Review: Cinderella

Hey readers!

It's time for my review of Cinderella. 

"Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella is the exciting new musical comedy starring Carrie Hope Fletcher, set to completely reinvent the world’s best-loved fairytale when it opens in London’s West End in July 2021."

Cinderella is Andrew Lloyd's Webber's newest musical, in what is his first show since School of Rock landed on Broadway in 2015. For this piece, he has chosen to collaborate with lyricist David Zippel, who is best known for his involvement in classic Disney movie musicals such as Hercules and Mulan. The musical score of Cinderella, written by these two musical theatre icons, is simply breath-taking, and may very well be one of the best original scores I have heard in quite some time. It has been a while since the West End has had a home-grown and entirely original musical, but the wait has clearly been worthwhile. There are some beautiful melodies to be found throughout the course of Cinderella, and many of which you are unlikely to forget. In particular, the song 'Far Too Late' is astonishing and proves to be the overall highlight of the entire production. It's a real show-stopper, and Carrie Hope Fletcher's rendition of it is incredible. Beyond that, the lyrics are very touching, and the number even brought a tear to my eye. The excellence of the music cannot be overstated, and it is arguably worth the ticket price alone.

The cast of Cinderella are simply remarkable, and there is not a weak link among them. Each and every one of them have their own special talents, and they are all highly skilled. In the leading role of Cinderella is Carrie Hope Fletcher, who is utter perfection. She has a tremendous voice, and one which is unsurpassable. Her renditions of 'I Know I Have A Heart' and 'Far Too Late' were excellent, and among the best theatrical moments that I have encountered in the past few years. Playing opposite Fletcher is Ivano Turco, making his West End debut as Prince Sebastian. It is beyond belief to imagine that this is Turco's first time on a West End stage, as he appears to be a natural. With charisma, a good singing voice and dancing skills that prove spectacular, he is well and truly a triple threat. Victoria Hamilton-Barritt was similarly excellent as the Stepmother, delivering a characterisation that proved hilarious. Her mannerisms and accent were very well done indeed, and she added a lot of comedic relief to the piece. Rebecca Trehearn is also worthy of a special mention for her excellent portrayal of the Queen. Trehearn had a larger-than-life stage presence and, alongside Hamilton-Barritt, had brilliant comedic timing. Last but by no means least, it is worth noting that Georgina Castle and Laura Baldwin were also striking in their portrayals of Marie and Adele; the two step-sisters.

The costume design, by Gabriela Tylesova, was a particular highlight of the production. Many of the costumes were both colourful and grand, immediately capturing the attention of the audience. Beyond this, the nature of the designs really added to the fairy-tale atmosphere of the piece and made it easier to get lost in the world of the characters. The choreography, by Joann M. Hunter, was also outstanding. There were some exceptional dance numbers throughout, and the ensemble performed them faultlessly. 

Now for my final verdict on Cinderella. I give Cinderella...

Cinderella is the best new musical to hit the West End in quite some time, and its arrival is more than welcome. With a fantastic musical score and an all-round excellent cast, there are very few ways that the show can be faulted.

Think it should have got a higher rating? Agree with my rating? Think it should have got a lower rating? If so comment below.

Thanks for reading!

-The Basic Theatre Reviewer