Cinderella

Rowan Alfred - November 2016 - Priory Centre

Cinderella, whose beloved father has died, takes care of the home of her ill-tempered and selfish stepmother and stepsisters. She carries all of their shopping parcels for them, but longs for a life better than the one she is living. Daydreaming, she bumps into the prince, who is disguised as a civilian. They immediately hit it off, but are interrupted before long as the royal steward enters and proclaims: “The Prince Is Giving a Ball”. The ladies of the kingdom are thrilled at the prospect of meeting him, none moreso than Cinderella’s wicked stepmother and stepsisters. When they return home, all three order Cinderella about. Left alone in her corner near the fire, she dreams of living an exotic life as a princess or anything other than a servant. As Cinderella’s stepsisters get ready for the Ball, hoping that they will catch the Prince’s eye, they laugh at Cinderella’s dreams, destroying her late mother’s dress in the process. Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother appears and, persuaded not by Cinderella’s wishes and dreams, but instead by her determination to attend the ball, regardless of the situation, transforms her tattered clothes into a beautiful dress, and a pumpkin into a carriage. Cinderella, without a moment to lose, leaves for the ball.

The Prince has been bored by the attention of all the young ladies with whom he has had to dance, including the stepsisters. Cinderella’s grand entrance immediately attracts everyone’s attention and intrigues the Prince. They dance together and instantly fall in love. As they share a kiss, the clock begins to strike midnight, and Cinderella flees before the magic wears off; but in her haste, she drops a glass slipper. The next day the Prince searches for the beauty with whom he danced, and who fled so quickly from the Ball. His steward tries the slipper on all the women of the kingdom. At Cinderella’s house, the slipper will not fit any of the ladies. Cinderella’s stepmother tries to steer them away from Cinderella, however he suddenly realises that she is both the girl he met in the town square, and the girl he danced with at the ball. He tries the slipper on and, it fits.