Act I. Scene 1.
Once upon a time, in a distant kingdom there lived a girl, her name was Cinderella. Her mother died and her father married another woman, who also had her own two daughters. The new stepsisters don’t like Cinderella and mistreat her.
Cinderella’s morning begins with the stepsisters’ angry tricks and quarrels, as usual. The stepmother doesn’t allow her husband to give affection to his daughter. Although Cinderella’s father loves her, he is afraid of his wife. Cinderella is lonely and sad.
But Cinderella has a godmother, who sometimes looks a lot like a fairy! She thinks of her godmother and misses her.
Suddenly, time stops and the Fairy appears. She hands the family invitations to the ball.
The Stepsisters are getting ready for the ball. They don’t know that Cinderella also received an invitation. But she can’t go – she doesn’t have anything to wear for the ball. The Stepsisters try on the ball gowns, quarreling and envying each other’s outfits. The quarrel is interrupted by the Dance Tutor. The Stepsisters are bad at dancing lessons, but Cinderella repeats all exercises easily and with grace. This makes the Stepsisters envious and the Stepmother angry.
Suddenly, the living room is filled with magical light. Adorable little helpers of the Fairy peep from all angles.
Act I. Scene 2.
The Fairy transports Cinderella to a wonderful magic garden, where everything is possible.
There, the Fairies give Cinderella a gorgeous dress, made of gold, decorated with precious stones. Mice are turned into horses and a pumpkin into a gorgeous carriage. But the best present comes from the Fairy Godmother – a pair of crystal slippers. Cinderella is grateful to the Godmother and rejoices.
However, the Fairy Godmother warns Cinderella very strictly, that she should return home before midnight. If she is late – her splendid dress will turn into rags, the horses will become mice, and the carriage will turn into pumpkin.
INTERMISSION
Act II. Scene 1.
Guests are gathering for the ball at the King’s palace. The King and the Queen greet the guests, the Stepsisters and Stepmother are among them.
The Prince is joyful and with his friends makes fun of all the pomposity. Everyone loves the Prince.
There are a lot of beauties at the ball. But the one who has entered last, is the most charming. She is wearing a gorgeous dress, but it’s not the dress that attracts everybody, it is the girl herself. She radiates kindness and tenderness. It is Cinderella.
Cinderella meets the Prince. They fall in love at first sight.
The Prince pledges to the girl his heart and soul. He offers her a gift of exotic fruit – the oranges, but the Stepsisters manage to steal it.
Suddenly the clock strikes midnight. The Fairy Godmother appears to help Cinderella escape from the ball before it is too late. The ball is over for Cinderella. She rushes from the palace, dropping one of her crystal slippers off her foot and leaving it behind.
The Prince finds the slipper and runs after his love, eager to find her.
Act II. Scene 2.
The Prince does his best to find the beautiful stranger. He is devastated. The King and the Queen want to help their beloved son.
The Prince wonders around the Kingdom, hoping to find his beloved there. He asks all the women of his kingdom to try on the crystal slipper. They all do, but the delicate crystal slipper is too small for all the women he meets on his way.
Act II. Scene 3.
The other crystal slipper is the only thing left to Cinderella after the ball. She is daydreaming, and in her imagination, she dances again, and she is happy again. The Stepmother and the Stepsisters don’t know that she was at the ball, and they tell her about the amazing experience they had, bragging about dancing with the Prince and showing off the oranges they “received” at the ball. Cinderella can’t even hope that the Prince finds her.
Suddenly the Prince with his entourage appears at the door. He has been to dozens of houses, trying to find his bride. Now he finally came to Cinderella’s father’s home.
The Stepmother and the Stepsisters go out of their minds attempting to put on the crystal slipper. The Stepmother wants to be a royal bride so bad that she is ready to shorten her own foot to make it fit. While trying to stop her from doing this, Cinderella drops the other crystal slipper. The Prince finally sees and recognizes his beloved, and they happily reunite.
