members of his kingdom.

Madison Perry as Ella was truly delightful, easily winning over the audience with her lovable reactions and persistent smile. Perry fully committed to every moment of the show, utilizing her movement, facial expressions, and gorgeous vocals to capture the wide variety of emotions her character underwent, from lonely to hopeful to loving. She fit like a puzzle piece with the charming but thoughtful Prince Topher, played by Richard VonTersch. VonTersch perfectly balanced his ability to portray the regalness of a prince with his knack for introspection, creating a dynamic and layered character. Also, VonTersch's rich and powerful bass blended with Perry's soaring falsetto to produce an intoxicating harmony during songs such as "Loneliness of Evening", demonstrating the vocal talent of both these performers.

Ella's step family was an absolute riot, eliciting widespread laughter every time they appeared onstage. Ella's stepmother, Madame (played with consistently hysterical delivery by Annaliese Tamke) masterfully switched between comedic powerhouse and force of cruelty via a dramatic shift in her tone of voice. Charlotte, portrayed by Meg Dreany, took command of the stage with a bold personality, especially during the hilarious number "Stepsister's Lament". Gabriella Chellis beautifully executed the role of Gabrielle, sharing a genuine connection with her stepsister Ella and establishing an adorable relationship with the passionate Jean-Michel, played by Andre Morales.

Jacqueline VonTersch gracefully transformed from the old and humorous Marie to the ethereal Fairy Godmother with a change in her posture and vocal quality, although there was a spirit of fun that linked Marie to the Godmother. Ben Averia brought boundless energy and sass to the role of Sebastian, Topher's adviser, always interacting with every character onstage in a way that was fun and unique to each cast mate.

The entire ensemble was completely engaged in every scene, bringing remarkable energy and variation. Certain groups such as the knights came together to execute the captivating choreography of Jaci Jedrych with unity, hilarity, and style. Additionally, the cast sounded gorgeous together, emphasizing harmonies that worked perfectly with the talented JP Pit Orchestra.

The clever set consisted of boards skillfully painted with scenery that could be flipped to show a new location or removed entirely with ease, allowing for speedy and effective transitions. Attention to details such as a clock with hands that moved and subtle lighting shifts to reflect the mood of each song put the audience in the world of the show.

John Paul High School made use of their enormously talented cast and crew to put on a production of Cinderella that was magical, empowering, and oh-so-much fun!