THE FREE LANCE-STAR WASHINGTON Thanks to Dan for this information! Kitt: Sexy 'Cinderella' godmother Eartha Kitt played Cat Woman in the popular TV show 'Batman.' Click for larger photo and to order reprints Eartha Kitt plays the fairy godmother and Jessica Rush plays Cinderella in The Kennedy Center's new production of the made-for-TV musical, playing now through Jan. 13. Click for larger photo and to order reprints Glossy production of familiar fairy tale makes Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" a midwinter treat. By LUCIA ANDERSON The Free Lance-Star Date published: Thu, 12/27/2001 THE FREE LANCE-STAR WASHINGTON--The midwinter holiday season cries out for fluffy, sparkly entertainment, and the Kennedy Center is delivering with Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella." Beautiful costumes, pretty songs, cute mice, comic stepsisters--who could ask for anything fluffier or sparklier? The fact that everybody knows exactly what's going to happen every step of the way, that the songs are 44 years old and never were very popular and that the heroine looks prettier in her rags than in her ball gown should not trouble anyone. This made-for-TV-and-expanded-for-the-stage trifle is just what winter-weary holiday-hassled folks are longing for. No thought is required, there's no emotional involvement, nothing that needs any effort on the part of the audience. Pure relaxation. "Cinderella" is the only musical that Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote for television. It first aired in 1957 and starred Julie Andrews. This version has been adapted for the stage by Tom Briggs. He has retained two Rodgers and Hammerstein songs from other shows that were added to the 1997 TV version to fill out the mostly forgettable score. The more memorable of these additions is "The Sweetest Sounds I Ever Heard," from "No Strings," sung by Cinderella and the prince before they meet. The only song from the "Cinderella" score that's made it into the popular lexicon is "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" The big star attraction in this production is the legendary Eartha Kitt. Although she's got to be in her 70s, she still cuts a slinky figure on stage and can belt out a tune with the best of them. The only problem is that the signature Eartha Kitt growl has become harder to understand over the years. That's too bad, because this is a fairy godmother with attitude, and it's a shame to miss any of her lines. Paolo Montalban, who starred in the 1997 television version with Brandy and Whitney Houston, plays the prince with style and charm. He can sing well, too. Jessica Rush is lovely as Cinderella and Everett Quinton, NaTasha Yvette Williams and Sandra Bargman are a hoot as the stepmother and ugly stepsisters. The real stars of the show, though are the mice. Man, are they cute! They and Charlie the Cat and the Dove are all puppets, operated by fully visible human beings. The puppeteers are so good, though, that one forgets they're there, and the animals move so naturally that they don't seem like puppets at all. Does one need to mention that the sets are glossy, the costumes brilliant, the choreography neatly executed and the music in tune? It's a national tour, after all. There's a certain Disney/Land of Oz look to the whole thing, but who cares? This isn't meant to be cutting-edge theater. And, if you go, watch carefully and tell me how Cinderella gets from her chimney-corner rags into her ball costume, complete with curled hair and glass slippers. Be darned if I could figure it out.