Search - A Tale of Cinderella on DVD

A great introduction to the Broadway experience for kids

01/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening scene, this video draws the viewer into the live theatrical setting where this delightful new adaptation of the classic tale unfolds. The New York State Theatre Institute production is first rate and translates very nicely to the small screen, thanks to the ingenuity of directors Patricia Di Benedetto Snyder and Tom Gliserman. The cast is spectacular, especially Christianne Tisdale's spunky Cinderella Angelina, who doesn't need to be rescued by the Prince--they are captivated by each other and fall in love. There's also a charming subplot: A love story between the Prince's Godpapa and Cinderella's Godmama, who wields a magic wooden spoon instead of a magic wand. Set in Venice, Italy, this very entertaining show is rich with Italiante spice and flair. There's a very satisfying score of new songs by George David Weiss (he wrote "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and a slew of other standards) and young composer Will Severin. Nothing cheap or tawdry about this video for the kids--quality stuff from a great theatre for families in upstate New York. Hooray! Bring it to Broadway!"

Our daughter is in love with this play!

marlaj31 | Indiana | 06/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Our six year old daughter rented this movie and loves it. She has always been fascinated with Cinderella. We are to return the movie today and she is insisting it is hers. Our daughter is autistic and for her to have this much interest in a play amazes me. I catch her singing the songs. Maybe we have an actress to be on our hands? So, for us this is a great movie because it is so well done and it has inspired our daughter."

A Tale of Two Cinderellas

Durling Heath | Cohoes, NY | 10/08/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This New York State Theatre Institute production of a classic, Italian version of the fairytale, 'Cinderella,' is a metaphor for the oft used description, "Where you sit determines what you see." And, a child who watches 'A Tale of Cinderella' sits in a seat entirely different than that of an adult.

First, children (especially little girls) love 'A Tale of Cinderella.' The music and lyrics, created by Will Severin and George David Weiss, are engaging. And, what little girl does not wish to be a princess? 'A Tale of Cinderella,' is the classic story, but there is a "realness" in a stage production. There princess who endures real-life tragedies, the death of her mother and the marriage of her father to a witch of a stepmother. She overcomes these tragedies with the help of her fairy godmother to marry a prince. The live action on the stage adds realness for the younger viewer that the animated productions do not. Seeing little girls watch 'A Tale of Cinderella' over and over, it's not hard to understand that this regional production had such a successful run and caught the attention of Warner Brothers.

On the other hand, an adult will notice that this translation of a stage play to the small screen is a little clunky. There may not have been any way for the camera angles to have been improved, and as such, the action does not seem natural. Camera angle is not the only reason, however. An adult home video audience is not accustomed to seeing stage actors acting in a stage play on television, so some of the facial expressions and movements appear unnatural. Stage direction and the stage actors' anxiety due to the knowledge of being recorded for video may also have contributed to the unusual end product. Regardless of the reason, many, more mature viewers, i.e., parents, may find 'A Tale of Cinderella' a difficult to endure.

A bright spot with which both children and adults can identify, however, is the performance of Christianne Tisdale, who plays Angelina, or Cinderella. A veteran of the Broadway stage, Ms. Tisdale is a rose in a briar patch. The rest of the cast is mostly second-tier, regional actors. Sean Frank Sullivan is serviceable as the Prince, but many of the other performances are either overdone (the fairy godmother) or just terribly average (the evil stepmother). Fortunately, Ms. Tisdale single-handedly carries the show for the adult viewer with her angelic voice, stage presence, and experience.

If I were a seven-year old girl, give or take three years, I would have to give 'A Tale of Cinderella' a full, five-star rating, because I really would not know or care about good acting, directing, or producing. I would simply love the music and love Cinderella. On the other hand, if I were, say, a father of a couple of girls between the ages of four and ten, it would be difficult for me to look past the strangeness of the stage play on video and the mostly undistinguished performances. I, too, would have enjoyed the music and I would have loved to hear Christianne Tisdale sing. As such, I would only give the video two stars. Rounding up, it's a four.

*** 1/2"

Star Turn

annola | hartland, wi United States | 03/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In a show that focuses on the stars and their influence, Christianne Tisdale turns this Cinderella into a star-making role. She shines, glitters and shoots straight for your heart. Rarely have I seen acting and singing (I think she spans four octaves)melded into such a seamless, accessable performance. I just found her website. Special kudos to Sean Sullivan as the most charming of Princess Charmings and John Romeo as his even more charming Godfather. A must-see for all generations."