A ball, a fairy godmother, evil stepfamily, and a glass slipper; if you haven’t caught on, we are talking about Cinderella! A timeless classic that has traversed through countries, Cinderella is one of the world’s most recognized fairytales. From Disney’s classic animated film, to the many ‘tween films of the early 2000s, the tale of Cinderella has seen many adaptations and iterations, but none quite this charming.
Cinderella on Ice by the Imperial Ice Stars was a magical performance by ace ice skaters and performers that left me spellbound! Performed at the Royal Opera House Muscat, Cinderella on Ice, performed from January 1st to 3rd, was not just any ice show, but a delighting retelling of a classic. Sitting there in the chilly hall, surrounded by little girls in princess dresses, all eager to see Cinderella, I sat back to enjoy the show, not realizing how much I’d actually love it! Aerial acrobatics, intricate choreography, fire play and so much more added an interesting edge to this adaptation of a classic. Aided by a mesmerizing score and beautiful costumes, it was impossible to take my eyes away from the main stage, only being jostled into reality by the falling curtains.
Over the two acts, the cast performed the story of Cinderella with such grace and energy, creating an overall enjoyable experience all while performing intense and intricate choreography with such ease, it made few audience members audibly ‘ooooooh’ and ‘ aaaaah’. A notable performance was that of the Evil Stepmother, Olga Sharutenko, and Cinderella herself, Kseniia Stepanova. Separately, and together, their dynamic screen presence brough their characters to life, and I found that it was hard to focus on anything but them in scenes where they would dominate the stage.
Few elements, however, had my jaw agape, such as the fire play and the concept of Time being a character in itself, as well as Viktoria Lalomva’s Fairy Godmother on stilt skates! Needless to say, it was an unexpected creative choice that was bold, impressive, memorable, and magical, seeing Cinderella torn from her Prince Charming by the 12 hours on the clock, and a larger-than-life Fairy Godmother towering over the rest of the cast.
Commenting on the success of the event, Umberto Fanni, Director General, said, “Cinderella on Ice demonstrated how classical stories can be presented in fresh and engaging ways while remaining respectful of their original spirit. It was rewarding to see audiences of all generations sharing this experience together.”
From its set design to its intricate choreography, Cinderella on Ice was a magical viewing experience, that left many a tiny princess absolutely spellbound, and that includes the author of this article!