History Theatre / CinderellaRodgersAndHammerstein

* FairyGodmother: It's an adaptation of ''Cinderella'' after all. It was either that or a magical tree with the power to grant wishes, and this musical is based on Perrault's version, not the Brother's Grimm's version.

* CharacterDevelopment: Particularly in the 1957 and 1997 versions, Cinderella grows from being "as mild and as meek as a mouse" under her stepmother's thumb, to realizing with her Fairy Godmother's help that she needs to do more than wish and dream to [[EarnYourHappyEnding Earn Her Happy Ending]], and taking her future into her own hands. (In the 1957 version going back to the palace by herself in her rags and ultimately trying on the slipper there, in the 1997 version packing a bag to run away and being found in the yard by the Prince just as she's leaving.) The 2000 "Enchanted Edition" stage script also highlights this, as she makes a plan to get herself to the ball without magic – for which the Fairy Godmother rewards her by providing magic after all – and in the end deliberately steps forward against her Stepmother's orders to ask to try on the slipper.
* CharacterTics: In the 1965 and 1997 versions, besides their obnoxious personalities, each stepsister has a specific physical tic or habit that their mother tries but fails to train out of them. In the 1967 version, Prunella's knee creaks and Esmeralda bats her eyes, while in the 1997 version, Minerva [[InconvenientItch gets itchy when she's nervous]] and Calliope [[AnnoyingLaugh snorts when she laughs.]]
* CharmPoint: "Stepsisters' Lament" is a song about Cinderella's two stepsisters bemoaning the prince's attraction to Cinderella and wondering just what it is he ''sees'' in her. They describe her possible charm points (her daintiness, pale skin, long neck, pink cheeks, and gentleness) in unflattering ways before exaspertedly chanting "What's the matter with the man?"

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: In 1957, Howard Lindsay portrayed King Maximilian with a lampshaded beer belly. The remakes have Creator/WalterPidgeon and Victor Garber play slimmer kings, and both also cut out the song referencing the original's portly figure.

* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: the 1965 and 1997 versions have Cinderella recall her father as a kind and loving man whom she was clearly close to.

* WhamShot: Ella almost loses a glass slipper, but she picks it up before Topher could get it, making this the first time Cinderella doesn't ACCIDENTALLY lose one of her glass slippers, instead leaving one behind deliberately when she leaves as a CallingCard.

** This extends into the song "Impossible" too. In the original '57 version, the Godmother hasn't revealed yet that she's a fairy, sings the song in response to Cinderella wishing that a pumpkin could turn into a coach, mice into horses, etc., as if she were genuinely telling her that her dream is impossible... until the last line [[WhamLine "...impossible things are happening every day."]] In this version, she's the one who offers Cinderella a pumpkin as a coach, mice to become horses, etc., and sings "Impossible" to put Cinderella's doubts at ease. (The '97 version takes a [[TakeAThirdOption third option]] and has the Godmother first tell Cinderella that just wishing isn't enough, but then sing the song to assure her that this doesn't mean her wishes can't come true.)

Creator/{{Rodgers and Hammerstein}}'s musical adaptation of [[Literature/{{Cinderella}} the fairytale.]] It was originally written and performed live on Creator/{{CBS}} television in 1957, with Creator/JulieAndrews starring in the title role. A 1965 remake, starring Creator/LesleyAnnWarren and with a revised script (plus a CutSong from ''Theatre/SouthPacific'') was rerun well into TheNineties. ''Series/WaltDisneyPresents'' released [[Film/Cinderella1997 a film version]] in 1997.

* PimpedOutDress: Both Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother.

* SheCleansUpNicely: Our heroine.

Not to be confused with the other musical ''Cinderella'', a FracturedFairyTale spin on the fairytale written by Creator/AndrewLloydWebber, which made its West End debut in 2021.

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning:
** Lesley Ann Warren and Brandy spin during their respective dress transformation scenes.
--->'''Fairy Godmother ('97)''': Spin around, don't make me do all the work!
** Julie Andrews did not spin in the live 1957 version because she acquired her ballgown in between scene changes.
** In the 2013 Broadway performance, Laura Osnes spins as her dress "magically" appears.

--->'''King''': "I want the wine of my country! The wine of my country is beer!"
--->'''Queen''': [[DeadpanSnarker Obviously.]]

* {{Meganekko}}: Gabrielle.

** There are many references to the 1955 film ''Film/TheGlassSlipper'', notably Crazy Marie is an {{Expy}} of Ms. Tocquet.

* ActuallyQuiteCatchy: The stepfamily, of course, hates Cinderella. However, after the ball, she starts singing "Lovely Night", describing her romantic night with the prince. The stepsisters get swept up in the song and even sing with her, only snapping back to normal when their mother yells at them for taking part.

* FairyGodmother: It's an adaptation of Cinderella after all. It was either that or a magical tree with the power to grant wishes.

* DarkerAndEdgier: The stepmother and stepsisters are portrayed as genuinely abusive towards Cinderella, instead of being comic relief like in the 50's and 90's version.

* CharacterTics: Stepsister Esmeralda bats her eyes too much for her mother's or the prince's liking.

[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/Cinderella1997 Has its own page.]]