TOM TITUS -- Theater Review

Theatergoers who have seen “Into the Woods” (the current attraction at

Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse) a few times and are thirsting for a more

traditional Cinderella story can avail themselves of the glittering

original at the Orange County Performing Arts Center through Sunday.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” a hipper version of the

classic fairy tale etched into children’s theater history decades ago by

a fellow named Disney, is a show calculated to enchant the youngsters

while entertaining their parents. Director Gabriel Barre has mounted a

joyous production, bubbling over with eye-catching special effects and

animated puppetry that sustain the magical theme.

Eartha Kitt, still kittenishly sensual in her 70s, headlines the show

as the fairy godmother (even though her part is a tenth the size of the

title role). Kitt offers that familiar throaty voice that crooned “Santa

Baby” a half-century ago and presents an imposing, no-nonsense benefactor

who weaves her magic without benefit of a wand. Her agility, considering

her years, is remarkable.

The show’s Cinderella, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, may be familiar to many TV

viewers as a Soprano. Here, she’s a lowercase soprano who charms the

audience from the outset after a chance meeting with the prince in the

public square. This gives rise to “The Sweetest Sounds,” a song Richard

Rodgers also employed in his 1962 musical “No Strings,” but which fits

more comfortably in “Cinderella.”

Sigler’s lithe presence and splendid vocal talent elevate the fairy

tale to a lustrous level, fleshing out the scullery maid cringing before

her overbearing stepmother and stepsisters. Her ballroom scene with the

prince -- earnestly enacted by Paolo Montalban -- bears a welcome touch

of realism that shines through all the magic.

The stepmother and stepsisters generally are quite uglified, but this

production takes tradition one better by casting a male actor in drag

(Everett Quinton) as the stepmom. Quinton milks all the juicy physical

comedy available from his gravel-voiced character, and his facial

contortions are priceless.

The sisters -- here given the ironic names of Joy and Grace -- are

equally outlandish. Alexandra Kolb’s woebegone Joy possesses a horse

laugh akin to Jay Leno’s buddy Angela Ramos. The graceless Grace of

NaTasha Yvette Williams, nervously scratching herself through the ball,

is somewhat overdone but a hoot nevertheless.

Ken Prymus and Leslie Becker deliver solidly likable performances as

the king and queen, anxious to get their son married so they can start

spoiling their grandchildren. Brooks Ashmanskas deftly swipes his scenes

as the royal steward, the fellow who really gets things done.

Animation -- four mice, a cat and a bird -- is achieved by onstage

puppeteers who give their “characters” such sprightly personalities that

they themselves fade, as intended, into the background. It’s an

interesting, and heretofore unseen, gimmick that enhances the fairy-tale

aspect of the show.

Modernization is evident throughout. Phrases such as “same old, same

old” are used liberally and racial mixing (the royal family, the

stepsisters) is accomplished without many eyebrows being raised. Kitt

presents a very with-it fairy godmother, cutting to the chase with a

minimum of ceremony.

Musical director Andrew Lippa and choreographer Ken Roberson keep the

production light and magical, and the finale is literally gowned in

glitter. This is a “Cinderella” for the entire family, especially the

little princesses in their formal gowns and tiaras spotted at the Center

on opening night.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.

FYI

WHAT: “Cinderella”

WHERE: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa.

WHEN: 8 p.m. today through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and

7:30 p.m. Sunday

COST: $22-$57

TICKETS: (714) 556-2746