Cinderella, Rodgers and Hammerstein

Subject: Cinderella, Rodgers and Hammerstein
From: leeneia
Date: 09 Apr 20 - 07:22 PM

Are you quarantined, isolated, bored? Do what I just did and watch the 1957 and the 1965 films of Cinderella with music by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

I watched the 1957 show with my family when I was eleven. Two songs from it have followed me around ever since. I loved the singing of Julie Andrews, and the prince was so handsome!

Cinderella's singing in the 1965 show was not as good, but she's a good dancer and has beautiful brown eyes. (I've always had a fondness for big brown eyes.) The second show also had a slightly more rational plot, with the prince and C. meeting before the ball and her being kind to him.

In 1997 Disney did a third version, but I didn't care for it and didn't watch long. The costumes and sets were good, though.

As I said, if you're bored, think about it. It's all on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Cinderella, Rodgers and Hammerstein
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 09 Apr 20 - 09:06 PM

I loved the Leslie Ann Warren version of Cinderella, and their singing is wonderful. But it's difficult for anyone to top Julie Andrews, she is in a class by herself.

Subject: RE: Cinderella, Rodgers and Hammerstein
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Apr 20 - 09:48 PM

I forgot about this. It was a classic indeed. Julie Andrews did it live the first time around, in 1957. I was nine years old at the time, and had a serious crush on Julie Andrews.

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella_(Rodgers_and_Hammerstein_musical)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1F4YhBOA14

Subject: RE: Cinderella, Rodgers and Hammerstein
From: leeneia
Date: 10 Apr 20 - 12:31 PM

Hi, Joe. I think the whole world had a crush on Julie Andrews.

Did you know she was only 19 when 'My Fair Lady' opened? However, she came from a family in the biz, and she was used to being on stage.

Somewhere I have the autobiography of Alan Jay Lerner, who wrote book and lyrics for My Fair Lady and Camelot. Camelot's beginnings were very rocky, and shortly before the opening, Lerner asked Julie if she could handle a completely new song. She replied, "Of course, darling, but could I possibly see it the night before?" What a pro!
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It occurred to me that it would be great fun for the local English Country Dancers to dance to the music of Cinderella's ball, so I've bought the sheet music for the show. I hope the tune I like is in there!

Subject: RE: Cinderella, Rodgers and Hammerstein
From: leeneia
Date: 12 Apr 20 - 02:53 PM

Here's another Cinderella story.

A couple of years ago, our ballet company put on Cinderella with music by Prokofiev. The publicity mentioned that his music for this had not been played here for 40 years, or maybe it was since 1940.

It was a good show, especially since they had men play the evil stepsisters, much to the amazement and delight of all the kids in the audience. But for me, the music fell flat. It seemed dated and peculiar.

That was an eye-opener. How could classical music by a famous composer be crummy? Perhaps it was the music's failure to change moods. It chirped and squeaked, thudded and boomed. Never, IIRC, did it flow or sooth. Even the waltz sounded like it was trying not to sound like a waltz. I'm not surprised that orchestras have lost interest in this ballet.

One thing is great though - when the great clock strikes twelve, it is beautifully ominous. Listening to it, I realized for the first time in my life that if Cinderella does not get out in time, she will be in terrible trouble. For me, that's the best music in the whole show.