Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

About the show

Ella, a young woman, lives with her stepmother, Madame, and stepsisters, who have treated her like a servant ever since her father's death. Because she sits by the fireplace and is dirty from the cinders, they ridicule her as "Cinderella". Ella dreams of a better life ("Prologue"). Since the king and queen died when he was young, Prince Topher (short for Christopher) has been advised by Lord Chancellor Sebastian. Though expert at slaying dragons, griffins, gargoyles and giants, he feels uncertain about how he will rule as king ("Me, Who Am I?"); he signs everything Sebastian asks him to. Prince Topher and Ella meet as he is on his way to the palace. She offers him a drink of water, and each admires the other's kindness. Ella then speaks with her friends Jean-Michel, an erstwhile revolutionary, and Crazy Marie, an old woman who lives near the forest and gathers what others throw away. Madame arrives with Ella's stepsisters, the demanding Charlotte and the meek Gabrielle, who has a crush on Jean-Michel that she hides from her mother. Left alone, Ella dreams of a better life ("In My Own Little Corner"). In the palace, Sebastian and his henchman, Lord Pinkleton, remind the Prince that it is time for a Royal Wedding; a masked ball will be held to find him a bride. Jean-Michel yells across the moat that the kingdom's policies are unfair to the Prince's poorer subjects. Pinkleton goes to the town square to announce the ball and finds Jean-Michel rallying the townsfolk to protest the government's taking of peasants' land. The ball proves more exciting to the people than political talk ("The Prince Is Giving a Ball"/"Now Is the Time"). The cottage is a whirl of activity as Madame and stepsisters prepare for the ball. Sebastian plans with Madame to steer the Prince to select Gabrielle as his bride. They leave Ella behind, but Jean-Michel arrives to argue that Prince Topher needs to know more about his people. He teases Ella that she should put on a ball gown and tell Topher about the problems. Crazy Marie jokes with Ella about how life could be better ("In My Own Little Corner" (reprise)). Marie reveals herself to be Ella's Fairy Godmother and transforms a pumpkin and animals into a carriage with a footman and a driver. She turns Ella's rags into a beautiful gown with Venetian glass slippers ("Impossible") and warns Ella that the magic will expire at the stroke of midnight ("It's Possible"). At the ball, the Prince dances with all the young women but finds them lacking ("Gavotte"). Ella arrives in her white ballgown and mask, hiding her identity. She transforms Sebastian's cynical contest of ridicule into one of joy and kindness, fascinating Topher ("Ten Minutes Ago"), and their dance of instant attraction becomes a grand waltz. Ella and the Prince kiss ("Cinderella Waltz"/"Ten Minutes Ago" (reprise)). Too soon, the clock begins to strike midnight. Ella has just enough time to tell the Prince that all is not well in his domain. She races down the steps and loses a shoe but quickly retrieves it and dashes off, leaving the shocked Prince to wonder who she is. The Prince is determined to find the mysterious woman who spoke so honestly about the kingdom. The women of the court, led by stepsister Charlotte, bemoan that the Prince had not chosen any of them to be his love ("Stepsister's Lament"). The Prince and his guards search high and low; almost catching the fleeing Ella ("The Pursuit"). Once again dressed in rags, Ella returns to the cottage and reflects on her wonderful Prince ("He was Tall"). Madame, Charlotte and Gabrielle return in state of dejection. Ella relates what she "imagines" the night at the palace must have been like ("When You're Driving Through the Moonlight"), including dancing with the Prince ("A Lovely Night"). The four have a moment of shared emotion, for once. Left alone with Ella, Gabrielle realizes that Ella was the Prince's partner at the ball. Gabrielle reveals that she is an ally, and also in love with Jean-Michel. They vow to keep their shared secrets ("A Lovely Night" (reprise)). Prince Topher continues his search ("Loneliness of Evening"), gradually realizing that Sebastian had been leading him down the wrong path. He decides to hold a banquet to find the enigmatic young woman ("Announcing the Banquet"). The night of the feast arrives, and Gabrielle gives Ella her dress and invitation to attend. Jean-Michel arrives at the house to confess his love to Gabrielle. However, Madame catches them and also sees Ella in Gabrielle's gown, which she tears to shreds and banishes Gabrielle and Jean-Michel from the house. Madame takes Charlotte to the banquet. The Fairy Godmother produces perfect attire and helps inspire Ella to another frank talk with the Prince ("There's Music in You"). At the palace, Ella, Jean-Michel and Gabrielle tell the Prince how he could be a great king ("Now Is the Time" (reprise)), and he immediately announces an election for a Prime Minister to be held between Sebastian and Jean-Michel. Topher is ready to be a king and knows the partner he needs in love and life ("Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful"). Suddenly, the clock begins to chime midnight. Ella races down the stairs but pauses and purposely leaves a slipper behind. The Prince gives all of the women of the kingdom a chance to try on the glass slipper. Everyone is unsuccessful; Marie urges Ella to return to the palace. Of course, the slipper fits her perfectly. Madame apologizes to Ella for her cruelty, and Ella forgives her and Charlotte ("The Shoe Fits"). Topher asks Ella to marry him, and she happily accepts ("The Proposal"). Gabrielle and Jean-Michel reconcile with Madame. Jean-Michel is elected Prime-Minister, Topher and Ella wed, and they all live happily ever after ("The Wedding").