Hoperah (Giselle LeBleu Gant – L, Cinderella (Paige Hernandez – R) and Chin Chilla (Katy Carkuff – C). Photo provided by Imagination Stage.
In the land of Hip-Hop Hollywood, girls are limited in what they are allowed to do. The people in Hip-Hop Hollywood don’t let girls disc jockey (DJ), and if you can’t DJ, then you have no power – you’re not hip in Hollywood. Imagination Stage’s production of Cinderella: The Remix is the last installment of the “Hip-Hop Children’s Trilogy” produced by Imagination Stage and all written and directed by Psalmayene 24 (the others being Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth and P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical). This remix tells the Cinderella story, but of course with at twist.
Cinderella (Paige Hernandez) is the girl who wants to DJ and is the best in the land, but she just needs the chance and the confidence to show the world what she can do. With the help of a Fairy Godmother named Hoperah (Giselle LeBlue Gant) and a best friend chinchilla named Chin Chilla (Katy Carkuff), she woos J Prince (Baye Harell) and convinces Hip-Hop Hollywood to change their very un-hip ways.
This Cinderella story highlights the importance of tolerance, acceptance and respect through fun music and dance, and that’s what I call a happily ever after.
Hernandez’s Cinderella is played with charm, pluck and an abundance of energy. Her delight in performing shines every minute she is on stage. And there can’t be aHip-Hop Hollywood without Hip-Hop Beats, and this show has some of the best I’ve heard, thanks to Beats composer Nick Hernandez (Paige’s little brother).
Cinderella (Paige Hernandez). Photo provided by Imagination Stage.
This Remix also alters Cinderella’s family. In this show, she has a stepmother named Bad Ma’amajama (Giselle LeBleu Gant), a stepbrother named Chocolate Ice (Mark Hairston) and instead of all of the forest animals as friends, she relies only on her one friend, Chin Chilla, for encouragement. Bad Ma’amajama wants Cinderella to give all her Beats to Chocolate Ice because girls aren’t allowed to DJ and also because she thinks Ice should have all the good Beats. Gant is great at the demanding, impatient and unkind stepmom, but she is hilarious as Hoperah, the fairy godmother who has her own talk show. She does everything she can so that Cinderella can play her Beats for J Prince and become his one and only DJ.
Baye Harell as J Prince is charming and believable as a rap star on a mission to find just the right person to share his talent and his life with. Mark Hairston as Chocolate Ice is perfect as the pouty, spoiled stepbrother who prefers to take Cinderella’s Beats instead of working to get better mixing Beats of his own. Jacob Yeh plays Mo’ Money, J Prince’s record label owner and, like his character’s name, all he is interested in is making more money. Yeh did a great job, but I missed seeing him on stage with the other cast members. All of Mo’ Money’s scenes are broadcast on three TV screens on stage. Katy Carkuff as Chin Chilla is cute as Cinderella’s best friend, and she is at her best when she is engaging the audience to sing and dance along with her. And there are plenty of opportunities for the audience to join in on the fun and sing and dance along with the cast. Imagine an entire audience busting some cool moves (everyone I could see was up dancing, young children and adults alike).
(L to R) Chocolate Ice (Mark Hairston) and J Prince (Baye Harell). Photo provided by Imagination Stage.
This Cinderella story highlights the importance of tolerance, acceptance and respect through fun music and dance, and that’s what I call a happily ever after.
Running Time: 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
Cinderella: The Remix runs through May 25, 2014 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814. For tickets call the box office at 301-280-1660 or click here.
