SCR OFFERS A ‘CINDERELLA’ WITH STYLE

A wise blend of a story simply told and refreshingly fancy trimmings highlights the South Coast Repertory Young Conservatory Players’ musical production of “Cinderella & Tizzie Twinkle.”

Departing from the more typical no-frills, use-your-imagination children’s theater, the show, directed by Diane Doyle and featuring a group of 8- to 17-year-olds--graduates of SCR’s three-year theater training program for children--cuts no corners in the costume department.

Thanks to the delicate touch of set and costume designer Dwight Richard Odle, there are enough ribbons, satins, lace, pearls, ruffles and flounces swirling about the tiny dappled-blue, rose-bedecked stage at the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Founders Hall to satisfy any little girl’s dress-up dreams.

Swathed in their finery, the young cast generally acquits itself well. Pretty Darci Price is a graceful, unselfconscious Cinderella. Stepsisters Kelli Harrington, Samantha Brown and Beth Lockie and Stepmother Jessica Hall relish their roles as nasties. Maureen Brophy is sufficiently dizzy as fairy godmother Tizzie Twinkle (she throws herself down, flat on her back, to have a good think).

The dancing rats and mice in their spiffy, furry garb provide pleasant musical interludes and tall, dark Paul Constantine nicely fills the role of royal heartthrob Prince Joseph.

The main problem in this otherwise well-timed, pleasant little show written by Walter Mac, with music and lyrics by Joan Lomax and Marcie Dubbs, is in having the cast use British accents, apparently to give the show added flair.

The results are a Cockney prince, and occasionally indecipherable dialogue among female cast members. At times, the naturally high young voices of Cinderella, the stepmother, stepsisters and Tizzie Twinkle rise shrilly higher in excitement or confrontation. That shrillness, combined with an attempt to hang on to an artificial accent, interrupts continuity, and hurts the ears besides.

(In his brief humorous appearance as head Herald, Martin Noyes seems to have the best handle on his accent--using understatement to good effect.)

The best moments of the play are the well-executed musical numbers featuring the entire cast. Execution, timing and choreography (done by Molly Lynch) come together in professional style, as does the happily-ever-after ending, with Cinderella in her gauzy, flowing wedding gown, her prince at her side, surrounded by court well-wishers.

Performances continue at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. and Sunday at 3 and 5 p.m.; (714) 957-4033.