Cinderella’s slipper two-steps into Admiral

Comedic flair will meet famous fairy-tale as the Peninsula Dance Company readies for its latest performance, “Cinderella,” beginning May 10 at the Admiral Theatre in downtown Bremerton.

While the wicked step-sisters, wretched step-mother, charming prince and of course Cinderella herself will grace the stage, artistic director Lawan Morrison has put her own twist into the performance.

“It’s a lot of comedy, it should be really funny,” Morrison said. “The whole first scene is slapstick.”

And while the end of the story won’t change — good will prevail over evil — the acting, dancing and music along the way will keep the audience on seat’s edge.

“The step-sisters are really just over the board acting, they’re funny,” Morris said, adding that the cast will combine ballet with acting.

Lifelong dancer Samantha Garvin, who has danced since the age of three, will step into the lead role as Cinderella, her biggest role since 2005 when she played Clara in “The Nutcracker.”

“She’s a good little dancer,” Morrison said of Garvin, who has danced with Peninsula Dance Company for six years.

“I’m excited to perform,” Garvin said during a Wednesday rehearsal. “It’s going to be my last show (with Peninsula Dance Company), so it’s a little bittersweet.”

While Garvin, a senior at Central Kitsap High School, has danced for 15 years, “Cinderella” has brought some twists, keeping her busy throughout the rehearsal process.

“I had to switch partners (the Prince) two weeks into rehearsal because my first partner was injured and couldn’t perform,” she said, explaining that a new man stepped into the role.

Garvin also cited the combination of acting and dancing as a minor challenge.

“It’s definitely more challenging,” she said of acting, requiring memorization and additional movements. “With acting, it’s focusing on the quality of your movement.”

Rehearsing since early March, Garvin and the entire cast have logged serious hours preparing for the performances.

“I came in on Easter (and) have been rehearsing on weekends,” she said. “I’ve definitely been here a lot, trying to get it all down.”

And while Cinderella herself may draw the crowd’s attention, Garvin said the audience can expect a quality performance across the board.

“It’s really about the whole cast, the dynamics of the cast,” she said. “You have these beautiful dancers, they’re gorgeous to watch.”

And with the heavy rehearsal schedule, Garvin believes the entire cast has grown as a unit, learning about each other along the way.

“We’ve always had a strong team dynamic,” she explained. “We are all really supportive of each other. If you know each other, you dance better.”

The Peninsula Ballet Orchestra, under the direction of Alan Futterman, will perform music by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev.

“It’s a difficult score to play, I understand, but they’re having fun with it,” Morrison said, adding that Futterman has done an exceptional job working with the dancers. “It takes a real unique person to conduct (music) with dancers.”

Morrison hopes to see families — young and old — come out and watch the ballet, especially with Mother’s Day landing on the second performance day.

“It’s a family show,” Morrison said. “I’m hoping that mothers, daughters and grandmothers will come out and see it.”

Performance dates are at 8 p.m. May 10 and at 3 p.m. May 11. The Saturday performance is available with dinner, beginning at 6 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Bremerton Dance Center, Kitsap Mall, Bremerton Chamber of Commerce and Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call (360) 377-2027.

The Admiral Theatre is located at 515 Pacific Ave. in Bremerton.

Contact Bremerton Patriot Sports writer Wesley Remmer at wremmer@bremertonpatriot.com or (360) 308-9161.

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