Playing Cindy ... how do you do it??

lizzofrizzo · Playing Cindy ... how do you do it??

Alright, so I'm playing Cinderella for the second time now, and you'd think I'd have a grasp of the character. But she just gets more and more confusing. What's difficult is that the rest of the characters seem to have very clear objectives - they want to go up the beanstalk, they want to go to Granny's, they want to have a child, etc. Whereas Cindy doesn't really know what she wants. I find it difficult to play, "I want to run away" or "I want to avoid conflict with the prince until I can figure out what I want."

Any ideas? Hope that wasn't confusing itself! Gah!

Annaliese

Hey man!

I totally understand. Cinderella can be really confusing since it doesn't appear that she knows what she wants. BUT that is what makes the Cinderella of "Into the Woods" so interesting and endearing. Unlike other interpretations of Cinderella, she goes on a wonderful INNER journey throughout the course of the play. If her wish was really simply just to marry the Prince- she would be like all the other characters in that she finds out that her wish did not turn out exactly the way she wanted. Cinderella is actually much more perceptive from the beginning when compared with the other characters. For example, unlike the other characters who never worry about the consequences of their wishes, she had mixed feelings about the Prince which turned out to be very well founded.

I think the point of Cinderella's journey is to examine the importance of finding out what you want out of life. And in order to find out what you want from life, you have to experience life. I think that Cinderella begins the play wishing that she knew what she wanted. She knows that she doesn't want to remain in her father's house- which she later describes as being a nightmare. But she doesn't know what she wants yet. However, she has a vague idea that if she goes to the festival she will find the answers to her questions. Going to the festival is a symbol for going out into the world. She wishes to see the world- just like Rapunzel. Though, unlike Rapunzel, Cinderella wishes to see the world so that she can attain her wish- which is to figure out what she wants out of life. I am actually able to identify with Cinderella much more than the other characters. They want specific things: a child, their cow back, money, to get to Grandmother's house, beauty, etc. They wish for things that will make them happy. Cinderella wishes to FIND OUT what it is that will make her happy. Cinderella is much more of a soul searcher than the other characters. I sort of think of her as a college freshman trying to find her purpose in life. Wishing to know what you want can be way more frusterating and urgent that other more specific wishes. Just think of all the anxiety you, yourself, are having just trying to figure out how you want to play Cinderella. Sometimes the anxiety of not knowing what you want is all you can think about.

The good thing is that Cinderella does eventually find what she wants which adds a wonderful complexity to her last scene with the Prince. She says:

"My father's house was a nightmare. Your house was a dream. Now I want something in between."

This line is so eloquent because it describes her journey so well. The first part about her father's house expresses why she went into the woods in the first place. She was searching for more out of life. The second part can express the regret of losing the Prince. But the third part "Now I want something in between" could be read as joyful- in a strange way. Even though she must be sad to lose her Prince, she has FINALLY found what she wants. In a way, Cinderella's story could be described as a person who is constantly caught between extremes and who finds the importance of balance.

So, I really think that it is okay to have Cinderella not knowing what she wants- because that is her journey. Her wish is to find out what she wants. And if you try to give her something more concrete to wish for prematurely, you might miss the point of her story.

I hope that helped! Break a leg with such an awesome role!!!

Luc

Talk about detail!!! Applause

BroadwayBud

That was great by the way! Nicely done! Applause

Annaliese

Hey thanks Very Happy

(obviously I have too much time on my hands)

How are rehearsals going Lizzofrizzo?

Red Head Curls

LoL.

When I first read the subject line and it said "Cindy" I was like...
Who the hell is CINDY? Wrong forum!

Then of course, I realized that it's past my bed time and I'm extremely silly.

lizzofrizzo	Playing Cindy ... how do you do it?? Alright, so I'm playing Cinderella for the second time now, and you'd think I'd have a grasp of the character. But she just gets more and more confusing. What's difficult is that the rest of the characters seem to have very clear objectives - they want to go up the beanstalk, they want to go to Granny's, they want to have a child, etc. Whereas Cindy doesn't really know what she wants. I find it difficult to play, "I want to run away" or "I want to avoid conflict with the prince until I can figure out what I want." Any ideas? Hope that wasn't confusing itself! Gah!
Annaliese	Hey man! I totally understand. Cinderella can be really confusing since it doesn't appear that she knows what she wants. BUT that is what makes the Cinderella of "Into the Woods" so interesting and endearing. Unlike other interpretations of Cinderella, she goes on a wonderful INNER journey throughout the course of the play. If her wish was really simply just to marry the Prince- she would be like all the other characters in that she finds out that her wish did not turn out exactly the way she wanted. Cinderella is actually much more perceptive from the beginning when compared with the other characters. For example, unlike the other characters who never worry about the consequences of their wishes, she had mixed feelings about the Prince which turned out to be very well founded. I think the point of Cinderella's journey is to examine the importance of finding out what you want out of life. And in order to find out what you want from life, you have to experience life. I think that Cinderella begins the play wishing that she knew what she wanted. She knows that she doesn't want to remain in her father's house- which she later describes as being a nightmare. But she doesn't know what she wants yet. However, she has a vague idea that if she goes to the festival she will find the answers to her questions. Going to the festival is a symbol for going out into the world. She wishes to see the world- just like Rapunzel. Though, unlike Rapunzel, Cinderella wishes to see the world so that she can attain her wish- which is to figure out what she wants out of life. I am actually able to identify with Cinderella much more than the other characters. They want specific things: a child, their cow back, money, to get to Grandmother's house, beauty, etc. They wish for things that will make them happy. Cinderella wishes to FIND OUT what it is that will make her happy. Cinderella is much more of a soul searcher than the other characters. I sort of think of her as a college freshman trying to find her purpose in life. Wishing to know what you want can be way more frusterating and urgent that other more specific wishes. Just think of all the anxiety you, yourself, are having just trying to figure out how you want to play Cinderella. Sometimes the anxiety of not knowing what you want is all you can think about. The good thing is that Cinderella does eventually find what she wants which adds a wonderful complexity to her last scene with the Prince. She says: "My father's house was a nightmare. Your house was a dream. Now I want something in between." This line is so eloquent because it describes her journey so well. The first part about her father's house expresses why she went into the woods in the first place. She was searching for more out of life. The second part can express the regret of losing the Prince. But the third part "Now I want something in between" could be read as joyful- in a strange way. Even though she must be sad to lose her Prince, she has FINALLY found what she wants. In a way, Cinderella's story could be described as a person who is constantly caught between extremes and who finds the importance of balance. So, I really think that it is okay to have Cinderella not knowing what she wants- because that is her journey. Her wish is to find out what she wants. And if you try to give her something more concrete to wish for prematurely, you might miss the point of her story. I hope that helped! Break a leg with such an awesome role!!!
Luc	Talk about detail!!!
BroadwayBud	That was great by the way! Nicely done!
Annaliese	Hey thanks (obviously I have too much time on my hands) How are rehearsals going Lizzofrizzo?
Red Head Curls	LoL. When I first read the subject line and it said "Cindy" I was like... Who the hell is CINDY? Wrong forum! Then of course, I realized that it's past my bed time and I'm extremely silly.

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Playing Cindy ... how do you do it??