When it comes to singing and dancing, I am more of a singer, mainly because I can relate to music more and I find myself less stressed when I have background music running while completing homework. Although I am not a theatre and performing fanatic, I have been continuously impressed by FHC’s Theatre Department. 

This past weekend, I attended Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, which was offered Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and 3:00 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, only 10$ per ticket. 

When it comes to Disney fairy tales such as Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty, there is always a lesson to learn—so when I heard that this year’s musical would be a version of Cinderella, it really got me thinking about how this year’s play would turn out. 

Within the first ten minutes of the musical, it was nothing like I thought it would be; in fact, it was better and exceeded 100% of my expectations. The play starts out with green drapes falling from the ceiling and introduces Ella, played by senior Grace Hudkins. 

As any Cinderella story goes, Cinderella loses her father and has to live with her evil stepmother and two stepsisters who treat her like a peasant. She washes their dishes, can only eat their leftovers, and has to put their needs first before hers, even if that results in her getting no sleep. All of this somehow leads her to meet her future husband and the man that everyone in the town swoons over—Prince Topher, played by senior Logan Verlinde.

Although this musical checked off all of those plot points, what made it so unique from the past musicals was the added humor, which made the outcome more surprising and astounding. Astounding dialogue only added to the suspense. 

One of these surprising components was that this musical had one piece that I have never even seen in a musical: a kiss—well, actually four kisses, which only added to the admiration that Cinderella had for Prince Topher.

The fluid movements of set pieces and backdrops only added to the magic. This enchantment was created and executed by the stage crew incredibly, and the emotion and passion they added to each scene was astounding.

If I had to choose one scene that was my favorite out of the entire two-hour musical, it would be the scene where Cinderella would normally run off, not realizing her shoe fell off, and the Prince is supposed to follow her to figure out the mystery of whose foot fit the shoe. Instead, Cinderella runs off, then comes back on stage and places the shoe on the ground. After she leaves, Prince Topher grabs the shoe and gasps, leaving the audience chuckling.

If anyone thinks about attending productions that the FHC Theatre puts on, I highly recommend it because not only are you supporting your school, but if you see someone that you know featured in the show, it feels rewarding to know that you took the time out of your day to get out of the house to watch their production that they put all their blood, sweat, and tears into.