Music by: Gioachino Rossini
Libretto by: Jacopo Ferretti
Director: David Ronis
Conductor: Oriol Sans
La Cenerentola, Rossini’s operatic version of the Cinderella story, is as hilarious as it is beautiful and enchanting. It features a sublime score filled with memorable tunes and requires a cast capable of bravura singing and comedic acting. Of course, we all know the story: a young girl is forced to serve as a maid in her own home. Her family is cruel to her and treats her like a servant. But along comes a Prince and, with some supernatural help, they are united in love.
Although this version is somewhat different from Disney’s, the net effect is the same. Instead of a stepmother, we have Don Magnifico, Cenerentola’s stepfather. Instead of a fairy godmother, we have Alidoro, the Prince’s teacher/mentor/philosopher. The Prince’s valet, Dandini, also figures largely in the plot when he and the Prince trade clothes to extremely comic effect. Finally, instead of Cenerentola losing a slipper on the steps of the palace, she actually gives the Prince one of two identical bracelets which he uses to ultimately find her.
The UW-Madison production transports the story to southern California in the early 1960s, complete with surfer bums and bouffant hairdos. This family-friendly production is certain to delight!
