Club will screen French ‘Cinderella’

OPERA CLUB

Everyone is invited to come and watch the French composer Jules Massenet’s rendition of “Cinderella” on Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 1:30 p.m. in the Learning Center at Clubhouse 3.

Club member Lucy Poropat will introduce the musical fairy tale which highlights a good outcome for a hard-working, conscientious person and loss of the same for a nasty step-mother and two snarly step-sisters.

Act 1 depicts the Countess de la Haltiere supervising the dressing of her two daughters for the Royal Ball while her husband, Pandolfe, is helplessly leaving his own daughter at the fireplace. After they depart, a fairy godmother appears to transform Cinderella for the ball, to which she yearns to go.

Act 2 shows the Prince being commanded by his father, the King, to find a wife at the ball, but he sees no one attractive until Cinderella arrives and it’s love at first sight.

Yet, at the stroke of midnight, Cinderella hurries away, in keeping with her fairy godmother’s admonished limits, losing a glass slipper along the way.

Act 3A shows the Countess at home, discussing the Royal Ball with her two daughters. Cinderella listens to her father stating his interest in taking her back to the country estate from which they came. However, Cinderella feels she would rather just run away. Act 3B, however, shows the fairy godmother creating a magic landscape around a big oak tree where Cinderella rediscovers the Prince, who declares his love for her and they fall into an enchanted sleep.

In Act 4, Cinderella awakens from her dream to witness a parade of princesses trying on the glass slipper to no avail. The slipper, the audience knows, is only for her, and the opera ends with her being caught up by Prince Charming amid general rejoicing.

The production is in French with English subtitles. Attendees are invited to wear masks indoors, if desired. No dues or fees are collected. For more information, contact Margaret Gillon at MargaretGi@ yahoo.com or call her at 562-370-3844.