''The Slipper and the Rose – The Story of Cinderella'' is a musical theatre retelling of the classic fairy tale ''

Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...

''. Originally made as a musical film, the stage version was created in 1984 by Philip Burley. It runs for approximately two and a half hours over two acts and an intermission.

Plot

Based on the original Cinderella

fairy-tale A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful beings. In most cult ...

, the story revolves around a central theme of

love Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love o ...

between Prince Edward of Euphrania and Cinderella. There are also elements of

wish fulfillment A wish is a hope or desire for something. In fiction, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used. In fiction In fiction a ...

notably conveyed through the character of the

Fairy Godmother In fairy tales, a fairy godmother () is a fairy with magical powers who acts as a mentor or parent to someone, in the role that an actual godparent was expected to play in many societies. In Perrault's ''Cinderella'', he concludes the tale wit ...

. The story begins with Edward's unsuccessful search for a bride and ends with love fulfilled as Prince Edward and Cinderella marry. The plot contains many elements from the well known Cinderella story (a bride-finding ball, fitting the slipper for example), with additional twists (a betrayal).

Characters

* Cinderella * Prince Edward * the Stepmother * the King * the Queen * the Dowager Queen * the Fairy Godmother * the Lord High Chamberlain * John, the Prince Edward's valet and friend * the Duke of Montague, cousin to the Prince * Isobella, Stepsister * Palatine, Stepsister

Synopsis of Scenes

;Act I * Prologue - Graveyard/Palace stable yard * Scene 1 - Interior of Cinderella's House * Scene 2 - Interior of Palace * Scene 3 - Graveyard * Scene 4 - Cinderella's Kitchen * Scene 5(a) - Field * Scene 5 - Interior of Palace * Scene 6 - Hallway of Cinderella's House * Scene 7(a) - A Bedroom at the Palace (insert) * Scene 7(b) - Interior of Dress Shop (insert) * Scene 8 - Cinderella's Kitchen * Scene 8(b) - Fairy Godmother's Hideaway (insert) ;Act II * Scene 1 - Interior of Palace * Scene 1(b) - Field * Scene 2 - Hallway of Cinderella's House * Scene 3 - Interior of Palace * Scene 3(a) - Street * Scene 4 - Interior of palace * Scene 5 - Field * Scene 5(a) - A Bedroom at the Palace (insert) * Scene 6 - Interior of Palace * Scene 7 - Faraway * Scene 8 - The Cathedral

Songs

* Overture * "Why Can't I Be Two People?" * "What Has Love Got to Do With Getting Married?" * "Once I Was Loved" * "What a Comforting Thing to Know" * "Protocoligorically Correct" * "Bride-Finding Ball" * "Suddenly It Happens" * "The Slipper and the Rose Waltz Theme" (an instrumental version of "He Danced With Me") * "Secret Kingdom" * "He Danced With Me/She Danced With Me" * "Position and Positioning" * "Tell Him Anything (But Not That I Love Him)" * "I Can't Forget the Melody" * "Secret Kingdom (Reprise)"

Productions

United Kingdom

Epsom Light Opera Company staged the premiere of the musical from 10 to 14 October 2000 at Epsom Playhouse, directed by Philip Burley. Later UK productions have included stagings in 2001 by the Bilston Operatic Company in

Wolverhampton Wolverhampton () is a city, metropolitan borough and administrative centre in the West Midlands, England. The population size has increased by 5.7%, from around 249,500 in 2011 to 263,700 in 2021. People from the city are called "Wulfrunians ...

, in May 2008 at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall, in April 2011 at the

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

Theatre Royal, and in November 2013 by BOST Musicals at the

Liverpool Empire Theatre The Liverpool Empire Theatre is a theatre on the corner of Lime Street in Liverpool, England. The playhouse, which opened in 1925, is the second one to be built on the site. It has the largest two-tier auditorium in the United Kingdom and can ...

North America

United States

The musical was given its US premiere in February 2005 at the Hale Center Theatre in West Valley City, Utah. A production ran in November to December 2008 at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse in Tacoma, Washington.

Canada

''The Slipper and the Rose'' was staged in 2011 by Productions Coracole at the Beaubois Theatre in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...

, Quebec."Family Musical ''Daisy and the Wonder Weeds'' Debuts at Productions Coracole Today"
BroadwayWorld.com, 19 April 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2019

References

External links

*
Information from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA)

York Theatre Royal

Les Productions Coracole (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
website showcasing their recent presentation of ''The Slipper and the Rose''.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Slipper And The Rose (Musical), The 1984 musicals Fantasy theatre Musicals based on films Musicals based on works by Charles Perrault Musicals by the Sherman Brothers Plays based on fairy tales Works based on Cinderella