18 - STEPPING OUT Jackson Hole News&Guide, Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Ashley Wilkerson photos
Jeff Bratz, seated, playing one of the wicked stepsisters, tries to make the shoe fit in the annual Dancers’ Workshop holiday production, which this year is based on the “Cinderella” fairy tale.
Magical movement Dancers are on their toes in adaptation of ‘Cinderella’ that continues Friday, Saturday. By Emma Breysse
W
hile most dancers in “If The Shoe Fits: An Original Adaptation of Cinderella” are students, the performance avoids the “A for effort” feel of your garden-variety recital. In fact, the Dancers’ Workshop winter performance has more to offer than the majority of amateur shows out there. There are three more opportunities to catch the delightful production: 7:30 p.m. Friday and 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday in the Center Theater at the Center for the Arts. The show follows the basic plot of the classic fairy tale “Cinderella,” but includes enough characters, dancing styles and personality to give even the most die-hard princess fan something new to see. “If The Shoe Fits” assumes audiences are familiar with the source story and so is light on background. It might be worth a preparatory read-aloud to explain the otherwise unexplained dysfunctional family dynamic in the Cinderella household to less fairytale-literate little ones. While stepmother Ariella Spence does well at portraying a formidable villainess and stepsisters Jeff Bratz and TarZan Campbell’s self-centered buffoonery is delightful, a frame of reference for their abusive behavior is definitely useful. The majority of viewers who know the tale well will be able to enjoy the unique ways Dancers’ Workshop uses its depth of talent to bring it to life in a surprisingly fresh way. Along with the required characters, dancers of
Character Actor Cinderella Savannah Dennis Cinderella’s Dog Noelle Huser Principle Mice Inez Brunson, Maddie Peck Bluebirds: Anna Bowdler, Sydney Bryan, Sadie Larsen, Bean Shindell Ladybugs: Josie Berry, Jordan Davis, Kay Evans, Tisha Gavitt Wicked Stepmother Ariella Spence The Stepmother’s Cat Sara VanHatten Wicked Stepsisters Jeff Bratz, TarZan Campbell Queen’s Servants Quinn Liljestrom, Riley Liljestrom Cameo Mouse Dec. 7-8: Paschall McDaniel Dec. 14-15: Arielle d’Arge Prince Golden Garnick Queen Ruby Jones Duchess Bella Wood Duke Andrew Munz Constable Caitlin Dunlop Vendors in town: Sutton Bryan, Abby Trott, Sydnie Wilcox Villagers: Stormy Dawson, Emma Hauptman, Morana Lundquist Citizens: Ashlyn Fadala, Lucy Harger, Skyler LaRosa, Zoya Lavroushin, Charlotte Lee, Kristina Macleod, Jacqueline Neishabouri, Chloe Stines
Savannah Dennis is Cinderella and Golden Garnick is the Prince in Dancers’ Workshop’s annual holiday show, “If the Shoe Fits,” continuing this weekend.
all ages play animals, fairies, wood nymphs and village citizens. The workshop’s youngest dancers even make appearances in various scenes to add an element of just plain adorable to the mix. Senior dancers Savannah Dennis and Samantha
Who’s who in the shoes
Adult townspeople: Alex Bontecou, Marissa Carr*, Natalia Duncan*, Megan Stewart*, Holly Wooldridge* Coachman Xavier Dyess Fairy Godmother Samantha Stuck Fairy Godmother’s personal assistant Merrill Pomeroy Couture dressers: Marissa Carr*, Cady Cox*, Heidi Ramseur*, Carrie Richer*, Holly Wooldridge* Sewing Mice: Hailey Barlow, Annie Estes, Emma Hawks, Caroline Kucera, Sofie Thompson Little Mice: Dec. 7-8: Avery Binstadt, Lane Brazell, Biz Carlin, Zoe Fuentes, Stella Janssen, Avery Kyle, Paschall McDaniel, Taylee Woolley Little Mice: Dec. 14-15: Arielle d’Arge, Alexandra Gingery, Ellie Hill, Grace Meadows, Riley Pearce, Isabelle Suske, Avery Taylor Woodland Nymphs: Dylan Anderson, Sydney Bryan, Hailey Wilkinson Pixies: Josephine Campbell, Isabella Gwilliam, Anushka Olvera Summer Fairy Sadie Larsen Dragonflies: Kate Frederick, Morgan May, Natasha Muromcew, Annika Peacock, Madeline Webb Autumn Fairy Caitlin Dunlop Principle Leaves: Quinn Liljestrom, Riley Liljestrom Leaves: Cannon Daverin, Quinn Ellingson, Rachael Harrower, Macie McCormick, Nikita Muromcew, Mac Needham
Stuck both turned in strong performances during opening night Friday as Cinderella and the fairy godmother. Stuck in particular brought animation and an almost cheeky character to what easily could have been a one-note role. But perhaps the strongest parts in the show are the scenes that feature the four main animal roles. Cinderella’s dog (Noelle Huser), the stepmother’s cat (Sara VanHatten) and two principle mice (Inez Brunson and Maddie Peck) anchor several scenes unique to Dancers’ Workshop’s show. A scene featuring all four main animals at home without the human characters and a scene where Cinderella’s mouse and bird friends sew her a dress to wear to the ball are two of the most enjoyable segments in the production. VanHatten slinks and smirks her way to a pitchperfect portrayal of an evil cat to the point where you wonder how a spine could be inside her. Peck’s clowning in contrast to straight-man Brunson brings some of the best laughs of the night. And Peck and Brunson help to anchor what can be a dizzying array of dancers by the time every single mouse makes its appearance. On the opposite end of the scale, a scene where a host of fairies dances for Cinderella in an enchanted wood is a masterpiece of atmosphere. Four fairies, each representing one of the four seasons, perform the dance then give Cinderella gifts that transform into pieces of her ball gown ensemble. For sheer force of personality and obvious technical skill, Bella Wood’s royal duchess was the highlight of the show’s palace scenes Friday night. The duchess, along with the king and queen, are instrumental in forcing a reluctant prince (Golden Garnick) into attending the royal ball. There are no real weak points in “If The Shoe Fits,” just plenty of brilliant moments and much for both adults and children to enjoy in a show that from start to end is a lot of fun to watch.
Anna Bowdler Winter Fairy Snowflakes: Sydney Clark, Megan Dufault, Brynn Jennings, Elsa Knoke, Kiva McConaughy-Munn, Hallie Wilcox Spring Fairy Bean Shindell Bumblebees: Dec. 7-8: Mia Brazil, Donna Farag, Tille Gavitt, Edie May, Madeleine Moore, Lucy Sullivan Bumblebees: Dec. 14-15: Megan Brown, Clara McGee, Becca Moll, Ila Musclow, August Otto, Sydney Smith, Hanne Somers Horses: Emily Fairbanks, Nancy Marquina, Cecelia Gwilliam, Annalise Zabriskie Driver Josh Ramseur Jesters: Annie Estes, Emma Hawks, Caroline Kucera Ladies at the Ball: Marissa Carr*, Cady Cox*, Liz Martinez, Heidi Ramseur* Gentlemen at the Ball: Kyle Fleming, Mark Llinares, Michael Moeri, Josh Ramseur Princesses at the Ball: Dylan Anderson, Hailey Barlow, Anna Bowdler, Sutton Bryan, Sydney Bryan, Sadie Larsen, Bean Shindell, Sofie Thompson, Abby Trott, Sydnie Wilcox, Hailey Wilkinson Principle Mice in Disguise Inez Brunson, Maddie Peck * Member of Contemporary Dance Wyoming, the resident professional company of DW