Written by orange• October 21, 2025• 6:36 pm• Costa Mesa, Musical, Review, Uncategorized, Vanguard Uni

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella Enchanted Edition @ Vanguard University – Review

Written by Daniella Litvak

Cinderella is a classic story. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II are musical theater legends. Put the story and legends together, and what do you have? You have Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella – a fun, sweet musical.

Story:

The basics of a Cinderella story are accounted for in the show. At a very young age, Cinderella (Arabella Chrastina) loses her mother. Her father passes away shortly thereafter – leaving Cinderella at the mercy of her Stepmother (Julia Flores) and stepsisters, Grace (Faith Horne) and Joy (Grace Carbonetti-Norton). For years, Cinderella has been abused and mistreated. Then one day comes an announcement. Prince Christopher (Jordan Fan) is giving a ball. Will Cinderella’s wish to go to the ball be granted?

A common complaint about fairy tales is that the romantic elements often feel rushed and forced. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella gives the romance between Cinderella and Prince Christopher a lot of focus. Perhaps too much emphasis is given to the romance. While it’s a sweet story, it can make the show feel tonally monotonous.

Acting:

Charastina plays the part of Cinderella. She conveys Cinderella’s grace and kindness. She also gives us hints of Cinderella’s more mischievous, playful side in her performances of “In My Own Little Corner” and “A Lovely Night.”

The comic relief characters are scene-stealers. Horne and Norton’s performance of “Stepsisters’ Lament” – a song about the stepsisters expressing their frustration over Prince Christopher not noticing them – was a highlight. If you can, get an aisle seat because the under-the-breath comments Horne made when descending down the stairs were the funniest moment of the night. Dylan Thomas Cranford as Lionel, the royal steward, led the ensemble in a fun performance of “The Prince Is Giving a Ball.” His snarky way of shutting down Stepmother’s advances further endeared him to the audience.

Set/Costume Design:

The set design hews to the fairy tale aesthetic. Physical set pieces are used sparingly but effectively. Even small details like the flowers on stage and the twinkle lights added a lot of beauty. I appreciated that the digital backdrop was not static. Its movement provided a sense of action and urgency during a key sequence.

The costumes were gorgeous. They were bright and glittery. You don’t mind the ballroom sequence lingering because you get to watch all the pretty ball gowns swirl to the music. Even the stepsisters’ tacky looks were delightful to see. The hair and makeup did a good job of complementing the looks. I especially liked how the butterfly-inspired makeup for Fairy Godmother (Kendra Barnhart) took inspiration from the dress.