Cinderella tale gets new twists

It’s designed to give the story more relevance while retaining its magical elements.

FMT’s production does just that with some ingenious stagecraft along with some fine performances.

Christina Lea plays the title character, here called Ella, who’s little more than a servant to her self-centered stepmother, Madame (Jasmine Johnson) and stepsisters, Gabrielle (Melissa Gialdini) and Charlotte (Gwyneth Forrester).

Despite their disregard, Ella is a kind person, as evidenced by giving water to the prince, Topher (Edward Clark), and money to the beggar woman known as Crazy Marie (Angela Ceseña).

Soon to become king, Topher is urged by his evil advisor, Sebastian (Vic Prosak), to throw a ball and choose a bride from the eligible women there.

Ella’s family is all aflutter with preparations for the party, and Ella is left behind. She wishes she could go, for she had been smitten by the prince.

Transformed into her fairy godmother, Marie grants her wish, adorning her in a lovely gown and glass slippers and transforming a pumpkin into a fine carriage drawn by four man-sized mice.

The one caveat is that Ella must leave by midnight because everything will return to its original form then.

All goes well at the ball, but she runs off at midnight, thus causing the prince to order a search for her.

In one of the new twists, he can’t find her, so he decides to try one more time by giving a banquet. Again the fairy godmother comes through, but this time Ella loses a glass slipper as she flees at midnight.

Of course the prince eventually finds and marries her, but not before getting out from under Sebastian’s influence.

Instead he’s moved by Ella and Jean-Michel (Jomar Martinez), a new character in the traditional story. Jean-Michel is a rebel who decries the cruel treatment of his fellow townspeople. The prince vows to improve their lot.

There are some other new twists, such as a budding romance between Jean-Michel and Ella’s stepsister Gabrielle. Gabrielle also correctly surmises that the mystery woman at the ball was Ella and becomes her ally.

Directed by Foothill’s Milissa Carey, the acting overall is fine, especially by the women. Jasmine Johnson as Madame deserves special mention for her strong stage presence as well as her good singing.

Lea as Ella and Ceseña as Marie also sing well under the musical direction of Daniel Feyer. Everyone else is at least adequate although Clark as the prince has some pitch problems.

Choreography is by Lee Ann Payne.

Kudos go to Lisa Rozman, who designed the colorful costumes, especially those that transform Ella and Marie.

Running about two hours with one intermission, “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” will continue through Aug. 4 in Foothill College’s Smithwick Theatre, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills.

For tickets and information call (650) 949-7360 or visit foothill.edu/theatre.