[Annaliese]

I've been thinking recently that Cinderella could be a witch. It struck me when she was holding the bowl of lentils and singing in that trance like state to the birds- it almost looked like she was casting a spell. She also has powers that the other characters don't have. She talks to birds, she can communicate with her dead mother, and she can fabricate ball-gowns out of thin air by commanding trees to throw silver and gold down on her.

If she is a witch, I don't think that she is aware of it. But it would be interesting if she were a witch. Not that I necessarily believe that Lapine or Sondheim had that in mind when writing her. It's also interesting because people on this board always seem to think of her as a younger version of the Baker's Wife. I don't personally see that (except that I do think that there is great potential for Cinderella and The Baker at the end of Act 2) But if Cinderella was a witch, maybe she would be more like a younger version of THE Witch. Wasn't the Witch supposed to be young, beautiful, and naive before her mother left her with the garden and then punished her with age and ugliness when she lost the beans?

Any thoughts?

[Luc]

No. Never. Ever.


EVER.

[Baker]

Oy.

Someone needs to read Grimm.

[what_the_heck013]

I think what you are noticing is that she is set apart from the other characters because she very much so is. Although I disagree that Cinderella is a witch, I do like your theory that she could be a younger version of the witch.

[Annaliese]

Gah. Sorry thought it would be interesting to discuss. Close minded much? (I mean that in a friendly type way ) I still think she is a witch (a good witch) but it might be all the crack I do...

[ConverseSneaker]

Wrong princess. The Witch is always singing about how she was like Rapunzel. I do like your theory, but it's totally incorrect. You really should read the Grimm story, it will explain it better than I can.

[Annaliese]

Well, I didn't mean that the Witch was specifically singing about being like Cinderella (by the way, I can't actually remember her constantly singing about being like Rapunzel- is it when Rapunzel dies?) I just meant that you don't have to be old and embittered to be a witch- since THE Witch herself had been young and beautiful once (like Cinderella and Rapunzel.)

I have read the Grimm version of Cinderella but I re-read it just now to see if there was anything that would definitely go against the witch theory and I personally couldn't find anything. Was it because it says Cinderella prays at the grave? I think it depends on what your definition of a "witch" is. I don't see anything in the Grimm version that goes against the possibility of her being a witch (not an evil one) just a witch. Someone who has magical powers and who can communicate with trees and birds. Stuff like that. A "good witch" or something. I agree with you that Grimm probably didn't consciously write her to be a witch. I just think it would be a cool interpretation of her. Like if the Witch in the ITW needed someone to leave her garden to and wanted to train them to cast spells or something, out of everyone in the show, Cinderella would be the obvious choice. Maybe I just mean she has great witch potential.

[<3Wilson<3]

I think you could be right. I never thought about it, but Cindy does seem to have some unusual skills. I don't recall any of the other characters having "magical" powers, other than the witch.

[ConverseSneaker]

The lyrics I was refering to:

Couldn't you stay content,
Safe behind walls,
As I Could not?

[Kaiana]

"Our little world" also implies the Witch's similarity to Rapunzel.

However, I think it's an interesting theory. Cinderella is certainly unusual. I think her mother might have been a "good witch" or whatever and taught her how to talk to birds. The tree silver and gold bit is probably her mother's doing more than Cindy's.

[Gazelle]

Quite intresting. You make your points very clear and complete. i have never looked at Cinderella in this such view, but i can see where all your thoughts are coming from. Thank you for your outlook.

[musialman]

i think ur right, it all makes sence

[metaphor17]

I actually like your theory.

I don't know if I agree with it or not, but I like it