Cinderella

Act I. Cinderella’s Stepmother’s home.  Cinderella's Stepmother is busily embroidering a scarf she will wear to the Palace Ball that evening. The Father is also in the room, and the Stepsisters tease him unmercifully until Cinderella enters and stops them.  They turn on her furiously and drag the Father from the room. Cinderella picks up the broom to begin sweeping, then takes a portrait of her dead Mother from its hiding place. Her Father returns and is overcome with remorse when he sees the resemblance between Cinderella and his first wife. His daughter tries to comfort him, but Stepsisters snatch the picture away and drag them apart.

Suddenly, the door opens and an old woman enters, begging. The Stepmother gives her the picture of Cinderella’s mother to get rid of it, but the beggar woman sees the resemblance to Cinderella and hands it to her. Cinderella offers the woman some bread, which she accepts and then departs.

A dressmaker and wigmaker arrive to adorn the Stepsisters for the Ball, followed by a dancing master, who attempts to teach the graceless Stepsisters to dance.  The family departs for the Ball, leaving Cinderella behind. She pretends the kitchen broom is her dance partner, but bursts into tears. Suddenly, the beggar woman returns and changes into a beautiful fairy Godmother.  She gives Cinderella a pair of glass slippers, and the Fairies of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter dance for her. Cinderella's rags become a beautiful gown, but the Fairy Godmother warns her that at midnight the magic gown will change back into rags. She then transforms a pumpkin and four lizards into a coach and horses, and Cinderella is driven to the Ball like a princess.

Act II. The Royal Palace.  A Jester welcomes the arriving guests, who are all taken aback by the Stepsisters. The Prince greets the assembly, and gallantly invites each Stepsister to dance with him, to the amusement of the guests. The Ball is interrupted by Cinderella’s arrival in her coach, and the Prince immediately falls in love with her. The guests are offered oranges – rare delicacies -- and when one Stepsister is left without, Cinderella gives up hers without the Stepsisters recognizing her. While the Prince and Cinderella dance, the clock strikes midnight. Cinderella's clothes turn to rags and she rushes from the ballroom. The Prince cannot restrain her, but finds a glass slipper she has lost in her haste.

Act III. Cinderella’s Stepmonther’s home.  Back in the kitchen, Cinderella finds the remaining glass slipper in her pocket. She hides it as the Stepsisters return, proudly displaying the oranges the Prince gave them. The Stepmother announces the Prince’s arrival with his Jester and courtiers in search of the owner of the glass slipper they bear with them. Each of the Stepsisters tries to squeeze an oversized foot into the tiny slipper. When the Prince notices Cinderella sitting shyly by the fire, he asks her father if she may try it on. As she moves to do so, the second slipper falls from her pocket.  The Prince is overjoyed and asks her to marry him.  As the Prince returns the glass slipper to the Fairy Godmother, the kitchen is transformed into a magic glade where Cinderella and her Prince dance a romantic pas de deux. The guests return to acclaim their new Princess at her betrothal.