Set for ""Cinderella"": 13 figures, 5 pieces for stage set

Edward Ardizzone 1900 - 1979

Summary

This set for the fairytale story "Cinderella" is made from cardboard and consists of five different pieces for the stage and thirteen different figures. The principle piece of the set shows the surroundings of the theatre with the orchestra at the base, audience boxes at the side and the curtains drawn up at the top. It is very lavish with the walls and boxes painted blue and decorated with gold mouldings, and all the curtains are a rich red. The other parts of the set act as different backdrops to accompany the story, two show interiors and the other two show different landscape views. One of the landscapes shows a forest with a view of a turreted castle in the distance whilst the other landscape backdrop shows a view looking out over a lake with mountains in the distance and with ornate buildings on the left-hand side. One of the interior backdrops shows a very ornate room; the wall opens out onto a balcony but the top of the walls are decorated with paintings and ornate mouldings in gold and cream and on both the left and right hand sides there are imposing columns with ornate candelabra in front. The opening to the balcony is draped with blue and gold curtains with matching chairs in front of this. The second interior is very different as it consists of two reversible wings, one side on each shows a large cupboard either filled with crockery or closed and with a bottle of wine in front of it, and the other side shows matching curtains and chairs with a window and pillar behind them. The thirteen figures consist of four male figures; the prince dressed in blue and gold, a small footman carrying the cushion with the glass shoe on it, another footman, and a gentleman dressed lavishly in yellow. The fairy godmother stands out as the only figure with wings, she wears a crown, a white dress with blue, pink and gold detailing, has long blonde hair and has her right arm raised holding a wand. There is also a group of three figures who all appear to be dancers and wear white gowns. There seem to be three different figures representing Cinderella; two are when she is a servant and show her in rags sitting down crying or standing carrying wood, and the third is when she is a princess and she has her hair carefully dressed and wears a lavish dress with big blue furbelows over a white dress that is patterned with pink and gold. The other female figures are harder to identify but are possibly Cinderella's stepmother and sisters; one shows a larger woman in profile in a grey dress, another two are the same and depict two women in profile but facing opposite directions with long dresses one wearing red and the other wearing green, then finally the other figure shows an older woman carrying wood on her back with a white scarf over her head.