“Cinderella” hit the DGS auditorium stage last week in a shower of glitter and rose bouquets. The musical, adapted from Oscar Hammerstein’s book, was performed for four nights, and despite some mic malfunctions and slightly underwhelming choral performances, I was thoroughly impressed.

As I walked into the auditorium and took my seat, I was immediately wowed by the set. Props to the stage crew (get it?) for creating incredible forest scenery, complete with a starry backdrop and realistic overhanging trees. That’s not even mentioning the glorious pumpkin-turned-carriage, pulled by glittering golden horses. First impression? Definitely impressive.

As the show began, however, I was a little thrown off by the music. The ensemble was drowned out by a lackluster orchestra, and an abundance of mic problems meant that some voices practically broke the sound system while others were barely audible.

Thankfully, after the first few scenes these problems cleared away and allowed an absolutely fantastic cast to showcase their ability. I was drawn in by the evil Madame (senior Vanessa Copeland), hilariously bratty Charlotte (senior Mia Fallara) and the charming Prince Topher (senior Sean McCarthy). These student performers brought the show to life.

Of course, I can’t forget about the stars of the show — junior Jessica Windischman, playing Ella, and senior Lydia Walsh-Rock, playing Crazy Marie, who transforms into the fairy godmother halfway through the show to stupendous applause. Their duet, accompanied flawlessly by the orchestra pit, gave me chills, and their endearing relationship was one of my favorite parts of the musical.

Another highlight of the show was the choreography. The dances performed by the townspeople and knights were really well put-together and added a whimsical touch to the already enchanting performance. These dances were accompanied by flawless orchestral music that seemed almost like a recording, it was that good.
This year’s musical, while it had a slightly rough start, ended up being one of my favorite musical performances to grace the stage at DGS. The music was great, the performers were phenomenal and the stage set each scene perfectly. Unfortunately the musical is over, but the last DGS theater production of the year, The Little Mermaid, will be performed at 6 p.m. on May 26. Don’t miss out.