Jester: There’s more to her than meets the eye… I mean, she spends all her time cooking and scrubbing and cleaning and mending; the only rest she ever gets is when they let her sleep among the soot and ashes. Poor thing.
The Disney version of “Cinderella” is iconic, but Danny Hobson, director of the Arts Center of the Ozarks production on stage this weekend, believes “presenting these stories in a new and fresh way is something audiences enjoy.”
“It isn’t the same thing they’ve seen before, and I think that’s exciting for the children to experience.”
This “Cinderella,” adapted by William Glennon, “stays true to the story that everyone knows and loves,” Hobson says, “but the characters themselves add lots of humor to the show. The stepmother and stepsisters play a big part in this version and create lots of hilarity along the way. There’s also the Jester, who quickly befriends Cinderella and shows her that even in the worst of circumstances there’s always something to smile about.”
Fourteen-year-old Abigayle Luttrell says she’s “having so much fun playing the role of Cinderella.”
Abigayle started taking “small acting classes” as a toddler and moved on to community theater when she was in fourth grade.
“I really loved to perform on a stage. That’s something I knew for sure. But when I really think back to what lit a fire in me, it was definitely my first trip to New York City in early elementary school.
My parents, unaware of the incredible impact it would have on me, took me to see ‘Wicked’ on Broadway. That’s when I fell in love with the whole world ofmusical theater.”
Hobson says “there are lots of lessons to be learned from this classic tale.
“Whether it’s good triumphing over evil, or treating people the way you would want to be treated, the story of Cinderella is full of lessons that every child can learn from. Cinderella is a true heroine that teaches us that even in the face of adversity people can still work hard, treat everyone nicely, and hold onto hope that one day their life will be better.”
Whats Up, Pages 14 on 09/27/2013