Written by orange• October 29, 2025• 8:14 pm• Irvine, Merage JCC, Musical, Review, Uncategorized

Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Enchanted Edition) @ Merage JCC – Review

photo credit: Matt Bobke

Written by Patrick Chavis

Roger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Enchanted Edition) is playing now through November 2, 2025.

Family-friendly with some delightful numbers to boot. This latest endeavor from one of Irvine’s newest theatre companies delivers on many fronts: unique DIY design, magical costume changes, and well-acted sequences.

Story:

This Enchanted version of Roger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is an updated, slightly modernized adaptation created for television audiences in 1997, which starred pop/R&B artist Brandy Norwood as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother.

Even though there were some unfortunate personnel & cast issues on my performance date, the show must go on, and it did so swimmingly. These minor issues did not affect my overall thoughts on the review.

Acting:

The acting in this, from these actors, young and old, produced some wonderful character-driven comedy, whether from the stepsisters, Grace (Paige Zell) and Joy (Samantha Leone), or from a very enthusiastic Will Minton as Lionel.

Vocally, not always consistent and breathy at times. There are more examples of fine singing and projection from this cast, amongst a cast of varied talent levels. This is often a very challenging but rewarding experience, providing a space to learn and improve in the theater through live experience.

Will Milton, who plays Lionel, the princess’s assistant in this production. Milton is so lively in this, and the joy that comes out of his performance is supremely infectious.

Set/Costume:

Scenic design comes from Haven Hanson, 2025 OCR Best Costume & Makeup Winner for JStages’ production of Beauty and the Beast. A large stone archway, with stone-looking statues on the right and left of the stage. A starry sky set in the back of the stage. A floor that looks drawn on with yellows and greens, giving the floor a marbled look.

Throughout, a myriad of colorful curtains, painted backdrops, physical props and structures, and the Pièce de résistance, a magical-looking carriage with moving horses, powered by a bicycle mechanism.

Wow is the word for the costume designs in this show—an immense number of outfits and each with its own style and identity. I would expect nothing less from Hanson, who has shown an aptitude in this department on multiple occasions.

Hilary Mead is superb as the Stepmother, we’ve grown to love as a character but dislike as an actual human being.

A double threat, singing & acting, Katelynn Ostler (Cinderella) holds no punches and delivers on all fronts.

Noah Chin, Prince Christopher, captures the youthful angst we have when parents try to tell us what to do. He’s also very good in the tune “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?”

Classy and look out for that magical costume change, I have no trouble recommending J Stage’s latest offering.