Indy Beef & Boards Cinderella Features Male Wicked Stepsisters

In its 38^th season, Indianapolis Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is presenting the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella for its 2011 family show. Casting director Eddie Curry decided to think outside the box on his decision for the players portraying the wicked stepsisters of the heroine Cinderella. Enter actors Jeff Stockberger and Doug King, both veterans of the well known and respected north side Indianapolis theater venue . "The reason I wanted Jeff Stockberger and Doug King is because I couldn't think of two uglier stepsisters," Curry said in a press release from the facility.

"They are ugly women," Cinderella choreographer Ron Morgan agreed in the same press release. He also added there is another advantage. "It's very difficult to get character women to play ugly. They don't want to play ugly. And they're not as funny." Morgan also stated "It's very common (to cast men in the stepsister roles) for the ballet version of Cinderella."

The decision made, both Stockberger and King began their character development as well as working with the theatre staff on their costumes, makeup and hair. Merely putting on a dress and speaking in a more feminine voice would not be enough for the challenging roles the men play.

Makeup consultant Amy Baxter from Ft. Wayne was brought in to assist with the transformation of masculine facial features into the ugly wicked women who are Cinderella's stepsisters. Baxter used many tricks to complete this transformation including hiding the men's bushy eyebrows with a glue stick and reapplying feminine looking eyebrows. Subtle shading is also used to change the shape of the face and accent particular features, allowing Stockberger and King to obtain the look they want for their characters, Portia and Joy.

The hair? Well here the fun really begins. Daniel Benslay created wigs for both Stockberger and King. Stockberger is 6'5", and his blond wig for Portia stands a full nine inches tall, supported by dowel rods. King's character Joy is short, sporting a black wig with dozens of springy spirals of hair on either side of his head "like Princess Leia on steroids," Benslay said. You have to see it to believe it.

The costumes for Portia and Joy were no less a challenge for Beef & Boards costumer Jill Kelly. "It was hard because they are both so tall and their proportions are not like regular women," she explained in the same press release. To further play up the contrast between the tall Portia and the short Joy, special padding had to be created for Doug King who, as a dancer, is incredibly lean. "Making the padded suit to make Doug about 10 sizes bigger than he really is was challenging," Kelly said. Stockberger's gowns are quite a treat as well.

The two character actors come close to stealing the show in this production. It's a true joy (pun intended) to watch these two interact with each other and the other players in Beef & Boards production of Cinderella. The facial expressions of Portia will have you in stitches. Joy's sour grimaces will also have you laughing out loud. Both of their voice characterizations are just marvelous. Take your family to the show. Everyone will enjoy the production, and all will howl at the antics of Portia and Joy.

There are 53 performances of Cinderella scheduled in the intimate space of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Read this author's review of CinderellaTickets range from $36 to $59, with a $10 discount for kids ages 3-15. Tickets include Chef Odell Ward's family-friendly dinner buffet, coffee, tea and lemonade. Parking is free.

Sources:
Personally enjoyed the May 14, 2011 performance
Beef & Boards