Margot Seibert and James Snyder
Photo credit: Jerry Dalia
Up until that priceless episode on Sex and the City when someone absconded with a pair of very pricey Jimmy Choo shoes left by Sarah Jessica Parker, Cinderella held claim for a few hundred years to the most famous fairy tale. Don't recall if Ms Parker's shoes were ever recovered, but Cinderella and her glass slipper have returned in innumerable versions and variations.
Given the success of the recent witty Broadway reboot of the original 1957 TV musical (Rodgers and Hammerstein), it is a bit disappointing to see that Marcy Heisler (book and lyrics) and Zina Goldrich (music) have come up with a palatable but unexciting score. Although Heisler based her book on the screenplay of the moderately successful film, it is seriously deficient in wit, humor, and most of all, a really dynamic leading character.
The film's idea to give the heroine a brain and a knowledge of the great books including Thomas More's Utopia is a sound basis for her attempt to make the Prince respect her intelligence and as a way to see his role as a leader instead of as a despot. It makes sense to set the story in the Renaissance, an era recognized for its resurrection of classical antiquities. But the book unfortunately lacks muscle and drive, and the direction by the usually inventive Kathleen Marshall seems to be still an assignment in progress. To read the complete review and get more information about performances and tickets please go to http://curtainup.com/asevernj15.html
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