Act One
Act One
In the town square, the Herald announces fabulous news, "The Prince is Giving a Ball." Girls and women all over town are wishful or wistful when they hear the news that the Prince is seeking a bride. Cinderella's stepmother and her daughters, whiny Joy and dull Portia, are no exception.
The girls and their mother have just returned from a shopping expedition, with finery for the ball. All three give orders, which Cinderella scurries to satisfy, before her stepmother dismisses her. Cinderella listens from her small chair by the fireplace as her stepmother informs Joy and Portia that even if neither marries the Prince, she expects each to marry someone. The girls are frightened by her sternness and argue with each other as they retire to get their beauty sleep.
Cinderella can't imagine how her two stepsisters can be grouchy with all their new, beautiful things. Alone in her chair after the others have gone to bed, she pretends that she is a princess or heroine from some exotic story. ("In My Own Little Corner")
The King and Queen are in their dressing room arguing about the upcoming ball in their son's honor. He thinks it's an unnecssary extravagance. She is determined to host a stylish affair. The chef and wine steward arrive to present a proposed menu. ("Your Majesties") The rest of the staff parade gourmet goodies and decorations past the King and Queen for their inspection.
The Prince arrives as the Queen is off tending to details. He seems to share his father's reluctance about the ball. He confides that he has no intention of marrying any of the girls at the ball. The King counsels him to at least act enthusiastic, for his mother's sake. When the Queen enters, the Prince pretends to be looking forward to the ball and even volunteers to help with preparations. The Queen pretends to believe all this. The Prince is momentarily panicked, until he spies his horse being brought from the stable, an excuse to get out of it. The Queen is touched by the King's concern for her feelings and tells him she loves him. ("Boys and Girls Like You and Me")
The day of the ball arrives. Joy and Portia fuss and order Cinderella about. At last they leave and Cinderella resumes her daydreaming about attending the ball herself ("In My Own Little Corner, Reprise"). Cinderella's Godmother, sensible with no hint of magic, appears at the window and suggest Cinderella run away. ("Fol de Rol and Fiddle de Dee") Cinderella won't leave her Stepmother, of course. The Godmother comes into the sitting room for tea. Cinderella tells her Godmother about her daydreams and wishes, including her fantastic wish that a pumpkin would turn into a carriage to whisk her away to the ball and that her Godmother might be a Fairy Godmother. The Godmother laughs and tells Cinderella it's "Impossible!"
Cinderella continues to wish, and the Godmother works her magic, changing the impossible into "It's Possible."
Outside the palace at 11:30 p.m., Cinderella is excited but nervous to be going to the Prince's Ball. Her Fairy Godmother instructs her to leave before midnight, then vanishes in a puff of smoke. The footman is nonplussed, and reiterates the Godmother's warning.
Inside the ball, the guests, including Cinderella's Stepmother and her daughters, are dancing a stately gavotte. The Prince seems bored by the whole affair. His mother, the Queen, is having a grand time and the King is merely humoring his wife.
The Stepmother bribes a footman to introduce her daughters to the Prince. He dances politely with each, but finally extricates himself to go and ask Cinderella for a dance. The entire ballroom is abuzz as everyone wonders who Cinderella can be. The Prince is clearly smitten, and Cinderella confesses she feels the same about him. ("Ten Minutes Ago")
Joy and Portia are overcome with jealousy as they realize the Prince has fallen for the lovely stranger. ("Stepsister's Lament")
The Prince and Cinderella waltz, along with the King and Queen, while the guests mostly watch. The Prince takes Cinderella out away from the crowd onto a moonlit veranda. Cinderella, suddenly realizing the time, tells the Prince she must leave. The Prince and Cinderella exchange a kiss and declare their love for one another. The Prince ponders why he has fallen in love with her, and Cinderella ponders whether it is a all a dream. ("Do I Love you Because You're Beautiful?")
As the clock strikes midnight, Cinderella panics and runs from the palace without telling the Prince her name. He chases her through the ballroom but is left alone at the top of the stairs, holding her fallen glass slipper.
The next morning, Cinderella feigns innocence and asks her Stepmother, Joy and Portia all about the ball. They exaggerate about their own popularity with the Prince and downplay the mysterious Princess. The Stepmother asks what Cinderella did while they were gone. She says she dreamed of going the ball. ("When You're Driving Through the Moonlight") Cinderella's daydream version of the ball is suspiciously accurate, and the sisters and Stepmother are drawn in by her story and daydream it themselves. ("A Lovely Night")
The Stepmother snaps out of it and scolds her daughters for listening to Cinderella's daydream. She orders them to their rooms and orders Cinderella to clean the house.
Meanwhile, the Prince shows his parents the slipper and commands the Herald to find its owner. The King vows to help, but the Queen gently cautions that he may not find her and shouldn't let his happiness depend on it. ("Do I Love You, Reprise")
The Herald and his helpers roam the town, trying the glass slippert on the foot of all the women and girls. They arrive at Cinderella's house and unsuccessfully try to fit it on the Stepmother, Joy and Portia. The Godmother suddenly appears at the window and suggests that Cinderella be allowed to try the slipper. But Cinderella is nowhere to be found.
The Herald returns to the palace bringing the bad news that the shoe's owner could not be found. The disheartened Prince is sitting in the garden with the glass slipper, when Cinderella wonders in, lost in another daydream. The Prince thinks he recognizes her from somewhere, but can't quite place her. Cinderella, embarrassed to be seen in her rags, starts to leave. But her words jogs the Prince's memory and he tries the shoe on Cinderella. She tells him her name and they kiss.
The scene changes back to the ballroom and Cinderella and the Prince return in wedding finery for the finale.