Guest Opinion: One spectacular ’Cinderella’
Published 11:25 am Wednesday, May 18, 2016
A critic faces two serious problems when writing a review of the Sequim High School Operetta Club’s spectacular production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”
More than 100 people, each offering unique skills, dedicated literally thousands of hours to bring this show onto the boards. If even one had faltered, had given less than their all, “Cinderella” would be a mere shadow of what it is — a show that would bring a New York audience to its feet.
How do you praise one, or 10 or 20 when each individual success is inextricably tied to the successes of everyone in the company?
Then there’s the “spoiler” issue. How do you bring praise while still keeping the secrets, without unveiling the magic that propels “Cinderella”? This show must be seen naively, without knowing a single surprise in store.
Stunning, yet practical costumes; one enormous prop magically appearing and then navigating as if it were commanding the Carnegie Hall stage; tumblers; a puppet; performers shaking the beams with pipes far more mature than their ages! (Here’s a “spoiler”: one live animal appears. See if you can find her.)
The audience frequently broke into mid-scene applause, surprised — yes, even awed — by the cascade of “moments” unfolding in front of them. The chorus line effortlessly executing simultaneous shoulder-high lifts. Stunning lighting effects unveiled and vanishing with painterly flourishes. Jaw-dropping on-stage costume changes. Lyrics ranging from the wistful to the hysterical. Scenery changes occurring with the speed and efficiency of an Indy 500 pit stop.
One set was operatic in its proportions — heavy, nearly the full width of the proscenium, built to bear thousands of pounds of young lives. It effortlessly appeared — and then vanished. Like a magician topping himself, four scenes later the crew built it again!
I was fortunate to be seated close to two audience members representing the extremes of Sequim’s citizenry. As an elderly gentleman eased into his seat, he asked his wife to give him a nudge if he started to snore. During the performance, he used the edge of his seat more than the back and was first on his feet for the standing ovation.
A little girl in full princess regalia — with tiara! — mostly chose to stand. As the fairy tale unfolded before her, she frequently directed dazzling smiles back toward her mother as if to confirm that she was still in the real world.
I’m confident that in the near future we’ll see road signs identifying the Tony, Emmy and Oscar winners who discovered their talents in the Sequim schools. With modern facilities, with funds to build academic programs, with community support, we also could see signs announcing the Nobel Prize winners, the writers, the inventors, the statesmen who were molded by the Sequim school system.
Think about these kids the next time you vote on a Sequim schools bond issue.
The final performances are May 19, 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. After that, “Cinderella” will disappear into the mists of memory. If you are fortunate enough to see this show, I’ll offer one guarantee: You will never forget it.
Greg Madsen is a Sequim resident and occassional columnist for the Sequim Gazette.
