Cinderella—The Gags to Riches Family Musical!

Danielle Wade, Dan Chameroy, Jeff Lillico, Ross Petty and Bryn McAuley. Photo by Racheal McCaig Photography.

When it comes to fairytales, everyone loves a happy ending. Cinderella is one of the sweetest fairytales ever written, with its hard-working heroine finding her prince in the end. This holiday season, Ross Petty puts a Toronto-centric spin on the familiar tale, adding several of his famous “fractured fairy tale” characters into the mix. Cinderella—The Gags to Riches Family Musical! is a hilariously funny musical production full of talented performers with a few surprises thrown in.

The audience first meets the young Cinderella (Danielle Wade) at an organic farmer's market previously owned by her late father. Her evil stepmother, Revolta Bulldoza (played to perfection by Ross Petty himself), glides onstage in a sparkling purple dress to jeers from the audience, a reaction he elicits every year as the villain in his holiday pantomimes. This time, he is joined by two ugly stepsisters, Shakiki (Cleopatra Williams) and Nastine (Bryn McAuley), who taunt and tease Cinderella relentlessly. Cinderella pays them no mind, and instead focuses on helping others eat the good, organic food at her farmer's market instead of her stepmother's HypnoChips (designed to help Revolta to take over the world).

Enter Prince Charming—or rather, Max Charming (Jeff Lillico)—a dashing pop star with girls fawning all over him, as demonstrated in a performance of Ed Sheeran's “Sing,” a “casual” music video organized by his manager (Reid Janisse). He just wants to live a normal life, but instead must star in a reality TV show called The EligiBall, a masquerade held at Casa Loma, at which he has the opportunity to meet many girls and can choose one of them at the end to go on a date with. Cinderella's stepsisters and stepmother receive their invitations and are thrilled, but it seems as though Cinderella won't be able to attend, that is until Plumbum (Dan Chameroy) appears in Toronto with her magic wand and a ticket in hand.

What ensues is, really, the stuff of fairytales. This high quality production features beautiful costumes, sets, and even two white horses pulling Cinderella's carriage when it comes time for her to attend the EligiBall. Dan Chameroy's effervescent Plumbum steals the show with great comedic timing, as he has the past few years in Ross Petty productions, and Danielle Wade is charming as the title character.

Cinderella—The Gags to Riches Family Musical! can be enjoyed by adults and children alike, making it a wonderful holiday treat. On stage until January 4 at the Elgin Theatre. Visit rosspetty.com for more information and to buy tickets.