Cinderella Reviews - compiled by Dan. Thanks to Dan for this information! The current tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella ends today in Denver. Throughout the past 9 months, Paulo consistently received the best reviews of the cast. (Out of approximately 30 reviews that were posted – thanks to Lisa, Noel, Julie, Andrea and Liza – the Prince received maybe 4 or 5 negative comments.) Anyway, in case you missed ‘em, here’s a collection of 25 reviews from the 2000-2001 Cinderella tour… JAY HANDELMAN, THEATER CRITIC, Sarasota FL "The show's sweetest sounds come out of the mouth of Paolo Montalban, who plays the Prince with a sure voice and a playful yet regal presence. And he moves freely to Ken Roberson's choreography." CHRISTINE DOLEN, Miami Herald "Montalban is everything a handsome prince should be, and his gift for imbuing songs with romantic longing make The Sweetest Sounds and Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful? highlights of the show." JOHN FLEMING, St. Petersburg Times "Paolo Montalban is a dashing young Prince. His duets with Gibson are suitably romantic and touching…" BRAD HATHAWAY, Online Broadway "The lead that is most impressive is the Prince - Paulo Montalban who had the role in the most recent made-for-television movie of this piece. He looks every inch a charming prince, his stage demeanor is a marvelous combination of regal assurance and youthful tentativeness. His voice is practically perfect for the romantic ballads of the show…" MARION GARMEL, Indianapolis Star "Paolo Montalban uses his beautifully tender voice and gentle innocence to make this the most romantic prince in Cinderella history." J. WYNN ROUSUCK, Baltimore Sun "The cast has one holdover from the 1997 TV show; handsome, mellow-voiced Paolo Montalban is everything a girl could want in a Prince Charming." CHRISTOPHER HOILE, Stage Door "Paolo Montalban... is a real find who has everything going for him. Besides his good looks, he's completely at home on stage, can act, can dance and sings with a strong, warm baritone that puts Jon Cypher on the original cast recording completely in the shade. He turns "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?", which can sound faintly ridiculous, into a expression of genuine wonderment." DOMINIC PAPATOLA, Pioneer Press "Paolo Montalban reprises his Prince Charming role from the 1997 television movie. Montalban moves through the score admirably and gives his prince a homespun sincerity. Together with Gibson, they make a lovely couple indeed, and if their acting does not blow you away, it's hard not to be drawn in by their chemistry." MICHAEL GROSSBERG, Columbus Dispatch "If not for the sweetness, good looks and romantic chemistry of Jamie-Lynn Sigler's Cinderella and Paolo Montalban's Prince, Cinderella might never find its footing. Montalban (who also played the Prince in the 1997 TV movie) and Sigler (Meadow on The Sopranos) sing Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful? and The Sweetest Sounds so well that audiences won't care that the weak Rodgers and Hammerstein score doesn't have any great numbers." VINNIE POSTESTIVO, Phoenix Citysearch.com "And who better than real life hunk Paolo Montalban, to play opposite Miss Sigler. He is charasmatic, charming, and his performance is princely! " LAWRENCE VAN GELDER, New York Times "That man is portrayed by Paolo Montalban with a strong, clear singing voice and just the right amount of democratic decency and princely panache." BRETT OPPEGAARD, (Portland) Columbian.com "Such a solid production and secure storyline means less of an emphasis on the performers, creating rare casting opportunities. Chances could be taken without threatening the success of the show, so they were. Paolo Montalban, who reprises the role of the Prince he played in the 1997 television version, and NaTasha Yvette Williams, as Cinderella's stepsister Grace, are examples of such picks that work." MARY R. MARTIN, Seattle Post-Intelligencer "Paulo Montalban as the prince is graceful and golden-voiced. In his first scene, which features the prince and Cinderella in a duet of the show’s best-known song, "The Sweetest Sounds," he establishes himself as the embodiment of princeliness with a strong, sweet voice to boot." MISHA BERSON, Seattle Times "As the gal with the glass slipper, Sigler uncorks a modest but appealing singing voice and displays a sweet stage presence. And as her prince, Montalban croons well and looks swell." LAURA C. KELLY, Aisle Say (Cincinnati) "Paolo Montalban, who played the same role in the 1997 Disney television production, just might gain the audience's admiration as quickly as he does Cinderella's: at first sight. If his handsome appearance alone doesn't win you over, then his clear, strong singing voice should." KENNETH LAFAVE, Arizona Republic "Paolo Montalban repeats his role as Prince Christopher from the 1997 TV version. An exceptionally fine Broadway singer, he lifts the show's best tunes - Ten Minutes Ago, Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful? - into the stratosphere." SANDRA DILLARD, Denver Post "The cast is appealing, especially Paolo Montalban as a young Prince…" "Montalban, whose rich voice complements his dark good looks, is empathetic as a level-headed young man who wants to marry for love, rather than convenience, and wants to wed someone he can talk to. He and sweet-voiced Deborah Gibson, as the much put-upon Cinderella, have nice chemistry together…" MELINDA SCHUPMANN, ShowMag.com "Montalban is a heart-poundingly sensual prince with a beautiful voice and a palpable sense of frustration as the young man trapped in a life that has no meaning. For a standard fairy tale, the love scenes are electric, thanks to him. Both Sigler and Montalban have great voices, and they are teriffic together." JOHN COULBOURN, Toronto Sun "Of the principals, however, only Paolo Montalban scores high points, fleshing out a two-dimensional character with a strong blend of charm and vocal talent." SAN DIEGO PLAYBILL "Jamie-Lynn is complemented by Paolo Montalban (who is not related to Ricardo) as the Prince. Paolo also played the Prince alongside Brandy and Whitney Houston in the 1998 Disney version. His regal look and voice are equally impressive." MARGIE BLASH, Random Memo "Sigler’s mezzo-soprano voice and Montalban’s blend wonderfully. Paolo Montalban is a young rising star and will be someone to keep an eye out for. His performance is flawless!" PETCUPID(!), LiveJournal.com "They took a clue from the recent Whitney Houston/Brandy television special and did the nonrace specific casting so the King was black, the Queen white, and their son the Prince asian (actually it was the same guy, last name Montalban, that was also in the television version, and he was gorgeous)." PATRICK DORN, Boulder Daily Camera "Paolo Montalban, who also played Prince Chris in the most recent television remake, has a nice, lyrical voice, and plays the part with sincerity and warmth. He seems to be trying to cling to the last vestiges of Rodgers and Hammerstein's original intent. It's too bad the rest of the show didn't follow his direction. " JAY HANDLEMAN, Variety "Whatever the style of the music, it seems just right for Paolo Montalban, who also played the Prince in the recent telefilm. His voice is strong and engaging and he makes you feel his despair as his parents push him to find a bride." ANDREA MESICH’S MOM! "I liked Cinderella far better (than Beauty and the Beast). After hearing that Paolo's voice, nothing could compare to it. This show had good special effects, but I think Cinderella had the best singer by far. Maybe this show could have been saved in my opinion if Paolo had the lead role. The lead male didn't hold a candle to Paolo. I don't see how anyone could enjoy this show with its overly operetic sound when you have a perfectly in tune, and beautiful voice like Paolo's. I just didn't like this show. I'd rather see Cinderella a hundred times over, at least if Paolo is in it. I don't know if anyone else could hold a song as well as he can. I think both shows, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella are at a loss without Paolo." And finally… CLIVE BARNES, New York Post "While the production values may be sparse, the cast is excellent. Jamie-Lynn Sigler vocally may not be the next Julie Andrews, but she's beautiful and charming, while Paolo Montalban (in answer to yet another question - he's no relation!) makes a stalwart, strong-voiced Prince." …It's now a good show for kids - better, say, that either "Seussical" or "Tom Sawyer" - yet what is fascinating is that with some quite considerable primping and tweaking, to say nothing of 10 million bucks, I still think that one day Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" could make it to Broadway.