Synopsis |
In a far away land, a regal queen sings
of her "royal-highnessty" from the dynasty of Richard Coeur de Leon;
and how, like a bold eagle, she looks down on the lowly plebeians. Her
husband, the king, who himself is quite hard of hearing and approaching
senility, defers to his most capable spouse in all matters, including
how to handle their son. The young prince suffers from a strange malady
that has caused him to lse his voice, which can only be restored by
the sound of the voice of his true love. The king's herald is henceforth,
dispatched into the country side to announce a royal ball.
On
his journey, the herald discovers a farmhouse, in which lives a proud
old widow and her pair of repulsive daughters. Unwanted and forgotten
is the poor innocent stepchild Cinderella, who is left alone to do all
the work and to cry and cry. In true fairy tale fashion, Cinderella's
fairy godmother appears and suggests that maybe she will get to kiss
the prince.
Cinderella busily readies her stepmother and
stepsisters for the ball. Upon their departure, the fairy godmother
returns, transforms Cinderella, and tells of the infamous midnight
warning.
At the ball the queen tries in vain to convince
the prince that his condition is simply laryngitis. The members of the
stepfamily use their unique charms to persuade the prince to speak to
no avail. Finally, Cinderella arrives and meets the prince who immediately
finds his voice and proposes marriage. They pledge their love while
the stepsisters curse, the king congratulates, and the queen jubilates
The herald announces the dance, and the festivities go on until midnight
approaches. After a tender and unexpected goodbye the chime sounds and
Cinderella flees, leaving behind only a single glass slipper.
For months the prince wanders seeking Cinderella. In his travels he
consults with three wise hermits, each of which offers incomprehensible
advice. Finally, at the urging of the fairy godmother, the prince asks
his father the king, to send the herald across the countryside in search
of the woman whose foot will fit the discarded glass slipper.
Upon re-visiting the old farmhouse, the herald discovers Cinderella, who
successfully tries on the glass slipper. The step-family finds the
situation to be hopeless and miserable, but Cinderella brings them along,
as they return to court.
As the Prince and Cinderella are
re-united, the hermits each take a member of the step-family in marriage,
which prompts the king to pronounce a national holiday. The Herald feels
left out until the Fairy Godmother appears and declares him to be her
honey lamb.
...and they all lived happily ever after! |
Special Thanks |
Lauren Hines and Opera Columbus, Marilyn Stocker and Hildegard of
Licking County Players, Allyson Jacobs, Andy Carlson, Pam Hughes, and
Sheldon and Marilyn MacLeod for their ongoing generous support of this
program |
