By Camille Kerwin
Hometown Weekly Intern
Three dazzling nights have come and gone, as the Medfield Theatre Society celebrated a weekend of sold-out shows and standing ovations.
Medfield High’s production of “Cinderella” this past weekend reflected the enthusiasm and effort put into the show by all of the students who participated. Each actor, crew member, and musician threw themselves into their work and practically lived in the area surrounding the school’s auditorium for weeks prior to the show.
Their hard work showed from opening night to the closing performance. The first scene of the musical begins in the village square among bakeries and florists. From hat boxes to trumpets, the props department demonstrated attention to every minute detail.
Cinderella’s transformation scene displayed some of the show’s finest aspects. Lightning struck against the woodland backdrop, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother seemed to magically move objects, and the mice, only offstage for a moment, returned as white horses.
They came back pulling a full-sized, golden carriage which had previously been a pumpkin. At the same moment, Cinderella spun around and her drab dress, akin to that of a scullery maid, magically transformed into a white ball gown in seconds.
Much of this scene was made possible through the assistance of parents and other adults who volunteered in the months leading up to the show. Their carpentry skills and the donation of their time allowed for the construction of the elaborate and sizable carriage and many of the set pieces.
“Costume moms” spent countless hours sewing and fitting, and insisted on an exquisite level of detail. Each female ball guest wore a full length ball gown with matching neck and hair pieces. The director of the production and advisor of the Medfield Theatre Society, Mary Ann Hatem, dedicated herself to “Cinderella” and carried the production from beginning to end.
Such a generous community breeds a group of spirited and grateful members. Senior Cole Foster, who played Prince Christopher and is vice president of the club, honored every moment of his last production at Medfield High and cherished “the family the cast has become.”
Julia Adrian who played Cinderella felt similarly in that what made the show so special for her was the people.
This year, Medfield Theatre Society bids farewell to an especially enthusiastic and kind senior class who leave this extraordinary show as a legacy.
Camille Kerwin is an Intern at Hometown Weekly. For questions, email news@hometownweekly.net.
