Here is the TRN review, published February 1:

‘Cinderella’ perfect fit
Jennifer Vaughn, Alec Dockery shine in lead roles of Backdoor Theatre’s musical

By Lana Sweeten-Shults
Thursday, January 31, 2008

With Backdoor Theatre’s production of Rodger and Hammerstein’s musical version of “Cinderella,” the glass slipper fit.

That fine fit owes itself in large part to the production’s charmed leads.

Jennifer Vaughn in the lead role brings that Cinderella enchantment to life, thanks to her sweet, silver-toned voice that somehow conveys that kindness, innocence and sense of hope that every girl imagines Cinderella to have.

Vaughn has played smaller roles in other Backdoor plays before. This is her first big lead, and she really shines in the part.

Alec Dockery as the Prince is everything a Prince Charming should be — dreamy and enchanting, and he, too, does not falter when it comes to his singing.

Besides the leads, the fairy-tale musical, which opened with a preview Thursday night, boasts a few scene-stealers, too, namely the bombastic Jamie Morgan as spoiled stepsister Portia, sour-faced Janette Perry as fellow spoiled sister Joy and Linda Frischer as the ridiculously full-of-herself stepmother.

The downside to Thursday night’s production, though, is that the play didn’t get quite warmed up until the much more delightful second half, when the magic really starts to happen.

Everyone should know the story of “Cinderella,” the fairy tale about the kind and beautiful cinder girl who is treated as maid by her cold-hearted stepmother and churlish stepsisters.

They are off to the ball one night, given by the King (Henry Petrosian), Queen (Stephenie Koontz) and the Prince. They leave poor Cinderella behind to dream of how wonderful it would be if she were at the ball, too.

Luckily, her fairy godmother (Michelle Corazao) lends a little magic to the scene, and Cinderella makes it to the ball, where she and the Prince fall in love. But at the stroke of midnight, the magic fades and Cinderella must return to her life far from the castle and the prince.

The magic in this production, at least Thursday night, is in its second act, where everyone seemed to blossom, particularly Dockery, who holds back at first and then just gains more charisma and confidence as he goes along. He and Vaughn bring down the house in the very romantic “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful.”

The stepsisters (Morgan is my favorite sister in the show) have their shining moment in the second act, too, singing “A Lovely Night.” Even still, they could go even more over the top than they do.

Beyond the fine cast, the musical also owes its success to an eye-wowing set by Judy Braddy, and to musical direction by Karen Lamberth and choreography by Reggie Milam.

Director Larry Sharp keeps this production crowd-pleasing, from those ridiculous stepsisters to that romantic “Do I Love You” scene.

The right fit, indeed.


Don’t miss it

What: “Cinderella”

Where: Backdoor Theatre, 501 Indiana, downtown

When: Tonight and Saturday, as well as Feb. 7-9 and Feb. 14-16. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Tickets: $15, $13 and $11