CINDERELLA

ACT I

It is morning. Cinderella is alone with her dreams in the kitchen. Before beginning her work to clean the house she looks at a portrait of her deceased mother and remembers happier times. Her Stepmother and two Stepsisters enter and demand their breakfast. Suddenly, an old woman enters, begging. Cinderella begins to bring her some food, but the Stepmother forbids it. Cinderella then offers the woman her own breakfast of a crust of bread, which the old woman accepts with gratitude and then departs. Cinderella's family is finding more chores for her when an emissary from the King arrives with an invitation. Unable to read the invitation themselves, the Stepsisters become excited when Cinderella reads that the family is invited to a ball in honor of the king's son. Without even considering Cinderella, the family rushes off to prepare for the ball. Cinderella's friends, the mice, appear and play with her. The family soon returns laden with boxes from a shopping trip. A tailor tries to assist the Stepsisters to select appropriate ball gowns. A Dancing Master also arrives, attempting the impossible task of coaching the Stepsisters in the fine art of dancing. The family departs for the Ball, leaving Cinderella alone and saddened. Her mouse friends try to cheer her and dress her for the ball. The old beggar woman returns and transforms into a beautiful fairy Godmother before Cinderella's eyes. Four other fairies join her, and Cinderella's rags become a beautiful gown. A pumpkin and some mice turn into a coach and footmen. The Fairy Godmother warns Cinderella that she must return home at midnight, as the magic gown will change back into rags and everything else will be as it was before. Finally she gives Cinderella a pair of glass slippers, and Cinderella is driven to the Ball like a princess.

ACT II

Dandini, the Prince's best friend, greets guests for the Ball at the Palace. The King enters, welcomes the assembly, and introduces the Prince. All are somewhat amused by the late arrival of the Stepmother with her daughters. The Stepsisters attempt to get the Prince's attention but are interrupted by the arrival of Cinderella. This beautiful and unknown young woman captivates the Prince. All the men at the ball wish to dance with her but it is the Prince who wins Cinderella's heart. The ball proceeds until the clock strikes midnight. Cinderella in her joy has forgotten the Fairy Godmother's warning and at the last moment rushes from the court. In her haste she loses one of her slippers on the stairs. The Prince finds it and determines to somehow find the mysterious young woman whose dainty foot fits the glass slipper.

Cinderella has returned home and remembers the Ball as if it were a beautiful dream. She is brought back to reality by the return of her Stepmother and Stepsisters. Eventually the Prince arrives in search of the owner of the glass slipper. He is welcomed eagerly by the family, and the two Sisters try desperately to force their feet into the slipper, but to no avail. Finally the Stepmother demands to try on the shoe and manages to make it fit. True to his word, the Prince offers to marry the objectionable woman. In the commotion that follows, the Stepmother's deception is discovered the Prince is overjoyed to find his true love in Cinderella. The Prince and Cinderella are finally united and a grand wedding takes place at the palace. The fairies bless the event and the Prince and Cinderella live happily ever after.

from: balletmet