Why I'm unsure about CINDERELLA // Early thoughts on Andrew Lloyd Webber's new 'Cinderella' Musical

OHMYGOD HEY!
As we slowly move towards a new and hopefully more theatre-filled year, one of the most talked about new musicals set to open in The West End is a new musical version of 'Cinderella' written by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
While there's still lots we don't know about the show, between the initial casting, marketing and early previews of the show's score, I'm finding myself slightly uncertain about this show and have talked through the reasons why in this deep dive into everything we know about this show so far!
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Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella is the exciting new musical comedy starring Carrie Hope Fletcher, set to completely reinvent the world’s best-loved fairytale when it opens in London’s West End in spring 2021. Featuring a brand new score by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Oscar-nominated David Zippel, with a script from Killing Eve’s Emerald Fennell.
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I hope you've enjoyed this video, if you'd like to see more of the Stagey content I'm making including exclusive musical previews, West End interviews and general theatrical madness, subscribe to my channel! ⬇️
/ mickeyjotheatre

[@SapphyraMusic]

7:50 PR-American speaking, hi. Seeing Ciara Renée, a latinx woman, play Elsa on Broadway-and not as an understudy, as the primary actress-made me feel like I had a fighting chance in predominant musical theatre roles. Before, I felt confined to roles that HAD to be played by Hispanic women. So, okay, sure, I could be Anita or María in West Side Story and hey! Maybe someday somebody will produce In The Heights within driving distance. But...seeing women of color star in Broadway shows new and old makes me feel like I'm worthy of being a leading lady, even if I'm not tall, fair, and thin. I'm pretty sure this video is far too old for notifications, and I'm probably talking to the void. But...you're speaking mad facts. Keep being iconic.

[@bellz9113]

I'm here after bad Cinderella went viral on tiktok & I wanted to find a deep dive. I started with your recent video & went back to this one. Thank you for being the social media historian of Bad Cinderella. This is like being treated to a podcast of a time capsule that brings a lot of context in a unique way.

[@NairAthul]

There's this early 2000s fairytale movie called "Penelope" starring Christina Ricci that I really want to see as a musical.

[@misssupercookie2011]

Oh my gosh that would be amazing!

[@vanessaanneVA]

that would be SO RAD

[@tobyfinney768]

I‘ve never seen another person talk about this movie but I love it so much

[@melanief4115]

i fully support this!

[@joshuamichael3884]

OMG Penelope would be an Incredible musical!!!!

[@PhantomFandoms]

So, as for the "I'm hoping for new faces and more diverse actors" point you were making, Ivano Turko was just announced as Sebastian. He is a black man who will be making his west end debut with this. That personally is what got me interested in looking more into the show. I only just heard about it today and found this video because of it. Love your personality dude, got a new subscriber over here :)

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Yeah I saw about Ivano's casting, that's so exciting and completely what this show needs! I'm all for it. I also did a little digging and think there might be some prominent LGBT+ representation too...

[@wwozanewmusical]

@@MickeyJoTheatre there have been things written about the fact the prince is Gay, and he runs off with a Duke, and then Weber introduces us to this prince and sorta says nothing abut the one from the reports from the LGBT boards along with what NYC critic Michael Redeal stated in his report about Cinderella running away with another man, and the Prince being gay and running away. so not sure what they are trying to say or do with this show, but thus far i'm liking the score they have been showing. and yes bad cinderella has taken parts from in my own little corner, and not sure how the hamerstine foundation will take that.

[@gavinlogan1743]

@@wwozanewmusical They are not "taken from"-- it's literally 7 notes, as a passing reference to his idol. It's not enough of a quote to be plagiarism, and the rest of the song is so entirely divergent that it doesn't matter, really.

[@isabellerosling138]

I still haven't booked tickets, not because I don't think I'll enjoy the show but because I can't handle the disappointment of a fifth show I have booked tickets for getting cancelled

[@laurenyardley-moore268]

I just wanna ask now I see the stage as your profile pic how did u find its

[@isabellerosling138]

@@laurenyardley-moore268 If I'm honest, it was okay but not my favourite at all, all the actors and costumes and set were great but wasn't a huge fan of the music or storyline. In all honesty I set it as my pfp just because I thought the stage looked pretty and haven't been bothered to change it

[@aerials_etc]

YES!!!! I'm so glad someone is calling out how much like In My Own Little Corner the one song sounds like.

[@EllieTalksTheatre]

You literally sum up everything I think about this show in one video.

[@rachelsingleton2023]

Charles Perrault - is credited with inventing the fairy tale Cendrillon (which is Cinderella in English) not HCA

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

So I have since discovered! This is what happens when I try to talk about things that aren't musicals 😂

[@ivan_page]

ДАААА! Извините, но я не смог с первого раза досмотреть это видео потому, что авторство Золушки приписали Андерсену. А ещё даже минута не прошла! Но про то, что "История Золушки" это не чья-то придуманная концепция, а многовековой фольклорный сюжет, лучше даже не начинать придираться. Это уже мелочи.

[@Redstomp]

"...based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale" made this Danish person go: *record scratch* "wait, what?"

[@ToriEnglishArtsandPaws]

Yeah, fellow Dane here and our beloved Hans didn´t write Cendrillon. A Charles something-or-other did that :)

[@singcook1]

Read this and please notice there is no mention of Hans Christian Anderson: "Cinderella", or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale about unjust oppression and triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The protagonist is a young woman living in forsaken circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune. The story of Rhodopis, recounted by the Greek geographer Strabo sometime between around 7 BC and AD 23, about a Greek slave girl who marries the king of Egypt, is usually considered to be the earliest known variant of the Cinderella story. The Chinese story of Ye Xian, first attested in a source from around AD 860, is another early variant of the story. The first literary European version of the story was published in Italy by Giambattista Basile in his Pentamerone in 1634; the version that is now most widely known in the English-speaking world was published in French by Charles Perrault in Histoires ou contes du temps passé in 1697. Another version was later published by the Brothers Grimm in their folk tale collection Grimms' Fairy Tales in 1812.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

I stand very much corrected! This is why I stick to talking about musical theatre 😉

[@singcook1]

Now that I have that off my chest, I’m equally skeptical about this musical. My issue is the music itself. Having listened to a couple of samples on KZbin, my first thought was, “Oh lovely, they sound just like every other Andrew Loyd Weber song from any of his shows.” He has a definite musical formula that makes him marketable but ultimately predictable. His best shows are his first shows. They showed creativity, inventiveness, and a youthful exuberance that I think he’s lost. Those are my thoughts.

[@ToriEnglishArtsandPaws]

I was about to write something similar (albeit shorter) - I´m Danish and Hans Christian Andersen is one of my hyperfixations. The Cinderella I grew up with was Cendrillon and HCA had nothing to do with her. He's written many lovely tales, but Cinderella isn´t one of them. His "Disney Princess" is The Little Mermaid :)

[@zoellz]

I did whistle down the wind a couple years ago, was such a fun show to do but the amount of jurassic park comments we got was too much😂

[@heathersfan160]

Hey everyone was scared about hamilton but that took a hit so cinderella can go the same way you never know

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

True, but Hamilton's success is due largely to its originality and innovative casting approach - the two things that i was criticising this show for. However, more recent casting announcements have me intrigued so we'll see!

[@AARONSINGSBROADWAY]

Love how well thought out these videos are xx awesome man xx

[@AmieMariah_]

That intro though! 😂

[@matthew7887]

You absolutely have to listen/react to the starry concept album, it's been out for a while but they have added some extra demos recently, it's amazing!

[@PotNoodle54]

It's Jurassic Park, it's a massive park. What could possibly go wrong! 😂

[@EmilyVanVlack]

Nice! I was Waiting for a mention of Adam Lambert also

[@misssupercookie2011]

Sorry but the Bad Cinderella song and the marketing just gives me big "I'm Not Like Other Girls" vibe. I really hope it's not another attempt to do a quote-unquote "feminist version of Cinderella".

[@melissam597]

It will be, everything has to have a woke twist these days 😬😒🙄

[@misssupercookie2011]

@@melissam597 I mean it's not eve "woke" really when you think about it. The whole 'Cinderella is antifeminist' rhetoric is actually pretty sexist and victim blaming. Which is why I'm tired of new versions being like "oh yeah this Cinderella isn't like the old boring original one. She's Badass TM (and has no other personality traits)"

[@grishamlocke1428]

From why I can tell from the lyrics of other released songs, Cinderella may start of as the “not like other girls” archetype, but-hopefully-she evolves throughout the show to see that that idea is just as damaging as the small mindedness of her town.

[@charlie2.048]

Are we just going to ignore the context that this is Cinderella? Not just a pop single being released. IN the context of the story it's basically a song sung by an abuse survivor directed at her abusers and bullies.

[@ajmalaika1287]

In context it's less "wokeness" and more just rebellion and trying to stay true to herself. Everyone else in the world has been "molded" with perfect hair and bodies to meet the standard of being the most attractive town and Cinderella has been told all her life that she's ugly and useless and chose it take it on the chin and act like she's "unbreakable" and happy to be not like them which then cycles to make them hate her more. THEY TIE HER UP TO A TREE FOR THE WOLVES WHEN THEY PISS HER OFF! She's practically abused for not conforming but still continues not to until she's pushed too save Sebastian. They're the ones who call her Bad Cinderella she just chose to "own it" and put on a brave front

[@albertoflego2540]

Gioachino Rossini wrote an Opera called Cenerentola. Cinderella singed on stage have a old story. La Cenerentola di Rossini! Amazing.

[@loondogg88]

This video was enlightening. Well done.

[@kamelotroxx]

I think it looks good and that guy sings lonely you only you we will be seeing him in other musicals he has a wonderful voice

[@lpowell6651]

You sum up my whole thoughts right now! I’ve booked tickets, but I’m nervous. I’m not sure how good this will be. Tickets aren’t selling too well either...

[@heathersfan160]

i think its because they want to see how people think it was going to be because this is not gonna be anything like anything disney film so people want to see how other people like it so yea even if its not good aye atleast u were first to see it

[@bito1981]

Cannot wait to see your video about the earlier close and the upcoming cast getting the news over social media.

[@JadeW606]

This was interesting!! While I am ecstatic that a new musical is finallyyyy able to begin its run in London, I also haven't felt a great desire to see it. I'm not a massive fan of those big grand melodies in Andrew Lloyd Webber stuff, and in 'Bad Cinderella' and 'I know I have a heart' I can't help but just hear the lyrics as 'IM A STRONG INDEPENDENT WOMAN. THIS IS A FEMINIST SONG. (WRITTEN BY A MAAAAAAN)' which is a shame, because I see what they are trying to do. And yeah, Cinderella has been done to death so I'd like a new storyyyyy. However, very glad to see more diversity in the casting and some new performers as well as the big names. Also the set and costume design looks incredible. So yeah, mixed feelings. I'd probably enjoy it but I don't think it would tick all the boxes for me. But who knows, I haven't seen it. Glad that the show can go ahead regardless!

[@Showtunediva]

I was wondering if there is a cast recording of Soho Cinders.

[@prismonthethehorizon5793]

It's funny, modern and more closer to reality. I think it's fabulous, Cinderella has been done over and over again, listening to many of the songs made me laugh as the use of todays popular culture eg...wordage was cleverly weaved throughout the songs. Obviously I have no backstory on the creatives working on this production except for Lyodd Webber obviously but...I'm seeing it with a open mind and new perspective. It made me laugh and brought out the drama Queen inside me so a big thumbs up from me 👍

[@midgedal1]

Watched Cinderella on the opening night in London. Best musical I’ve seen. All the cast were fantastic. This is my honest opinion

[@zoe9690]

I really want to see it. Is it worth seeing?

[@Sunny-ek8sx]

have you seen 3 musicals total?

[@BenPanced]

Yup. I'm more familiar with the R&H version starring Lesley Ann Warren because my family watched it on TV every time it was on. I knew something was a bit off? not right? when I started singing "In My Own Little Corner" when I first heard the ALW song.

[@melissam597]

Honestly I’m not a huge ALW fan - sure Phantom is amazing, but that is down to him cleverly surrounding himself with brilliant performers, lyricists, costume designers, choreographers, set designers, directors, producers... it’s very much a group triumph. I find the rest of his work falls somewhat flat? 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@kevinwilson3609]

The Phantom album is one of the best selling of all time, at least 40 million. That's just the music, not any of the production points you make except for the lyrics, which are generally considered to be terrible. Your point is a joke

[@TDW8964]

Melissa makes very good points about ALW, and the fact the Phantom sold 40 million albums goes right to her point of marketing and selling product like Disney does. ALW teams created spectacles starting with Cats creating and taking over the 80's early 90's with the Mega Musical. It was profit machine, it was not high Art, it was made to please bigger masses. Phantom if it were not for the Hal Prince visionary direction and the set design, it would have closed long ago. 40 million sold albums is not a true judgment of the show. (Into The Woods took Tonys for Best Score, Best Book and Best Actress the same season as Phantom). The Album follows pop cultural must have like the Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar albums; my parents generation had thess in their house hold even though they never saw the shows.

[@kevinwilson3609]

@@TDW8964 So the widely successful album (one of the best selling albums of all time), according to you, is not evidence that the show is any good, and the show is not successful because of the music (which alone is widely successful) but because of merchandizing. And you think that of those 40 million albums (and that number is from its first years) means that all 40 million people saw the show before buying the album? Right.

[@TDW8964]

@@kevinwilson3609 Aw yes, i stick to what i say. 40 million in its first year is what you are saying? 40mil couldn't have seen the show in a year i agree, but ALW used concept albums all the time because no one understood his vision so instead he would record rock opera concept albums, these were very successful to get productions off the ground. A bit of research besides topping the charts, you'll see its marketing & merchandising. Late 80's was at a cross roads of cassette tape & cd's, allowing more copies to be sold... this has been researched to death. Its a commercial success the show, selling albums is advertising. The music is not that good it is okay, it gimmicky, melodramatic, over the top, and that was the plan. Not mention the heavily borrowed works of other composers, again well documented. And finally this was the start of having many sit down companys in many cities at one time this too was a very new trend. So you would have London, New York, Toronto, LA, Chicago all doing the same show, very new at the time. Still the music...why has Les Miz had so many successful concert versions all these years, and Phantom had the Royal Albert Hall that really demonstrates the lack of the production elements not so interesting, as well as recent US national tour with the new set design getting luke warm reception. Go ahead love it all you want, you are allowed, to others who even have both the double cassette and cd don't really love it.

[@kevinwilson3609]

@@TDW8964 Nothing you say makes any sense. The Phantom album was not a concept album but a cast recording. Multiple simultaneous productions is only possible if something is a success, not the cause of success. The album allowed people to know the music first and therefore want to see the show. You are trying to argue that something successful (the album, the music) is not really a success. And you are failing

[@mee5780]

I agree that the songs aren't great. The lyrics to Bad Cinderella are cringy and sounds like a football anthem to me. But ALW was open that he purposely reference In My Own Little Corner ..just like Schwartz referenced Over the Rain bow in a few of the Wicked songs.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Didn't know this but I do think there's a difference between Schwartz hiding 7 notes in a different rhythm in a verse and Lloyd Webber making an obvious nod as the choral hook to the song at the centre of the show's marketing, especially with his history.

[@mee5780]

@@MickeyJoTheatre oh definitely. Personally I really don't like the song. Considering what his best work is compared to this..its a shame.

[@anniespencer7879]

The only song I liked in the Rogers and Hammerstein version was the Stepsisters' Lament, at least for the tune. But I hate the ugly sister concept anyway. Give me the bad but beautiful girls in Into The Woods. We should not be teaching children that ugly is bad.

[@amonkywhoisalsoabaddie]

The new movie cinderella is amazing I’ve seen it

[@Aaren_B]

I have tickets for June was ment to be going in April but (COVID) I agree with you Bad Cinderella does sound like in my own little corner. I just hope there are some twists and turns in the show. I hope it won't be predictable aswell I hope the music is diffrent aswell. I am looking forward to it though :) just hoping it goes ahead, as planned.

[@PinkYoda65]

Mickey PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell us all that you've bought tickets now!!!???? You must be nuts not to enjoy this show. At least then you can ACTUALLY critique the show because you've experienced it! Come on! I'll pay for you if you're a bit short! I'm going with my husband as a surprise for our wedding anniversary! ☺🤣😘

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

The casting and music since this video has got me more intrigued but I'm still not buying a ticket just yet - if they invite me to a press performance then I'll happily review 😉 I do think the info we're getting about the show is moving in the right direction but I still have some misgivings from what I've seen so far 🤔

[@hefinrosser8685]

It's not diversity its about talent and who's best for the role. Nobody mentions a black Polly Browne in the musical The Boyfriend from a few years ago! And her father was played by a white actor

[@ajmalaika1287]

HEY I WATCHED THE SHOW YESTERDAY IT WAS AMAZING AND SOOO FUNNY WITH LOTS OF AMAZING TWISTS, THE LYRICS ARE STILL KINDA just little CRINGE BUT THEY WORK HONESTLY EVERYONE GO IT WAS SOOO MUCH FUN!!!!!

[@vangelismakris4587]

Haha couldn't agree more with this irrelevant "well forget you" line at the end of the chorus. Well spotted!

[@lorefulgood]

I agree! Nothing about this show has really grabbed me, I find the song catchy but a bit boring and we've not been told any concept or USP about the show other than the names involved, and I'm a big Carrie fan but I'm not gonna buy a ticket just because one actress I really like is in it.

[@carlycchapman]

The concept is about inner beauty and ignoring people who are rude and hateful towards you from what I can tell based on the interview I saw with Carrie and ALW

[@kyletristanrobert8207]

You're cute 😍

[@sidbinns6160]

OMG! Was Cinders really a lesbian?

[@joysalvador2499]

It’s despicable how the rich and famous are allowed anything they want to do, yet people cannot visit their family on Christmas Day. Sheer hypocrisy.

[@kevinwilson3609]

I stopped watching at the discussion of the beautiful game and stephen ward as bad ideas. ALW's whole career has been making huge hits out of unexpected subjects (Jesus? Eva Peron? Cat poems?). Also the poster tells you exactly what the show it about.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

A fair observation, but The Beautiful Game and Stephen Ward were not successful. I'm not against the adaptation of unusual source material but would argue that both the Jesus and Eva Peron had naturally theatrical stories, as did Norma Desmond. Cats remains a polarising mystery.

[@kevinwilson3609]

@@MickeyJoTheatre What is and is not successful is NOT much based on subject matter (Hamilton?) You should learn more about the history of ALW musicals as NO ONE thought the life of Jesus or Eva Peron were good subjects for musicals.

[@Junoisverysleepy]

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. I don’t want another Cinderella story unless it’s about a trans Cinderella. Period.

[@radioactivedinosaur423]

Personally, Lloyd Webber’s gone downhill since Evita

[@David-pt8ge]

I think it’s a shame they cast a white middle class actress to lead this show. Not very edgy casting.

[@milliemay5678]

they cast carrie after she did all the workshops for it and the demos. also she is extremely talented. i do think that they should branch out but we don’t know who else is getting cast.

[@David-pt8ge]

@@milliemay5678 ​ @Mill As was said in the video, it would have been great to have a cast led by somebody more diverse. Particularly when that they are marketing the show on bringing something different to the story of Cinders.

[@milliemay5678]

@@David-pt8ge and i completely agree

[@mee5780]

Why does someone have to be non middle class and non white to be edgy? Seems a bit tokenkstic. I saw Les Mis yesterday and Cosette was played by Amara Okereke. Was I supposed to view her as edgy just because she's black? To me she just sounded and acted in a similar way to previous Cosettes.. her colour really had nothing to do with it. Given that the person with the most Tony's for performance is a black woman, are we really still in the frame of mind that a person of colour is edgy? Very strange..

[@David-pt8ge]

@@mee5780 It is 2020, I hope your question is ironic. The idea that you might be asking why diversity and equality are important. I grew up watching tv and films, where for nearly all the time did not reflect me. I was trying to make sense of the world through other people's stories. This new musical is taking place in one of the most diverse cities in the world. I don't think it is too much to ask why, yet again, they chose a white middle class heterosexual actress to play the lead. I have to say, your comment annoyed me. This is not about tokenism, this is not about quotas and if there is a black Cosette, all is ok and we do not have to keep raising these isses. Amara got the job on her talents, but time and time again the default position in this profession to hire white performers and tell stories about white heterosexual people. I wonder how many of the audience at last night's Les Mis were not white?

[@hvd06]

Horrible commentary. Ill informed.

[@Jac-Jay]

Well this comment didn't age well did it

[@trollol1914]

Inform us?