Article from ShowMag
Thanks to Lisa of NYC and Dan for this information!

http://www.showmag.com/theater/theater346.html
(from ShowMag.com)

Cinderella 
 
Sigler, Kitt By Melinda Schupmann 

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away, an extraordinarily 
handsome prince (Paolo Montalban) spied a lovely young 
girl (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) and the rest, as they say, is old 
news. However, this time around, the Orange County 
Performing Arts Center practices its splendid magic and 
incorporates a chunk of the old Oscar Hammerstein II story, 
a bit of the classic 60's television version, and some new 
twists from the recent Disney production starring Brandy 
and Whitney Houston. There's a lot of love story, some 
broad satire, pretty decent choreography by Ken Roberson, 
and, of course, a fog machine.
Slinking into this mix, the quintessential cat lady takes 
center stage, as sultry a fairy godmother (Eartha Kitt) as you 
might find anywhere. She comes from the darker fairy world 
of Shakespeare, though, not that homogenized pink and 
white locale we are used to. At 70+, Kitt commands 
attention. In her "Fol-De-Rol" number, there's hardly a 
muscle not called into play as she proves again and again 
that she's an entertainment institution.
Director Gabriel Barre and writer Tom Briggs have created a 
new adaptation of the story for this generation of Cinderella 
watchers. No longer remaining the pale and passive 
scullery maid, Cinderella is coached by Kitt to take charge of 
her life and decide for herself what she wants--the 
message for the little girl of today. Sigler tries to see to it, but 
she lapses into a lot of stereotypical eye-batting and shy, 
self-effacing coquetry.
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.
The supporting cast is suitably colorful. King Maximillian 
(Ken Prymus) and Queen Constantina (Leslie Becker) are 
clever and comical. Lionel, the Royal Steward (Brooks 
Ashmanskas) is flamboyantly funny, reminiscent of the late 
Paul Lynde. Stepmother (Everett Quinton) and stepsisters 
Joy (Alexandra Kolb) and Grace (NaTasha Yvette Williams) 
deliver awful characters with unappealing fervor.
The bright pinks, limes, and greens of Pamela Scofield's 
costumes make a bold statement, taking us further away 
from the traditional rendition and into a contemporary 
cartoon world. James Youmans' scenic and Tim Hunter's 
lighting design thoroughly enchant.
But it's the puppets who steal the show. Four absolutely 
cunning mice under the direction of Kip Driver, Kevin Duda, 
Jason Ma, and Jason Robinson, and a cat named Charles 
(Patrick Wetzel) bring back the Disneyesque quality of the 
cartoon version.
Adding "The Sweetest Sounds" from No Strings to the score 
begins the show, and it provides some of the lovliest 
moments of the musical numbers. Both Sigler and 
Montalban have great voices, and they are teriffic together.
If I am wistfully wishing for a little less show biz and a little 
more of the mellow charm of earlier versions with Julie 
Andrews or Leslie Ann Warren, Ginger Rogers and Walter 
Pidgeon, then I am just not "with it." Today's stage show 
needs to snap and crackle with special effects and dazzle. 
This show does that and more. In an audience filled with 
children all dressed up for a special evening, there is no 
disappointment in this big, bright show.