Jester's role most entertaining in 'Cinderella'

In a story where the audience anticipates Cinderella's transformation, the funny high flying Jester snagged her spotlight. A role invented by choreographer Jacques Cesbron to better suit the dancer's talent and persona, the Jester, played by junior Christopher Nachtrab, is in a class of his own on the stage. Some of his friends consider him a small ballet diva, but in "Cinderella" he grabbed the spotlight with his dynamic facial expressions and funny antics. \n"Cinderella" opened Friday with a sold-out crowd at the Musical Arts Center. Here, a large production ballet that would cost about $1 million to produce in New York with tickets priced at $60 minimum, cost students from $8 to $16, and the audience received a fair deal for their dollar. \nThe set and costumes were comparable to an Andrew Lloyd Webber production. Every detail of the set was elaborate. The lighting affected the ambience of the stage by provoking emotional mystery and excitement for the performers. Costumes and set were elaborately designed, leaving little to the imagination. The performers' long months of preparation paid off with laughs and looks of awe from the audience. \n"It was funnier than I expected, very nicely done," said senior Halden Williams. \nThe Jester became a favorite among the audience in "Cinderella." He created a humorous environment for the audience to interact with and comic relief for those not used to seeing a ballet. The Jester interacted with the audience with his funny antics, facial expressions and acrobatic aerial ballet movements. He, along with the stepsisters, performed most of the acting core of the ballet. This greatly enhanced the story because there is no place for dialogue in a ballet.\n"Between the Jester and stepsisters, it really made the performance," Williams said.\nThe only mishap of the performance was during Act III when the back set to Cinderella's living room got stuck part way coming down. For several minutes the back set was bopping up and down as if stuck on something.\n"I was afraid they would bring it in and hit me on the head," said senior Jenna Wolf, who played Cinderella. "I knew they wouldn't hurt me."\nWolf and senior Joseph Morrissey's final dance in Act III won over the audience with a beautiful and athletically artistic performance that touched the heart. \nUnfortunately, the drop was raised again and the audience was left to imagine what the living room would look like.\nWolf was graceful and delightful to watch. Her presence on the stage was less acting and more graceful ballet. Wolf along with Morrissey, who played the prince, told the story with their extensive movements. \nAt the end of the ballet, the audience clapped for the performers for five minutes and stood up when Cesbron, conductor Imre Palló, and set and costume designer C. David Higgins arrived on stage. \nThe most memorable moment for junior Allison DeBona, who played one of the stepsisters, was when the crowds, clapping and cheering, overwhelmed her and she cried with joy from the positive reaction of the audience, she said.