Russian National Ballet TheatRe - Krannert Center for the ...

synopsisAct I: Cinderella’s HouseCinderella’s stepmother is busily embroidering ascarf she will wear to the palace ball that evening.Cinderella’s father is also in the room, and thestepsisters tease him unmercifully. Cinderella entersand stops them. They turn on her furiously, andher stepmother orders her to clean the room. Thestepsisters drag Cinderella’s father from the room.Cinderella begins sweeping as ordered, takes aportrait of her deceased mother from its hidingplace, and gazes at it longingly. Her father returnsand is overcome with remorse when he sees theresemblance between Cinderella and his first wife.His daughter lovingly tries to reassure him, but theyare dragged apart by the stepsisters, who also snatchaway the picture.Suddenly, the door opens and an old woman enters,begging. The stepmother gives her the picture ofCinderella’s mother to get rid of it, but the beggarwoman sees the resemblance to Cinderella andhands it to her. Cinderella offers the woman somebread, which she accepts and then departs.A dressmaker and wigmaker arrive to adorn thestepsisters for the ball, and a dancing master followswho attempts the impossible task of teaching thestepsisters the rudiments of dancing. The familydeparts for the ball, with the exception of Cinderella,who remains behind. She tries to assuage herloneliness by pretending that the kitchen broom isher partner at the ball, but the pretense is too muchfor her, and she bursts into tears. At this moment, thebeggar woman returns and changes into a beautifulfairy godmother, who transforms the kitchen into aforest, complete with dragonflies swooping amongthe trees.The fairy godmother gives Cinderella a pair of glassslippers, and the fairies of spring, summer, autumn,and winter perform for her, changing the seasonsas they dance. Cinderella’s rags become a beautifulgown, but the fairy godmother shows her a clockand warns her that at midnight, the magic gownwill change back into rags. She then transforms apumpkin and four lizards into a coach and horses,and Cinderella is driven to the ball like a princess.Act II: The PalaceAt the palace, a jester welcomes the arriving guests,who are all somewhat taken aback by the stepsisters.The prince enters and greets the assembly, thengallantly invites each of the stepsisters in turn todance with him, much to the amusement of theguests. At this moment, the ball is interrupted bythe arrival of Cinderella in her coach, and the princeimmediately falls in love with her. The guests areoffered oranges—the rarest food to be had—andwhen one of the stepsisters is left without one,Cinderella gives up her own, without the stepsisterrealizing her identity. While the prince and Cinderellaare dancing together, the clock strikes midnight.Cinderella’s clothes turn to rags, and she rushes fromthe ballroom. The prince cannot restrain her butfinds one of the glass slippers that she has lost in herhaste.Act III: Cinderella’s HouseBack in the kitchen, Cinderella remembers the ball asif it were a beautiful dream but finds the remainingglass slipper in one of her pockets. She quicklyhides it as the stepsisters return, proudly displayingthe oranges the prince gave them. Cinderella’sstepmother announces the arrival of the prince withhis jester and courtiers in search of the owner ofthe glass slipper they bear with them. Each of thestepsisters in turn vainly tries to squeeze an oversizedfoot into the tiny slipper. When the prince noticesCinderella sitting shyly by the fire, he asks her fatherif she may try it on. As she moves to do so, thesecond slipper falls from her pocket. The prince isoverjoyed in spite of Cinderella’s ragged appearanceand asks her to marry him. Cinderella forgives herstepmother and stepsisters for their previous crueltyto her.As the prince returns the glass slipper to the fairygodmother, the kitchen is transformed into a magicglade where Cinderella and her prince dance aromantic pas de deux. The guests return to acclaimtheir new princess at her betrothal.8 9