A future princess, a prince, an evil stepmother and some loveable mice are coming to Squamish.
The musical Cinderella will take to the Eagle Eye Theatre stage on Saturday.
Based on the 1950 Disney version of the classic rags-to-riches tale, the Squamish performance sticks close to the film version.
“We are licenced by Disney to be performing their version,” said Melissa Braun, the show’s director. “It’s the Disney script and their writers are pretty specific that they require you to stay quite true to their story,” Braun said, adding the characters are quite archetypal, so her focus in leading the acting of the cast was looking at what the characters represent more than looking for deep motivations for their behaviour.
The Squamish Academy of Music and Broadway or Bust cast is a talented group of 17 Squamish youth ages six to 14, Braun said. Her own daughter, Lia, 6, has a role as one of the mice.
Cinderella was chosen for this year in part because it offered a chance for each of the students to showcase their talents, Braun said.
“When I am looking at a script and I can see that there’s a lot of ensemble singing, everyone is going to get a chance to do some singing together as well as the opportunity for some solos for kids who are ready for that,” she said. “We are striving toward a finished product, but it is an educational program.”
The performance stars Erika Wildervanck, 11, whom Braun said is mature beyond her years and exceptionally professional, especially given some of the romantic scenes that can be challenging for young actors.
“She’s just been super-mature and super-lovely,” Braun said. “When you have an actress who comes in with that kind of attitude, it sort of rubs off on those around her and you move into the scenes without a lot of fuss, and everybody follows along with that.”
For her part, Wildervanck said she really likes acting and her solo in Cinderella, but the performance isn’t without challenges.
“I think what’s hard about it is … she is like friendly, good and kind and even though people get mad at her, she is never really upset, she keeps being friendly and it is hard to do that,” said the young actor.
Unlike performances at the end of three-week summer camps, rehearsals for Cinderella have been held weekly, a change that has been both a blessing and a challenge, according to Braun.
“In some ways, they have to take a little more responsibility for themselves when it is stretched out over time because I am not seeing them as regularly, so they have to be reviewing their material in between. So that takes a certain amount of maturity and commitment,” she said.
On the other hand, some performers need time to develop confidence as their character, which the longer preparation time allows, Braun said.
The production team also includes Michelle Bardach.
Costumes are by Karen Yaremkewich and choreography by Amanda Morris.
Squamish Academy of Music’s group classes will also be featured, Braun said.
The performance will be held at Eagle Eye Theatre on Saturday (May 21) at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be bought at the Squamish Academy of Music or at the door.
