Braidwood Central School’s production of Cinderella and the Glass Slipper proved a delight for crowds earlier this month.
A trio of narrators laid out a roadmap of doubt asking: is this another rags-to-riches tale, or could this be the misunderstood step-mother’s story?
They concluded it was the audience’s job to decide, and if not for the post-funeral furore of Haddie Davies’ villainous Step-mother and the Ugly Step-sisters, we might have been fooled.
As Cinderella, Georgia Garcia was a graceful protagonist. Her vocal performance shone alone and among the chorus of mice. Cinderella was the perfect counterbalance to Jesse Kay’s spoilt Prince, who maintained an almost continuous exuberance. Even so the hapless Prince still managed to lose his best chance at placating the King and Queen, and after 'The Bachelor' fiasco, their patience with his courting failures waned fast.
By the time Aneka Jones’ vaudevillian Fairy Godmother emerged, the audience was immersed in the quick-paced narrative, delighted by the 3M chorus and mesmerised by the emerging solo stars and ensemble skills of the BCS Company.
The cast was again supported by a growing junior crew of lighting and live sound technicians, gaffers and grips; the student-led art department provided for props, set design and fabrication, wardrobe, hair and make-up; and the narrative was amplified by the inclusion of the BCS Concert Band, which performed a score arranged to create an opportunity for a large ensemble.
BCS high school choreographers workshopped the movement and tirelessly rehearsed with the primary, resulting in lively dance scenes. The show was complemented by the P&C fielding donated baked goods.
