A review
by Gaylynn Brenoel
OSCODA – With 100 pre-sold tickets for Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Enchanted Edition, the Shoreline Players were pleasantly surprised when another 100 family members and friends arrived to purchase tickets for the opening night show on Nov. 8.
Children and family members of all ages, armed with popcorn and candy, nearly filled the Shoreline Players’ Theatre to capacity to enjoy a nostalgic reenactment of a beloved fairytale.
With a cast and crew of 51, Kathy Carmona directed a dedicated group of actors – ranging in age from 8-74 – in a well-orchestrated and perfectly timed performance. Rex Manning masterfully timed microphones and sound, as well, while April Boje provided color-themed spotlighting to add a magical touch to the entire performance.
The musical delivered an enchanting balance of singing, dancing and dialogue, enhanced by beautiful costumes from the Shoreline Players’ own collection, plus others shared from the Tawas Area High School Drama Club, and the Tawas Bay Players in East Tawas. Sherry Manning designed and created the spectacular Cinderella transition ball gown.
The cast included Maggie Bixby as Cinderella, Patrick Boje as Prince Christopher, Laura Flores as Fairy Godmother and Renee Diener as the comically cruel stepmother. Addison Booth as Joy, and Mackenzie Lamere as Grace, together portrayed the sibling-rivaling stepsisters. Matt Cleary portrayed the king, with Alicia Guerro as queen. Mason Vincenty-Cole made his Shoreline Players’ debut as Lionel, while Katherine Romanczuk portrayed both the cat and a villager in the ensemble. Makenzie Powroznik, Brinlee Eckstrom, Kailyn Talik and Dominic Conley played the delightfully charming mice.
Carmona expressed her gratitude for a dedicated cast and crew who unified for the eight-week rehearsal schedule, which also included loss of a lead actor, and illness-related challenges.
Per Carmona, the entire group came together and added weekend rehearsals so that Boje, a student at Central Michigan University, could learn the role of Prince Christopher and smoothly mesh with the cast. “I love that we have welcomed so many new, talented members into our theater family. Our diverse cast ranges wildly in age and backgrounds, as well as coming from as far away as Alpena and National City.”
“We call our cast and crew our theater family,” stated Sue Miller, producer. “We have a ‘Friendsgiving,’ a Thanksgiving tradition we started last year. We have multiple generations in this show but when they get here, they come together because it’s all about the show.”
Miller explained that Cinderella was selected for this season because, “it is a well-known musical. There are some people here tonight for the first time. Everyone knows what they are getting with Cinderella.”
Based on the thunderous applause from a grateful audience throughout the show, Cinderella, Enchanted Edition provided an entertaining nostalgic evening with family and friends.
Remaining performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14 and 15, as well as at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16.
Adult tickets, which cost $15 apiece, and student tickets, which are $10, can be purchased online at shorelineplayers.org. Tickets are also available prior to the show, from the Shoreline Players’ Community Theater box office, located at 6000 N. Skeel Ave. in Oscoda.