“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” is now playing at Emerson Colonial Theatre from Dec. 18-30. Come see it! Audiences of all ages are in for a special treat when they go to see this musical.

Opening night was busy and filled with excitement. Some highlights from the show are that this version of “Cinderella” is surprisingly different from other versions of the story. For example, one of the stepsisters follows the stepmother’s evil ways in the beginning, but she has a change of mind when she realizes that her mother is very mean to Cinderella. The stepsister realizes that she doesn’t want to marry the Prince and instead wants to be with John-Michelle. Together, the stepsister and John-Michelle help Cinderella. The stepsister grows a heart and learns about herself and what she really wants.

Another strong difference about the Rodgers and Hammerstein version of “Cinderella” is that the magical use of mice is not as strong. Mice are still a part of the story, however. A raccoon puppet and a fox are used as the leading men that bring Cinderella to the ball. When the puppets come to life, the dancing of the men involves flips, ariels, turns, and leaps in a sensational dance routine.

The Prince also helps Cinderella just as much as she helps him. In the story, the Prince doesn’t know what kindness is. He is following whatever his guardian tells him to do and he doesn’t think how it would impact the people. The Prince doesn’t get a say in how his kingdom is ruled. Cinderella teaches the Prince that he should be in charge and make decisions because it is his rightful place as Prince, soon to be king. She also teaches the Prince to be kind to others by advising him to stop taking people’s land.

Audience members will remember some funny parts. For example, the Prince is so clueless and confused that he seems funny because he wonders what he should do with his life and he just states it out to the audience. He also looks very confused during the show, which seems funny.

Another funny part is at the end of the show. You hear the clock chime midnight and Cinderella waits a couple of seconds and says, “Oh, I’m good,” and the whole audience laughed!

The cast members have quick costume changes. Cinderella’s rags seem to be reversible with her ball gown because the rags disappear when the Fairy Godmother transforms her. It seems like Cinderella had two white ball gowns — one for the quick change on stage and one that fits her better so that she could dance. When Cinderella returns home from the ball, she knows her stepmother cannot see her all dressed up, and magically her arms are thrown up in the air and the ball gown disappears in the fireplace.

One strong theme is to be nice every chance you have. This theme fits the show because at the end of the musical the stepmother says, “Oh, I should have been nicer to you,” and Cinderella replies with, “I forgive you.” This shows that Cinderella is a very kind person, even when people are mean to her.

When you first walk into the Colonial, you can’t help but notice the paintings on the ceiling that are bordered with teal and gold. The Colonial is a little smaller than some of the other theaters in Boston, however what makes the Colonial unique is that the seats and the wallpaper have a light teal to them.

When you arrive at your seat, there is a menu card so that fans can order drinks, adult beverages, and snacks to be delivered through an app during the preshow or during intermission. The app is called Ordertorium with a motto of “You sit, We serve.”

If you love dance and excitement, get yourself to the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston to see “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” Don’t miss it while it’s here!

(“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” is at Emerson Colonial Theatre through Dec. 30, 2108. For more information or to buy tickets, go to http://www.emersoncolonialtheatre.com/calendar/rodgers-hammersteins-cinderella/.)

–Dec. 19, 2018–