By Emily Sullivan
Associate Editor
Impossible things may be happening every day, but topping this year’s SBU Hip-Hop show will be impossible…without a little magic!
This semester, the SBU Hip-Hop team presented the familiar tale of “Cinderella,” but with a spunky and dance-filled twist this past Tuesday and Wednesday. The show starred sophomore history major Jacqueline Gertner as Cinderella. Gertner’s portrayal of Cinderella was as sweet and innocent as Jaclyn and Justine Haskell’s stepsisters were hilarious and bright.
Graduate student of education Jaclyn, who played the over-bearing Judith, and junior psychology major Justine, who played the awkward and twitchy Tabitha, kept the audience in stitches throughout the entire show, along with the over-tanned evil step mother, played by junior psychology major Meghan Meehan.
The show followed the traditional fairy tale of “Cinderella,” but with a few SBU Hip-Hop changes. Director Justine Haskell incorporated some of the well-known Disney tunes, such as “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and the catchy “Bippity Boppity Boo.” But, as usual, toe-tapping dance songs were thrown into the mix, such as Katy Perry’s “Firework” and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop.” The dances, choreographed by Jaclyn, were phenomenal.
Gertner was especially diverse, dancing cute numbers with the friendly mice, played by students from the DeMarco Sisters School of Dance and getting involved in the more active dance numbers featuring SBU students.
Gertner took her performance to a whole new level when she sang through a few of Cinderella’s most well-known songs, such as “In My Own Little Corner.”
One of the most wonderful aspects of the show was the chemistry between Prince Char and Cinderella. The dance between Cinderella and Prince Char played by sophomore theology major Andrew Belfield, set to Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years,” was beautifully done and showcased the relationship between the fairy tale couple. It was revealed at the end of the show by Jaclyn Haskell that Belfield and Gertner are dating on and off stage.
“My favorite part was when Prince Char and Cinderella finally got to dance at the end,” said sophomore elementary and special education major Emma Arcara. “And all the parts with the two stepsisters.”
Junior education major Rebecca Tallman loved that the prince and Cinderella are dating in real life.
“I thought it was adorable that Cinderella and the prince were an actual couple,” she said. “It was cute that he stepped up and danced with her.”
Gertner said it was easy for her to work with Belfield and to transfer their relationship to the stage.
“We are so comfortable with each other that all we had to do was emulate the loving feelings we share,” Gertner said.
The bright and colorful costumes, wonderful dance numbers and perfectly-casted characters all came together to make an unforgettable spring hip-hop show. The audience left the theater with big smiles on their faces, knowing that if you keep on believing, a dream that you wish will come true.
