After the shock and sadness of Benazir's Bhutto's death and how it will certainly impact and have tough consequences for Pakistan and I believe the entire planet, I need to go back to the realm of the Romantic and the beautiful. Leave politics to bloggers who obsess about politics and current affairs a little too much, some who have no new ideas or expertise.
In the realm of the Romantic is the story of Cinderella. Most people are probably familar with the story of the beautiful girl who is ill treated by her stepmother and sisters, forced to be their servant, is rescued by a fairy god mother who sends her to the prince's ball, has to leave before the strike of the clock at 12 midnight, loses her glass slipper, and is finally reunited with the prince after his great search with the slipper, marries him and lives happily ever after. There have been several film versions and stage musicals of the fairy tale adapted from what is a folk tale/myth found in a number of cultures.
Ten years ago, Disney presented Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella which was very unique because the cast was multi-racial. The African-American singer actress Brandy Norwood plays the title role. A Filipino actor, Paolo Montalban, is the prince. Whoopi Goldberg is the prince's mother. A white actor, Victor Garber, plays the king. Bernadette Peters plays Cinderella's evil stepmother. And Whitney Houston is Cinderella's fairy god mother. The production was Emmy award winning despite its' very innovative casting. I was fortunate to see it when it was first presented on Disney, and felt that if I were a movie producer I would cast parts not according to race, but by talent.
Ten years ago, Disney presented Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella which was very unique because the cast was multi-racial. The African-American singer actress Brandy Norwood plays the title role. A Filipino actor, Paolo Montalban, is the prince. Whoopi Goldberg is the prince's mother. A white actor, Victor Garber, plays the king. Bernadette Peters plays Cinderella's evil stepmother. And Whitney Houston is Cinderella's fairy god mother. The production was Emmy award winning despite its' very innovative casting. I was fortunate to see it when it was first presented on Disney, and felt that if I were a movie producer I would cast parts not according to race, but by talent.
Look at this scene when Cinderella comes to ball and the prince sees her. Pure Romance!
I was amazed that Disney took this chance with the casting. Most comments about this production on YouTube site are very favorable, with many saying they just love Paolo Montalban as the prince and how he had done Asians proud. He has a very good voice which shows training unlike Brandy's which is good, but does not indicate professional coaching. Just like the song "Ten Minutes Ago," "Do I Want You Because You're Wonderful" is also another one of my favorites in the film.
I have Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella in my collection. It can be bought here at Amazon. For Romantics who are either children, adolescents, or adults, this version of Cinderella is a feast, a miletone, and a unique treat.
I was amazed that Disney took this chance with the casting. Most comments about this production on YouTube site are very favorable, with many saying they just love Paolo Montalban as the prince and how he had done Asians proud. He has a very good voice which shows training unlike Brandy's which is good, but does not indicate professional coaching. Just like the song "Ten Minutes Ago," "Do I Want You Because You're Wonderful" is also another one of my favorites in the film.
I have Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella in my collection. It can be bought here at Amazon. For Romantics who are either children, adolescents, or adults, this version of Cinderella is a feast, a miletone, and a unique treat.
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