Belgium-based Music Hall's new retelling of the Cinderella tale is high-quality entertainment for families. A great cast of talents sang, acted and danced beautifully around simple but detailed sets, filling up the huge RWS Theatre stage with lots of energy. This production, directed by Karina Mertens with mostly original music by Ad van Dijk and Matt Dunkley, was first produced in Belgium where it was a hit. The version now playing in Singapore has its lyrics translated to English from its original Flemish. Its a mish-mash of cultural references, starting from its fairytale scenery to its dance numbers in pop and jazz styles, punchlines referencing British royalty and a fiery ending that is reminiscent of Don Giovanni.
The Cinderella story holds no surprises for its viewers, and this retelling is mostly faithful to what we know (from Disney or elsewhere). While lots of physical humour kept the audience entertained, what sets this production apart its focus on the protagonist's relationship to her Mother. This time, 'Mama' (played by Deborah de Ridder) is no mere passing whisper but is an active participant of the plot in a spiritual form. Her exchanges with Cinderella (or Louise in this production, played by Charlotte Campion) is the true heart of the show.
