THE HANGOVER REPORT – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s eagerly over-the-top BAD CINDERELLA leans in on the camp factor

Linedy Genao and the cast of “Bad Cinderella” at the Imperial Theatre (photo by Matthew Murphy).

Last week, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella officially opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre. The new musical arrives on the Great White Way after having premiered in London’s West End under the more traditional title of simply Cinderella. With the addition of “Bad” to the title, Lloyd Webber and team seem to want to emphasize the notion that this take of the ubiquitous rags to riches fairy tale – which is based on the original story and book by Emerald Fennell (the book adaptation is by Alexis Scher) – is far from your grandmother’s version. Suffice to say, you should expect some surprises on the journey to happily ever after.

Well, is it as bad as everyone says it is? That seems to be the question that arises when the pun-inviting Bad Cinderella pops up in conversation. Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. Complete with hordes of needlessly bare chested men and materialistic, self-indulgent women (you’ll immediately get the drift during the show’s opening number “Beauty Is Our Duty”), the musical registers as eagerly and relentlessly over-the-top. For some, this may be in bad taste. Indeed, many theater goers may find the often crude musical on the obnoxious side of the spectrum.

In my book, however, Bad Cinderella has the guts to do what I wish another ill-fated musical (ahem, Diana) had the guts to do – that is, to fully lean in on the campiness of it all. Primarily on those grounds, I found myself having an enjoyable time at the Imperial. Of course, Lloyd Webber’s insistently hummable tunes don’t hurt. Where the show somewhat stumbles on itself are the occasionally inane lyrics by David Zippel and book by Ms. Scher. Also questionable are the show’s fussy and unfocused design aspects. That being said, the direction by Laurence Connor and choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter move things along at a pleasantly efficient clip.

The cast appear to be having a swell old time performing the show. Particularly infectious are the deliciously kooky performances by the great Carolee Carmello and incisively-voiced Grace McLean as, respectively, the Stepmother and the Queen. As Cinderella, relative newcomer Linedy Genao brings both sensational pop vocals and an effortless combination of swagger and vulnerability to the title character. As her Prince, the sterling-voiced Jordan Dobson is unconventionally adorable in his own wonderfully idiosyncratic way.

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BAD CINDERELLA
Broadway, Musical
Imperial Theatre
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Open run

Categories: Broadway, Theater

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