Stage Review - Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Edmonds Driftwood Players)
Stage Review - Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Presented By: Edmonds Driftwood Players - Edmonds, WA
Show Run: November 21 - December 14, 2025
Date Reviewed: Friday, November 21, 2025 (Opening Night)
Run Time: 2 Hours, 30 Minutes (including a 15-minute intermission)
Reviewed By: Doug Knoop
The tale of Cinderella has quite a history on stage and screen. The Rodgers and Hammerstein version premiered on television in 1957 with Julie Andrews in the title role.
In 2013 “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” premiered on Broadway, and while most of the original songs remained, this new version of the fairy tale featured a new book by Douglas Carter Beane.
This is the version the Driftwood Players are offering as their holiday show, and it is a fun-filled romp, with plenty of color and magic for the entire family.
The changes to the storyline help give the centuries old story a bit of a boost. Director Megan Ruth Smith capably leads us through the tale of a young woman who lives as a servant with her stepmother and stepsisters. Over at the castle, Prince Topher (Ethan Walker) - who is also an orphan - is under the watchful eye of Lord Chancellor Sebastian (Tyler Below).
One of Ella’s stepsisters is now more socially conscious and has a crush on the local revolutionary, Jean-Michel (Alexander Honeycutt). Don’t worry though, there are still helpful animals, a fairy godmother, glass slippers and a glorious ballroom full of swirling gowns, and everything is wrapped up nicely at the end.
All compliments to the men, but this is really the ladies’ show. Tamara C. Ford gives the Stepmother a wonderfully arch and nasty personality, while her “real” daughters (Jessica Hamilton and Lydia Salita) initially seem ready to follow in her footsteps. Anita Cannon starts off as the local crazy woman, but then magically transforms into someone else. And as the lead, Miki Murray perfectly captures the idealism and pluck the role requires.
The hardworking ensemble helps make Anna Doepp and Jesse Stoddard’s choreography and Tom Williams’ set pieces both move smoothly. Shellie Moomey’s costumes are magically transformative.
And of course, there is the wonderful Rodgers & Hammerstein score. I defy you not to leave the theater humming at least one of the memorable tunes (“In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible” and “Ten Minutes Ago” have taken up residence in my brain). A standout for me is the Act II opener when the entire female court, not just the stepsisters, get to belt out “The Stepsister’s Lament.”
So put on your finery and get thee to the palace, where “The Prince is Giving a Ball” and you can savor a colorful bit of magic for the holidays.
The Edmonds Driftwood Players production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella runs on stage through December 14. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org/.
Photo credit: Dale Sutton
