MFL MarMac middle school play will offer comedic take on classic fairy tale
Audiences will enjoy a comedic take on a classic fairy tale in “Cinderella and the Substitute Fairy Godmother,” this year’s MFL MarMac middle school play. Mattie Hallberg (left) plays Lucretia, the substitute fairy godmother, whom Cinderella, portrayed by Mariah Moser, becomes increasingly frustrated with during the play. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Cora Keehner has the role of the prince, who she described as dorky rather than confident and charming.
A messenger shares news of the upcoming ball with Cinderella, her stepmother and stepsisters. The play will feature around 20 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.
Said director Josie Roulson of the play's plot line: “Basically, the fairy godmothers have a party and all get food poisoning, so they have to send in a substitute who’s never done it before and it goes crazy from there."
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
Audiences will enjoy a comedic take on a classic fairy tale in “Cinderella and the Substitute Fairy Godmother,” this year’s MFL MarMac middle school play. Performances will be held at 6 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, March 25 and 26, in the high school auditorium in Monona.
“Basically, the fairy godmothers have a party and all get food poisoning, so they have to send in a substitute who’s never done it before and it goes crazy from there,” described Josie Roulson, who’s making her directorial debut with assistant Kristen Hanson.
Around 20 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students make up the cast of the play, which will also feature other notable fairy tale characters such as the Three Little Pigs, Big Bad Wolf and Pinocchio.
The leads include Mariah Moser as Cinderella, Cora Keehner as the reluctant Prince Charmful and Mattie Hallberg as Lucretia, the substitute fairy godmother.
Students have been rehearsing “Cinderella and the Substitute Fairy Godmother” since mid-January and are excited to share their hard work and creativity, said Roulson.
“I love fairy tales and thought it would be fun to do something we could really put our imagination in,” she explained. “I didn’t know any of [the students] before starting the play, so it’s been fun getting to know them and see their different personalities come out with their characters. They’ve had a lot of great ideas. There’s lots of little funny stuff they’ve added and kind of made their characters their own.”
“I like being in the play because you can see different sides of me,” added Keehner, who’s learned what it takes to fill a male role.
In this interpretation, the prince isn’t stereotypically charming and confident. Instead, he’d much rather spend time building and playing with model trains, and only agreed to search for a wife at the urging of his parents.
“You see from both sides—that it’s not so easy being a guy doing a love scene,” said Keehner. “But I’m pretty dorky in this, so it’s easy to enjoy it and play around with other people.”
Hallberg feels much the same.
“I get to act kind of like me, a little crazy,” she said. “I play the substitute fairy godmother...I really don’t know what I’m doing. I’m clueless. I’m just trying to get Cinderella to the ball, but I don’t really do a very good job of it.”
Even the role of Cinderella is different than usual, but fun, noted Moser. Although the eight grader comes from a theater family and has acted before in the middle school play and at the Elkader Opera House, this is her biggest part yet.
“I’ve never really played the lead before, so I like getting to do that. And I get to work with everyone, which is fun, because some people only have scenes with certain people,” she said.
Moser’s favorite aspect of the play is its humor.
“There are a lot of lines that are funny, and people deliver them really well,” she shared.
Even after two months of rehearsals, the assistant director, Hanson, said she and Roulson continue to enjoy the unique story.
“There are a couple parts that make me laugh every single time, so I hope the audience loves those too,” Hanson commented.
Tickets for “Cinderella and the Substitute Fairy Godmother” will be available at the door. Hanson noted the play, due to its shorter length, will not have an intermission. Snacks will be available afterward, though, for a free will donation.
